Flugblogg
  • Home
  • Airlines
  • Airports
  • Helicopters
  • Lifestyle
  • About Us
Flugblogg
Support Us
  • Home
  • Airlines
  • Airports
  • Helicopters
  • Lifestyle
  • About Us
D-Day Squadron C-47 N150D from the cockpit of Icelandair DC-3 TFNPK in Reykjavik airport // Source: Adam Ertu ToZiemsk
  • Lifestyle
  • Long read

How D-Day Squadron lands in Iceland

  • June 5, 2019
  • 5 minute read

The air convoy of piston-engined military transports C-47s, as well as civilian DC-3s, has travelled through Iceland on their way to Normandy. Dozens of planes are going to land hundreds of paratroopers. The way it was in 1944 was exactly recreated 75 years later. Flugblogger discovered the backstage of preparation to Normandy landings in the 21st century.

It is a long-forgotten feeling. Summer, sun, light wind. You are 10 years old playing outdoors. You are hearing rumbling sound in the sky. You know this is a plane. You are running to the nearest airfield, which has no fence back then, to see the magical metal bird landing on the gravel or paved runway. The first touchdown with two main gears, the tail wheel gently touches the ground afterwards. The plane is suddenly turning from metal flash to lazy hippo, slow taxing to its ramp in the cloud dust.

D-Day Squadron DC-3 N24320 "Miss Montana" in Reykjavik airport // Source: Adam Ertu ToZiemski
D-Day Squadron DC-3 N24320 “Miss Montana” in Reykjavik airport // Source: Adam Ertu ToZiemski

In May of the year, 2019 Icelandic aviator fans in Reykjavik capital area turned into kids again. It was thanks to the ambitious idea to recreate the biggest ever landing operation in human history. 6 of June 1944 the great landings in Normandy had opened a western front in Europe. 13 100 paratroopers were dropped from hundreds of Douglas C-47 air transports. 75 years later aviation enthusiast, historians and participants of the original event came together to recreate the landing, dedicating it to the great exploit of brave combatants in World War II.

The actual goal in 2019 is to collect 30 Dakotas in the UK, then fly to Normandy and perform paratroopers landing. The rare retro planes were invited from all over the world. The new formation was called “D-Day Squadron”. Half of them was going to arrive from the US and Canada.

It means, that for these 15 planes, as 75 years ago, the first challenge will be to cross the Atlantic Ocean with it lack aerodromes and hard predicted weather. Every piece of ground with a proper runway was considered: Goose Bay airfield in Canada, Narsarsuaq in Greenland, Reykjavik in Iceland.

D-Day Squadron C-47 N47SJ arrival in Reykjavik // Source: Flightradar24
D-Day Squadron DC-3 N74589 and N47E arrival in Reykjavik // Source: Flightradar24
D-Day Squadron DC-3 N25461 arrival in Reykjavik // Source: Flightradar24
D-Day Squadron DC-3 N45366 arrival in Reykjavik // Source: Flightradar24

Director of Communications of D-Day Squadron Stephen Lashley explained Flugblogger, why Iceland was one of the most crucial points on the DC-3’s cross-Atlantic route. “The reason for the refuelling stop in Iceland was a question of range. With ferry tanks, some aircraft were able to bypass the stop in Narsarsuaq, Greenland and fly straight to Iceland, but I am unsure if any stopped in Greenland but then made the decision to fly straight to Prestwick, Scotland”, said Stephen Lashley.

D-Day Squadron DC-3 N8336C "The spirit of Benovia" in Reykjavik airport // Source: Halldór Sigurðsson
D-Day Squadron DC-3 N8336C “The spirit of Benovia” in Reykjavik airport // Source: Halldór Sigurðsson

It was decided that all 15 planes will come to Iceland in three groups, then stay for a night in Reykjavik before continuing the trip. The news which came at the beginning of March was a bit overwhelming, considering the Reykjavik capital airport is comparatively small for such a big group of planes. Later during a personal conversation with Flugblogger, one of the Reykjavik airport ground crew said, that it actually would be no problem to accommodate half of D-Day Squadron at the same time. Since closing the runway 06/24, the airport has got an additional room, which could be used as an apron for this kind of events.

