Signature Flight Support has partnered with the D-Day Squadron to return original wartime C-47 and DC-3 aircraft to the skies as part of a commemoration event.
The D-Day Squadron is the part of the Tunison Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization. In June 2019, the D-Day Squadron will lead an American fleet of historic, restored C-47 World War II military aircraft in Daks Over Normandy – a flyover of more than 30 international aircraft – to drop more than 200 paratroopers over the original 1944 drop zones in Normandy. The event commemorates the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
Over 130 US FBOs in Signature Flight Support’s North American network will be preferred destinations for Squadron aircraft as they travel to Oxford, Connecticut (KOXC) and Goose Bay Airport (CYYR) to begin their historic mission. Signature’s handling will continue as the Squadron stops at domestic and international airports en route to Europe.
After departure, the aircraft will cross the North Atlantic to arrive in Duxford Airfield in the UK, where the D-Day Squadron will join with its European counterparts, Daks over Normandy, to participate in multiple events on June 2-5, 2019. The combined fleet of historic aircraft will then cross the English Channel on June 5, fly over Normandy, France, and participate in multiple events at Caen-Carpiquet Airport from June 5-9.
Shawn Hall, chief commercial officer at Signature Flight Support said, “Signature is honored to provide fueling and handling support for the fleet of aircraft of the D-Day Squadron. The Squadron’s mission to return C-47’s to the skies over Normandy commemorates the endearing sacrifices made by the armed forces during WWII, and we are proud to walk in the footsteps of Allied ground crews from 1944.”
Lyndse Costabile, corporate and donor relations for the D-Day Squadron, added, “What’s driving this whole effort is the desire to honor those very people that made such an incredible sacrifice so many years ago. But that desire needs to be backed by preparation, planning and the core basics such as fuel and ground support, which is why the services Signature is providing are so critical to the success of our mission.”
