D-Day Squadron, Liberty Jump Team to perform at AOPA Fly-In

Six of the C–47s and DC–3s involved in the D-Day Squadron’s flight to Normandy, France, to honor the seventy-fifth anniversary of D-Day will be flying in on May 10 and 11, and members of the Liberty Jump Team will parachute from overhead, taking you back in time to June 6, 1944. The warbirds—Placid Lassie, Miss Virginia, Flabob Express, Betsy’s Biscuit Bomber, Virginia Ann, and Clipper Tabitha May—will be on static display through May 11  so that you can get an up-close look. (The C–47s and DC–3s will be gone briefly midday on May 10 for a special flight over Arlington National Cemetery to honor fallen World War II heroes.)

AOPA teamed up with the D-Day Squadron and Liberty Jump team to commemorate two anniversaries—the seventy-fifth anniversary of Allied troops' invasion of Normandy and AOPA’s eightieth anniversary.

"AOPA and the D-Day Squadron are working together to educate the public about the amazing seventy-fifth anniversary of D-Day and the reason it’s worth celebrating,” Tom Haines, AOPA senior vice president of media, communications, and outreach, said in announcing the partnership. “AOPA was formed 80 years ago to protect against undue restrictions on private flying as the war began in Europe and to give general aviation pilots a unified voice. Five years later the D-Day invasion commenced in an effort to assure those sorts of freedom to people across Europe.”

To celebrate both events, some of the D-Day Squadron aircraft and Liberty Jump Team members will perform at AOPA’s anniversary fly-in, which is on the way north for these aircraft as they prepare to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. The squadron will participate with Daks Over Normandy to fly across the English Channel on June 6.

For the best view of the flyover and parachute demonstration, take part in the Flightline Cookout on May 10. One of the features will be these two groups performing, in addition to a Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) Invitational and drone show. Adult tickets cost $20 in advance and $25 at the door, and tickets for children 12 and under cost $10 in advance and $12 at the event.

If you can’t make it on Friday, don’t worry, you won’t miss out. The D-Day Squadron and STOL Invitational will perform again around noon on May 11.