Daks over Normandy – history in the making – again

Two years ago, a small team of friends in Europe began preparing for a World War II commemoration with no equal, attempting to bring together up to 40 ‘unsung heroes’ of WWII from all over the world to participate in “Daks over Normandy” in commemoration of D-Day.

FILE PHOTO: A formation of Douglas DC-3/C-47 Dakotas. Image supplied by Daks Over Normandy.

The 75th anniversary commemoration of D-Day in June 2019 will provide the team with possibly the last opportunity to honour those who paid so much to liberate Europe.

During ‘Daks over Normandy’ the skies over the UK and France will witness large formations of Douglas DC-3/C-47 Dakotas and hundreds of paratroopers.

For the first time in 75 years will this many of those magnificent aircraft be assembled in the very place where they saw their finest hour.

From 2 to 9 June 2019 up to 40 DC-3/C-47s will get together, their owners flying them in from all over the world – from Scandinavia, Hungary and the rest of Europe, from Canada and the United States and even, hopefully, from as far away as Australia.

All this for what may very well be the very last time.

All this so everyone can watch paratroopers jump over Normandy one more time and admire these magnificent aircraft on the ground – and in the air, where they belong.

Daks over Normandy, as an event, will happen in two locations: from 2 to 5 June 2019 at Duxford Airfield, UK, and from 5 to 9 June at Caen Carpiquet Airport in Normandy, France.

Both locations were carefully chosen because of their facilities, their infrastructure and their World War II heritage.

After two days open to the public at Duxford Airfield on 3 and 4 June, with flying demonstrations, scenic flights and – weather permitting – practise parachute jumps, the event will follow in the footsteps of ‘the greatest generation’ when, on 5 June 2019 about 300 men and women will board the aircraft to fly across the English Channel and jump into an actual D-Day drop zone.

All jumpers will be equipped with ‘old-style’ round parachutes and all will be dressed in WWII-style airborne uniforms.

On 7 and 8 June, will see more flying demonstrations, scenic flights and parachute jumps, this time at Caen Carpiquet Airport in Normandy, France.

Preparations for this truly epic event are in full swing with 35 DC-3/C-47s already confirmed.

However, the biggest challenge the team is facing is – as always – funding.

Daks over Normandy as a not-for-profit organisation is offering attractive corporate sponsorship packages and accepting small, medium and large personal, much-needed and much-appreciated donations.

Daks over Normandy will indeed be an epic and once-in-a-lifetime event – history in the making – again.

Be part of that history via:

• Website www.daksovernormandy.com
• Facebook www.facebook.com/daksovernormandy2019
• Twitter https://twitter.com/Daks_Normandy
• Instagram www.instagram.com/daksovernormandy/

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