MISSOULA – There’s still a lot of work to be done, and the final funding push is underway to send a historical plane to the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion next month.
A determined group of volunteers has been working all through the winter to get the former Johnson Flying Service C-47 ready to take place in a huge gathering of antique aircraft which will mark the anniversary of the invasion at Normandy on June 6, 1944.
The plane, also known as a Douglas DC-3 in a civilian passenger configuration, was returned to Missoula a few years ago and is being given the designation “Miss Montana” to represent Montana during the trip.
<figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-149476">There’s still a lot of work to be done, and the final funding push is underway to send a historical plane to the 75th anniversary of D-Day. (MTN News photo)It will make the Transatlantic crossing in a series of “hops” with other planes from across the country.
The highlight will be a team of paratroopers from Montana who will join their colleagues in jumping over the historic battlefield.
The restoration continues, and the C-47 committee is still looking to raise $50,000 to make the trip. A gala is planned at the Museum of Mountain Flying on May 11 to help generate the remaining funds.
Click here for more information on the event.
