Torrance Airport is Icon #10 on the map
below with an estimated flyover time of 12:37 PM, Monday, Memorial
Day,
May 25, 2020.
John Bailey,
President – Southeast Torrance Homeowners’ Association, Inc. (SETHA)
D-Day Squadron Joins Memorial Day Flyover
The group
commemorates V-E Day, remembers 2019 Normandy
anniversary.
D-Day Doll will
lead the formation, in honor of veterans such as D-Day pilot Dave
Hamilton.Courtesy
D-Day Squadron
The expedition to take 15 Douglas DC-3 and
C-47 variants across the Atlantic Ocean to commemorate the 75th anniversary of
the Normandy Invasion was a monumental undertaking. As the D-Day Squadron looks
back a year ago on those efforts, there’s a strong
understanding of how fortunate they were to be able to fly there at
all.
To continue the commemoration
of the end of World War II in Europe, four of
the D-Day
Squadron aircraft plan to participate in an event more readily
manageable under the current conditions—a Memorial Day flyover in southern
California, on May 25, 2020. The “SoCal Strong” event honors veterans and
frontline healthcare workers in the fight against the COVID-19
outbreak
This week, the crews recall that a year
ago, on May 19, 2019, they practiced the formation and tribute flight skills
needed to commemorate the D-Day missions as a group assembled in Oxford,
Connecticut, before striking out over the North Atlantic on their way to
Duxford, England. The Memorial Day flyover features California-based aircraft
from that group: D-Day Doll, a C-53 from the Commemorative
Air Force’s Inland Empire Wing, will lead the formation,
joined by the Flabob
Express C-47, Betsy’s Biscuit
Bomber C-47, and Spirit of Benovia C-53. Also filling out the group
is What’s Up Doc?, a C-47 from
the Palm Springs Air
Museum, Condor Squadron’s T-6s, and possibly other
World War II-vintage aircraft.
The route takes in several key points in southern
California on May 25.Courtesy
D-Day Squadron
“Our mission flying World War II
aircraft over parts of Southern California for Memorial Day is to salute our
veterans who sacrificed so much for the freedoms that we enjoy today. In
addition, we will acknowledge the many medical personnel, first responders, and
citizens who have provided unwavering support in caring for the local populace
during this pandemic,” said Steve Rose, IEW wing leader, and pilot
of D-Day Doll. “To join again with fellow squadron members
is an honor and we appreciate everyone volunteering their time and aircraft to
participate in this flight.”
The flight will target two national
cemeteries, VA medical centers, airports, landmark piers and harbors, and the
ships the Queen Mary, and the USS
Iowa battleship. They’ll airlift a host of veterans from World
War II, and the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. The D-Day Squadron continues its
mission as part of the Tunison
Foundation, a charitable organization devoted to
promoting the continuing airworthiness of the Douglas DC-3 type family, promote
static and flying displays of historic aircraft, and educate and involve future
generations in flying freedom and understanding aviation
history.
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