As most readers will be well aware, Daks Over Normandy is the umbrella organization arranging for the assembly of several dozen Douglas DC-3/C-47 transports to take part in the celebrations surrounding the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings in both England and France this May/June. They have just announced the route which the aircraft will fly during the events, and we thought we would pass along the details of their press release below…
Daks Over Normandy has announced the route that will take the formation of C-47 and DC-3s from Duxford airfield to Caen Carpiquet in France. The event will be one of a number taking place in Normandy involving several organizations to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Operation Overlord. Daks over Normandy is primarily focused on recreating D-Day’s paratrooper airdrop over Normandy. There will be a massive group jump of 250 reenactors from the Douglas transports set f0r June 5th.
The group of about 35 Douglas DC-3/C-47 aircraft is expected to include 18 examples coming from the United States under the banner of the D-Day Squadron. The airplanes are set to take off from Duxford Airfield, near Cambridge, England at around 13:40 on Wednesday June 5th.
The aerial transport fleet will then set course for Caen-Carpiquet Airport in Normandy, France. On its way to the French coast, the flight will pass over Colchester, Southend-on-Sea, Maidstone and Eastbourne before heading out over the English Channel.
As they reach France, they will pass over Le Havre and then make their way to the historic British Drop Zone at Ranville. There the skies will fill with paratroopers, jumping from their transports in period-correct uniforms and round military parachutes to honor the thousands of paratroopers who did the same, under far more trying conditions 75 years earlier. The airplanes are expected to arrive at Caen-Carpiquet Airport around 16.45 where they will stay on display through June 8th.
The American Fleet – Blue Spruce Route
The D-Day Squadron, made up of the entire American-based fleet of C-47s participating in the Daks Over Normandy flyover, will depart and travel together on the so-called Blue Spruce Route, always staying within radio contact of land-based communications. This flight plan traverses the North Atlantic, allowing for fuel stops and guidance from ground-based navigational aids on the landmasses located along the route. Each site was selected for its history as an active airfield during World War II, one that would have been a stopping point for these historic aircraft during their military service life.
The Squadron will depart from Oxford, Connecticut (KOXC); stop to refuel in Goose Bay Airport (CYYR) in Newfoundland, Canada; refuel at Narsarsuaq Airport (BGBW) in southern Greenland; refuel at Reykjavik Airport (BIRK) in Iceland; and refuel a final time at Prestwick Airport (EPIK) on the Western coast of Scotland.
The fleet will then make the next leg of this epic trip with a jaunt to Duxford Airfield (EGSU) north of London where they will position themselves with the entire international C-47 fleet for the final leg to Caen-Carpiquet Airport (LFRK) in Normandy, France as part of the Daks Over Normandy event on June 5, 2019.
For more information visit www.daksovernormandy.com
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