Estimated reading time 3 minutes, 16 seconds.
On June 6th, it will be exactly 75 years since 156,000 Allied troops primarily consisting of Canadian, British, and American forces made history as soldiers landed on five beaches along 80 kilometres of the heavily fortified coast of France’s Normandy Region. Of the 14,000 Canadian airmen, sailors and soldiers initially involved, there were 1,074 casualties and 359 killed in action on June 6, 1944 alone.
The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum will be remembering one of the most pivotal battles of all time with a commemorative flight over Hamilton and surrounding area, consisting of three aircraft types that would have participated in D-Day — the Douglas C-47 Dakota, B-25 Mitchell and Avro Lancaster. Leading the formation will be a D-Day veteran Dakota that was flown by a Canadian on D-Day 75 years ago. Also joining for the beginning part of the flight will be a CC-177 Globemaster, CC-150 Polaris and two CC-130 Hercules from the Royal Canadian Air Force.
“The invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944 was the largest seaborne invasion ever undertaken in the history of the world and part of a larger war effort to put an end to the tyranny and oppression that had been imposed upon occupied Europe,” said museum CEO and president David G. Rohrer. “Our commemorative flypast is an opportunity to recognize the veterans for their service, their duty and their sacrifice which protected our values, our freedoms and our way of life.”
The commemorative D-Day flight will depart Hamilton Airport shortly before noon on June 6. The aircraft will form over Caledonia, fly directly to the RBC Canadian Open in Ancaster (after which the RCAF will depart), then to Dundas, over the McMaster Children’s Hospital, along the escarpment to Stoney Creek, back along King/Barton to the Skyway Bridge and then back to Hamilton Airport over the museum. Note that the route and aircraft participation are subject to change without notice.
At 3 p.m., following the flight, parachutists will perform a jump from the Dakota at the museum to commemorate the paratroopers who would have done so 75 years ago.
