Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON (WMAL) – You can see history in the sky Friday and Saturday as vintage World War II planes flyover.
The flyover is part of celebrations marking the 75 anniversary of D-Day, which is June 6, 2019. On that day in 1944 Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy leading to the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control.
“The lead airplanes in the invasion are actually here in Frederick on Friday and Saturday as part of the festivities, and people will get a chance to come up to them,” said Tom Haines, spokesperson for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
Daks Over Normandy will be the largest assembly of authentic vintage C-47 military aircraft and paratroopers since D-Day. The purpose is to honor the service and sacrifice of the young men who risked their lives to bring about the end of the war in Europe.
Haines has flown some of the planes himself and said it’s surreal to sit in the same seats these young men sat at as they went into the bloody battle.
The planes will leave from Frederick Municipal Airport around 11:30 a.m. Friday and continue on to Arlington National Cemetery at noon with a repeat performance Saturday starting around noon.
The warbirds – Placid Lassie, Miss Virginia, Flabob Express, Betsy’s Biscuit Bomber, Clipper Tabitha May and Virginia Ann – will be on static display at Frederick Municipal Airport through Saturday.
The Liberty Jump Team will host parachute demonstrations Friday at 7:45 p.m. and Saturday at 12:15 p.m. There will be a drone show at 9 Friday night. Everything is free, and no tickets are needed.
In the next few weeks, the planes will fly to Europe over the same route used during WWII.
Copyright 2019 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (PHOTO: Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association)
