USAF Museum: D-Day Airborne Exhibit

[gwb123]

While the USAF museum has over 300 aircraft on display, it also has dozens upon dozens of side exhibits.

 

Here are some highlights from the D-Day and Airborne Exhibit.

 

Of course, any such exhibit has to have a C-47 troop carrier, complete with invasion markings.

 

From the USAF Museum website, which features additional details and photos:

 

"The C-47D on display, the last C-47 in routine USAF use, flew to the museum in 1975. It is painted and marked to represent the C-47A flown by 2nd Lt. Gerald "Bud" C. Berry of the 91st Troop Carrier Squadron, 439th Troop Carrier Group, to recover gliders used in the invasion of France on D-Day, June 6, 1944. "Snatched" from the ground in Normandy, the gliders were towed back to England for reuse. On March 22, 1945, Lt. Berry used that aircraft to "snatch" a glider filled with wounded soldiers at Remagen, Germany."

 

 

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/MuseumExhibits/FactSheets/Display/tabid/509/Article/196271/douglas-c-47d-skytrain.aspx

[gwb123]

Next to the C-47 is a fully loaded 82nd Airborne trooper along with a Eureka Guidance Beacon.

 

It is amazing that these troops could even walk let alone carry all of this equipment.

[gwb123]

More views of our trooper:

[gwb123]

And for transportation on the ground... this Cushman scooter, with a hand cart attached for towing (which I could not get a decent photo angle on despite multiple tries.)

 

 

[gwb123]

While some parachuted into battle, others rode in on gliders, like this Waco CG-4A.

 

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/MuseumExhibits/FactSheets/Display/tabid/509/Article/196272/waco-cg-4a-hadrian.aspx

 

Next to the C-47 were remnants of Gliders who delivered their cargoes, but were lost for future battles.

 

[gwb123]

Nearby was a USAAF marked De Havilland DH 98 Mosquito, also with invasion stripes.

 

From the museum website:

 

"Although best known for their service with the Royal Air Force, Mosquitoes were also flew in several U.S. Army Air Force units as photographic and weather reconnaissance aircraft and as a night fighter. During the war, the USAAF acquired 40 Canadian Mossies and flew them under the American F-8 (photo reconnaissance) designation. In addition, the British turned over more than 100 Mosquitoes to the USAAF under Reverse Lend-Lease. These aircraft retained their British designations.

The aircraft on display is a British-built B. Mk. 35 manufactured in 1946 (later converted for towing targets) and is similar to the P.R. Mk. XVIs used by the USAAF. It was flown to the museum in February 1985. This Mosquito, serial RS709, has been restored to a Mk. XVI configuration and painted as NS519, a weather reconnaissance aircraft of the 653rd Bombardment Squadron based in England in 1944-1945."

 

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/MuseumExhibits/FactSheets/Display/tabid/509/Article/196281/de-havilland-dh-98-mosquito.aspx

 

 

One of the details I liked about this display was the enlisted man who is hurrying to paint the invasion stripes on the bottom of the aircraft. One nice thing about the USAF museum is that acknowledges the role that ground crews played during the war.

 

 

[Backtheattack]

Seems to be an interesting exhibition.

[gwb123]

Bump. Changed title.

[MattS]

I live about 90 minutes from the Museum and visit often, always something new to see, or something you missed on a previous visit!

[gwb123]

I live about 90 minutes from the Museum and visit often, always something new to see, or something you missed on a previous visit!

 

I've mentioned elsewhere my brother and I devoted two full days there and still did not see everything. Also, you can tell by photos on the internet that they do change things up every now and then.