The first group of D-Day Squadron had arrived on 20 of May. The first plane was C-47 “Placid Lassie” N74589, followed by C-47A N47E “Miss Virginia”. The third came Douglas DC-3C N25641 “Liberty”, performing U-turn over Reykjavik downtown. Flugblogger was on the ramp half hour later “Liberty” landing. There was no free space near the airport fence around the apron, where three planes were parked. Locals did photos and videos through the fence, above the fence, climbing on the top of their cars. They spent there more than an hour. The forth C-47 N47TB was expected there. Unfortunately, the plane did not make its way to Reykjavik airport before 23:00 Zulu and the aerodrome was closed for a night. The C-47 with the sign “It’s all, brother!” on its nose had landed in Keflavik airport and flyover to Reykjavik the next day. The fifth plane, the final of the first group, has arrived on the 21st of May. DC-3 N8336C “The spirit of Benovia” performed flight over Reykjavik before landing on the runway 31.

The first trinity of D-Day Squadron in Reykjavik: C-47 “Placid Lassie” N74589, C-47A N47E “Miss Virginia”, DC-3C N25641 “Liberty” // Source: Flugblogg
The first trinity of D-Day Squadron in Reykjavik: C-47 “Placid Lassie” N74589, C-47A N47E “Miss Virginia”, DC-3C N25641 “Liberty” // Source: Flugblogg

The second group was expected shortly and, according to the plan, should be added to the newcomers at the apron of Reykjavik airports. However, Atlantic weather had mixed everything.

“The plan was to fly spread out in groups of three”, told Stephen Lashley, “What you may have heard was that the aircraft would be all at the airport at the same time. Weather challenges ended up spreading it out further. In Iceland, we had to coordinate accommodations for the crews, which was somewhat challenging due to the arrival and departure dates fluctuating based on changes to schedules to deal with weather along the route. But the airport authorities with ACE FBO coordinated the refuelling itself very efficiently and provided us with a discount on our fuel.”

While waiting, the gates to the planes were opened for local public and the use the opportunity. The planes in Reykjavik were surrounded by interested people the whole evening. The first group, therefore, had left Iceland on the next morning only.

D-Day Squadron C-47 “Virginia Ann” N62CC in Reykjavik airport // Source: Flugblogg
D-Day Squadron C-47 “Virginia Ann” N62CC in Reykjavik airport // Source: Flugblogg

23rd of May was the day of arrival of the next D-Day Squadron group. C-47 N47SJ, built in 1943, had appeared over Reykjavik in the middle of the day. She was followed by C-47 N45366 and C-47 N103NA “Flabob Express”. The forth was C-47 “Virginia Ann” N62CC and fifth – DC-3C N877MG.

Should be enough? Nobody expects more, but then the rumbling was echoed. Not from the west, though. From the north. The only Icelandic DC-3 TF-NPK “Páll Sveinsson” could not miss the whole party and had arrived at the capital airport from Akureyri. Therefore, the historical moment was created. The first time for the last 50 years there were six DC-3/C-47 in Reykjavik at the same time.

Icelandic DC-3 was supposed to be a participant of D-Day Squadron. In September 2018 D-Day Squadron website put announcement, stating: “Daks over Normandy is proud to announce that Icelandair DC-3 TF-NPK “Páll Sveinsson” is confirmed for next year’s event”. In December 2018 Tómas Helgason, the chairman of “DC3 Þristavinir”, the club, which operates the plane, told Flugblogger, that they “are pushed to come there with our plane, [they] will aim for that, but it is a question of money”. In May 2019 it turned out that there was no means found for support of TF-NPK’s flight over Normandy.

