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RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (May 30, 2014) - Seventy years ago, young men
from the 37th Troop Carrier Squadron at RAF Cottesmore,
England, prepared their aircraft and themselves for what
would soon be known as one of the most significant and
meaningful days in the history of the world...D-Day.
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A Douglas C-47 Skytrain, known as Whiskey 7, flies alongside a
C-130J Super Hercules from the 37th Airlift Squadron over Germany,
May 30, 2014. The C-47 came to Ramstein for a week to participate in
base activities with its legacy unit, the 37th Airlift Squadron,
before returning to Normandy to recreate its role and drop
paratroopers over the original drop zone in Sainte-Mere Eglise,
France. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Sara Keller)
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Today, Airmen of the 37th Airlift Squadron are preparing for
the anniversary of that very same day. Only this time
they'll be flying to honor and remember those brave men who
took part in the invasion of Normandy during World War II.
This past Memorial Day, the 37th AS welcomed the Douglas
C-47 Skytrain known as Whiskey 7, allowing them to not only
commemorate the 70th Anniversary of D-Day but also
experience a piece of their squadron's rich history.
The C-47s were the first aircraft the 37th TCS flew when the
squadron was formed in 1942. When the squadron was
re-designated as the 37th AS and based in Germany it flew
C-130s. Today it flies the C-130J Super Hercules.
“It
was a few years ago we found out that the National Warplane
Museum in Geneseo, New York had the last airworthy C-47 from
the original 37th TCS,” said Capt. Andrew Richter, 37th AS
pilot. “About two years ago we really started working with
the museum to help in any way we could to bring the C-47 to
Ramstein and the 70th Anniversary.”
After two years
of intense fund raising and coordination, a team of
volunteers from the museum made the 3,600-mile trip to
Germany and flew with the C-130J from the 37th AS for the
first time in history.
“We have such a rich history
here at the 37th and it's amazing to see our squadron's
heritage first person,” Richter said. “The C-47 is the first
aircraft our squadron flew and it means so much to us to
have the opportunity to fly with a piece of our history and
participate in the French 70th Anniversary of D-Day.”
It has taken thousands of hours, about $250,000 and
hundreds of people to get Whiskey 7 to Ramstein, and it's
not just the Airmen of the 37th AS who felt the need for the
historically significant journey to happen.
“The
biggest reason we brought Whiskey 7 to Europe for the D-Day
anniversary is because that airplane is a symbol of what
those men did 70 years ago for the entire world,” said
Christopher Polhemus, Whiskey 7 lead pilot. “Our crew chief
really put it into perspective, he said “Those men came as
liberators not as conquerors.
“The entire European
continent was under the tyranny of Nazi control, they were
not free,” Polhemus continued. “The U.K. was next and what
the U.S. did by sending W7 over here, along with thousands
of other aircraft and hundreds of thousands of American
Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, they came here and liberated
the entire continent of Europe. It was huge!”
Polhemus also explained how Airmen from the 37th AS were
extremely helpful and he's thankful for all of the time and
effort they put into bringing Whiskey 7 here.
“We
learn about our history as soon as we walk in the door, we
see it on the walls around us...it's ingrained in us,” said
Richter. “To bring W7 here, fly next to it and parking it
right in front of our squadron, it's just surreal.”
By U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Sara Keller
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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