D-Day 75: Daks Over Duxford

Jun 7

Written By Charlie Trumpess, MA, MCIM, CM

As part of IWM’s D-Day 75th anniversary week, Daks over Duxford told the extraordinary story of D-Day, uniting the greatest number of Douglas C-47 Skytrain and Dakota aircraft in one location since the Second World War. Synonymous with the D-Day Landings, more than 30 'Daks' descended upon IWM Duxford.

Mass parachute jumps and flight displays took place across the museum ahead of the epic cross-channel flight to Normandy on 5 June. On the ground, D-Day-related displays and activities brought the extraordinary story of D-Day to life.

In fact, 21 DC-3s and Douglas C-47s finally went to Normandy, ten of the aircraft carrying sticks of paratroopers for a mass drop as part of the Daks Over Normandy commemorations across the Channel. In reality, 1200 Douglas C-47s were used for D-Day. As well as the Daks, a P-47 Thunderbolt, two Mk 9 Spitfires and two P-51 Mustangs performed aerial displays. There was also a very impressive flypast by a collection of USAF C-130s and V-22 Osprey modern aircraft.