DC-3 TF-NPK “Páll Sveinsson” in Reykjavik airport during D-Day Squadron visit // Source: Markus Fürst
DC-3 TF-NPK “Páll Sveinsson” in Reykjavik airport during D-Day Squadron visit // Source: Markus Fürst

The second group has left shortly after, leaving Icelandic DC-3 alone on the apron. The last planes of D-Day Squadron had arrived only in three days. It was DC-3 N24320 “Miss Montana”, who marked the beginning of week-long airshow in Reykjavik. The second C-47 N150D had arrived the next day. On 28 of May, one of the oldest DC-3 N18121 had landed in Reykjavik airport. The plane was built in 1937. The fourth DC-3 C-GAWI had arrived on 30 of May, however, despite the daylight arrival, had landed in Keflavik. It departed from Iceland shortly on the same day. The fifteens DC-3 of the cross-Atlantic group was N341A, which had arrived in Reykjavik in the evening. All planes then left Iceland and TF-NPK became the only DC-3 in Iceland again.

D-Day Squadron C-47 N47TB in Keflavík // Source: Markus Fürst
D-Day Squadron C-47 N47TB in Keflavík // Source: Markus Fürst

The D-Day Squadron will perform the historical flight on 7 of June. Then the planes will fly to different directions. There will be another chance to see them in Iceland again. “Some aircraft will return via the Blue Spruce Route [through Iceland and Greenland]. Others are going into temporary storage in Europe, so they can attend airshow later in the summer and fall. Some are also heading to an airshow in Venice. I am unsure of the route the Venice aircraft are taking home, but probably the Blue Spruce Route”, Stephen Lashley told.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Share 0
Related Topics
  • ACE FBO
  • C-47
  • C-GAWI
  • D-Day Squadron
  • DC-3
  • DC-3 Þristavinir Iceland
  • history
  • N103NA
  • N150D
  • N18121
  • N24320
  • N25641
  • N341A
  • N45366
  • N47E
  • N47SJ
  • N47TB
  • N62CC
  • N74589
  • N8336C
  • N877MG
  • Reykjavíkurflugvöllur
  • Stephen Lashley
  • TF-NPK
Previous Article
Ground exhibition of Reykjavik Airshow 2019 // Source: Flugblogg
  • Lifestyle
  • Long read

Swedish air balloon, Dutch PBY Catalina and the 100th anniversary of Icelandic aviation. Reykjavik Airshow 2019

  • Andrei Menshenin
  • June 2, 2019
View Post
Next Article
  • Airlines
  • Helicopters
  • Long read

How Atlantsflug shrugs off tourism decrease with rotary-wing

  • Andrei Menshenin
  • June 8, 2019
View Post
You May Also Like
The first delivery of anti-COVID19 vaccine in Iceland // Source: Flightradar24
View Post
  • Lifestyle
  • News

The first portion of the anti-COVID19 vaccine has arrived in Iceland on a private jet

  • Andrei Menshenin
  • December 28, 2020
View onto Icelandair Boeing 757-300 TF-ISX from Diamond DA-20 cockpit at holding point in Keflavik // Source: Morten Herdichek Langfeldt
View Post
  • General aviation
  • Lifestyle
  • News

Icelandic government supports private flight schools with 240 million ISK

  • Andrei Menshenin
  • November 30, 2020
Oddur Eysteinn Friðriksson during the first press conference of MOM air // Source: Flugblogg
View Post
  • Airlines
  • Long read

MOM air: “We are here to make a revolution”

  • Andrei Menshenin
  • November 18, 2020
The fourth Poseidon MRA1 maritime patrol aircraft is due to be delivered to the RAF on Tuesday 3rd November 2020 // Source: RAF
View Post
  • Lifestyle
  • News

Royal Air Force got “Spirit of Reykjavik”

