{"id":25649,"date":"2023-05-23T14:38:11","date_gmt":"2023-05-23T14:38:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saj.pachecostudios.com?p=25649"},"modified":"2023-05-23T14:40:03","modified_gmt":"2023-05-23T14:40:03","slug":"d-day-squadron-launches-crowdfunding-project-for-2024-legacy-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/national-news\/d-day-squadron-launches-crowdfunding-project-for-2024-legacy-tour\/%20","title":{"rendered":"D-Day Squadron Launches Crowdfunding Project for 2024 Legacy Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Above – 3-ship formation over the Channel. Photo by Mike Killian.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Help support the commemorative journey from the United\nStates, throughout the United Kingdom, a cross channel reenactment to the\nNormandy Beaches, on to Berlin, Germany and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On June 6, 1944, more than 11,000 aircraft were mobilized as\nAllied forces began their massive land, sea, and air invasion now known as\nD-Day. It was a massive undertaking that was known as the beginning of the end\nof WWII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019, 15 legendary DC-3 type aircraft made a historic\nNorth Atlantic crossing to celebrate both the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the\n70th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. Featured on the international stage and\nin media across the world, the men and women of the D-Day Squadron touched tens\nof thousands of lives as they flew to honor the world\u2019s Greatest Generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building on these accomplishments, the D-Day Squadron is\ncoordinating a fleet of aircraft to fly to Europe in 2024 to commemorate the\n80th anniversary of the D-Day Invasion of Normandy and the 75th anniversary of\nthe Berlin Airlift. In mid-May 2024, DC-3 variants representing World War II\nand Cold War vintage aircraft will \u2018cross the pond\u2019 from the United States to\nthe United Kingdom, cross the English Channel to Normandy, France, then fly on\nto Berlin, Germany and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is no easy task, and while nothing can compare to the\namount of organization the Allied forces faced in planning for the D-Day\ninvasion, there is still a tremendous amount of preparation, time, and cost\ninvolved in recreating this historic anniversary tour. Start-up costs for the\n2024 Legacy Tour branding and design, mission operation and planning, campaign\nmanagement, and advanced logistics in Europe are significant, and they need our\nhelp to get off the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mike Killian Photo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

According to Lyndse Costabile, D-Day Squadron Executive\nDirector, \u201cOur duty is to remember the significance of these events and to\nensure that future generations never forget. Today, our mission continues, to\nperpetuate the sights and sounds of \u201cFlying Freedom,\u201d and to promote the legacy\nof the Greatest Generation and the Douglas DC-3s in which they flew. The D-Day\nSquadron is currently setting the schedule for the 2024 Legacy Tour, organizing\nappearances across Europe, and serving as Mission Control \u2013 a central unit for\nall operators, crew, and operations.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The D-Day Squadron Kickstarter lasts 30 days with a goal of $7,500. As always, backers can choose from a variety of reward levels and perks including special edition ball caps, playing cards, commemorative artwork and challenge coins. These are exclusive rewards only available through the Kickstarter campaign. You can find them all right here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting from the Northeast United States in May of next\nyear, the aircraft must complete six total flight legs to Europe involving crew\nrest, refueling, proper maintenance, formation planning, and logistics. Can you\nimagine? It will take the squadron 15 days, close to 3,000 nautical miles,\napproximately 15 hours of flight time, 120 gallons of oil, more than 1,400\ngallons of fuel, and 150 crew to make this historic transatlantic crossing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once again, more than 150 parachutists are planning to fill\nthe skies in 2024 symbolizing freedom, the sacrifices made during the Normandy\ninvasion, and the overall war effort. Flown by retired servicemen and women, as\nwell as civilian seasoned pilots, each crew member participates as a volunteer\nwith this effort. Flying this legend of an airplane, the Douglas DC-3, is an\nhonor and privilege for each crew. The C-47 was the most ubiquitous airplane of\nthe war, performing multiple services in all theaters of operation, from North\nAfrica to Burma, from New Guinea to Normandy, and from Sicily to Holland. Along\nwith the C-54, the DC-3 was among the heroes transporting and dropping food and\nsupplies into West Berlin during the Berlin Airlift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A portion of the Kickstarter funds will cover the cost of\ncampaign graphics, merchandise, swag, and cool items – which will be added to\nthe perks and revealed on June 6, 2023. All profits received after campaign\ncosts will go directly to the D-Day Squadron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This effort is dubbed the \u201c2024 Legacy Tour.\u201d With many WWII\nveterans having \u2018flown west\u2019 since the 2019 mission, 2024 will be the opportunity\nto focus on both the LEGACY of these WWII veterans and the legendary aircraft\nthat served as the backbone to multiple war campaigns. Our veterans are our\nwindow to the past, and this is a chance for us to continue honoring those who\nmade sacrifices for the freedoms we have today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key Details<\/p>\n\n\n\n