D-Day Special Two

A number of United States Air Force aircraft are appearing wearing special commemorative paint schemes in anticipation of next year’s 75th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy on June 6, 1944. This C-130J-30 Super Hercules, 14-5802, is assigned to Air Education Training Command’s 314th Airlift Wing’s 62nd Airlift Squadron (AS) and is based at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas.

The 62nd AS’s predecessor, the 62nd Troop Carrier Squadron part of the 314th Troop Carrier Group’s flew C-47A Skytrains when it was based in England as part of IX Troop Carrier Command of the United States Army Air Force. In early 1944 it was involved in the build-up of Allied forces prior to the D-Day invasion of France. On the day itself it dropped paratroops and changed to towing gliders to Normandy the next day.

The unit received a Distinguished Unit Citation and a French citation for these missions. The specially marked Herc is seen departing Fort Worth Alliance Airport, Texas on January 29.

As part of June’s celebrations, a number of C-47s and other will gather in Normandy