In 2024, the Commemorative Air Force’s (CAF) R4D Ready 4 Duty, based with the Dallas/Fort Worth Wing, was scheduled to participate in the D-Day 80th Anniversary commemorations in Normandy. Unfortunately, a last-minute engine failure grounded the aircraft just before its Atlantic crossing. Standing on the tarmac that day, Wing Leader Chris Volpe made a promise: Ready 4 Duty would return the following year to honor the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.
That promise gave rise to the Navy to Victory Tour, an ambitious transatlantic journey that began in April 2025 at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. After several stops in the U.S. and Canada, the crew crossed the Atlantic and touched down in the U.K., then continued on through the Netherlands and finally into France.
The arrival in Cherbourg was a particularly emotional milestone—it had been four decades since Ready 4 Duty last visited Europe. Members of the CAF French Wing had been eagerly anticipating the arrival and welcomed the American crew with warmth and enthusiasm, setting the stage for a meaningful leg of the tour.
Despite battling turbulent skies over Normandy, the aircraft fulfilled one of its most important missions—dropping paratroopers over historic WWII drop zones and flying alongside USAF MC-130s above Sainte-Mère-Église and Utah Beach. On June 6, three French CAF members—Francis Bergeon (CAF Airbase Arizona), Adjutant Officer John Rouxel, and French Wing Leader Stephane Duchemin—were on board for the Utah Beach flyover.
From there, Ready 4 Duty joined other historic aircraft at the celebrated Le Temps des Hélices airshow at La Ferté-Alais. It flew in formation with Gruesome and others, while French and American CAF volunteers welcomed crowds aboard for cockpit tours. Aerial displays were led by François Bergeon and Jeremy Lashbrook. Visitors flocked to the French Wing’s tent, eager to pick up souvenirs from the Navy to Victory Tour—many of which were signed by the smiling crew who made everyone feel part of the mission.
Later that week, the aircraft headlined Navy to Victory France, an event co-organized by the CAF French Wing and the Musée Volant Salis. During the gathering, DFW Wing Leader Chris Volpe unveiled a surprise: a French flag, painted on the R4D’s nose opposite the others. After a short discussion, he and Duchemin decided to position it just beneath the aircraft’s iconic nose art. A brief ceremony followed, marked with champagne and cheers. “It’s an incredible honor,” said Duchemin. “Chris’s trust in our unit means the world to us.”
The celebrations continued with a “spotters day,” open public tours, and a photography masterclass hosted by Dutch aviation photographer Kris Christiaens. That afternoon, Curt Lewis and Larry Reu took the controls for another scenic flight, with Jonathan Swift serving as crew chief. Saturday night featured a full 1940s-style reenactment photo shoot with actors from the Klondike Group, a festive banquet beneath the B-17 Pink Lady, live swing music from a Navy-uniformed vocal duo, and a rare nighttime engine run of both the R4D and the P-51 Miss Ava—the latter dazzling spectators with fiery bursts from her exhaust. On Sunday, the public returned for more visits, and the weekend culminated in a surprise birthday celebration for French Wing Leader Stephane Duchemin. The occasion was marked with champagne toasts, speeches, and heartfelt gifts from the crew and volunteers. Before departing, the team offered one last scenic flight to thank the many hands who helped make the tour a success.
On Monday, June 16, Ready 4 Duty lifted off once more, this time bound for the U.K. to continue its European journey. The aircraft leaves behind not just a trail of smoke and sound—but memories, camaraderie, and a powerful sense of historical continuity. Since 2019, Ready 4 Duty is the sixth U.S.-based CAF aircraft hosted by the French Wing. For more information about Ready 4 Duty and the Dallas-Fort Worth Wing, visit www.dfwwing.com