  • Andrei Menshenin
  • November 2, 2020
Norlandair DHC-6 Twin Otter reg. TF- NLD in Akureyri // Source: Einar Þór Óttarsson
View Post
  • Airlines
  • Airports
  • Long read

Smári McCarthy: About domestic air transport and forms of operation in Iceland

  • Smári McCarthy
  • September 20, 2020
View Post
  • Lifestyle
  • News

Gígjökull reveals wrecks of the US Army “Flying fortress” crashed in 1944

  • Andrei Menshenin
  • September 13, 2020
ICETRA office in Reykjavik // Source: RÚV
View Post
  • Lifestyle
  • News

All theoretical exams for pilots in Iceland are postponed due to COVID-19 in ICETRA

  • Andrei Menshenin
  • August 10, 2020
The first post-COVID airshow in Akureyri // Source: Flugblogg
View Post
  • Airports
  • General aviation
  • Lifestyle
  • Long read

What was at the first post-COVID air show in Iceland. And the biggest in the world so far

  • Andrei Menshenin
  • June 28, 2020

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Flugblogg on Facebook
Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

Flugblogg

6 hours ago

Flugblogg

Non-Icelandic media are going to learn the name of another Icelandic volcano pretty soon. What is your favorite - Litlihrútur or Þráinsskjaldarhraun? ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

A volcanic eruption is expected in Iceland within the hours. How it will affect cross-Atlantic flights?

flugblogg.is

The volcanic pre-eruption activity had started at 14:20UTC 3.March beneath the surface of the Reykjanes peninsula, the a...
  • Likes: 13
  • Shares: 4
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Flugblogg

13 hours ago

Flugblogg

Guest tour on Boeing 737 MAX 8Icelandair Boeing 737 MAX 8 #tficn has visited all main airports in Iceland today. The plane took off from Keflavik #bikf and then flew clockwise around Iceland, visiting Akureyri #biar and Egilsstaðir #bieg, after came back in Keflavik. Earlier EASA after FAA has approved the return of using Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 9 for commercial flights with passengers. Icelandair expect to use them in summer schedule. ... See MoreSee Less

Guest tour on Boeing 737 MAX 8

Icelandair Boeing 737 MAX 8 #TFICN has visited all main airports in Iceland today. The plane took off from Keflavik #BIKF and then flew clockwise around Iceland, visiting Akureyri #BIAR and Egilsstaðir #BIEG, after came back in Keflavik. 

Earlier EASA after FAA has approved the return of using Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 9 for commercial flights with passengers. Icelandair expect to use them in summer schedule.
  • Likes: 48
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Flugblogg

2 days ago

Flugblogg

The giant Antonov airlines An-124 #ur8207 is departing from Keflavik #bikf right now. Since Saturday 25.February the plane has traveled from Puerto Rico #tjbq through Frankfurt Hahn #edfh, Keflavik, Bangror #kbgr, Kinston #kiso, Santo Domingo #MDSD, Gander #cyqx and then in Keflavik again.The photo by Sigurður Magnússon. ... See MoreSee Less

The giant Antonov airlines An-124 #UR8207 is departing from Keflavik #BIKF right now. 

Since Saturday 25.February the plane has traveled from Puerto Rico #TJBQ through Frankfurt Hahn #EDFH, Keflavik, Bangror #KBGR, Kinston #KISO, Santo Domingo #MDSD, Gander #CYQX and then in Keflavik again.

The photo by Sigurður Magnússon.
  • Likes: 26
  • Shares: 1
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Load more
Subscribe to be informed

All copyrights are reserved. Partial copying of materials, video or audio is allowed only with the mentioning of the source: Flugblogg.is
With all inquiries write us to
inboxflugblogg @gmail.com

Flugblogg
Aviation blog with reviews of Icelandic aviation trends, interviews with aviators, aviation analysts and reports on general aviation. Here you will find reviews of the flights of Icelandic airlines, planes, helicopters, routes and airports.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.