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Mission: Normandy
Over 80 years ago, on June 6, 1944, That’s All, Brother led the main airborne invasion of Normandy. Piloted by Lt. Col John Donalson, the plane led over 800 C-47s that dropped over 13,000 paratroopers into a battle that changed the course of mankind. 80 years later, we were able to bring this great airplane back to the skies over Normandy for the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of D-Day in 2024!
Nearly Lost Forever
After serving on D-Day, and in Operations Dragoon, Market Garden, Repulse, and Varsity, the airplane returned to the United States and was sold to the civilian market in 1945. During the course of many owners over the next several decades, the historical significance of the airplane was lost, and it was eventually sold to be scrapped. Fortunately, two Air Force Reserve historians discovered that this historic airplane was lying in a boneyard in Wisconsin. The Commemorative Air Force was able to acquire the airplane, and through a large group of donors and volunteers, restore the airplane to flying status.
“That’s All, Brother” has been restored to its 1944 condition, including its D-Day paint scheme along with a thorough historic interior restoration. The CAF maintains airplanes to be artifacts of living history, and you can experience the airplane firsthand by touring and even going for a flight.
As part of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Central Texas Wing, That’s All, Brother made the epic journey back over the Atlantic in both 2019 and 2024, and flew with the D-Day Squadron (14 C-47/DC-3s in 2019 and 5 in 2024). We retraced the classic ferry path from the United States to Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Scotland, and England to Duxford, England. On June 6, 2019, and 2024, That’s All, Brother flew with other C-47/DC-3 airplanes in formation to close out the D-Day commemorations over the US Cemetery at Omaha Beach, Normandy, and then continued to Germany for the 70th and 75th commemoration of the Berlin Airlift.
Help Wanted
We are greatly appreciative of the donors who have brought us this far, and to continue to honor the contributions of the Greatest Generation, we still need your help! Any donation you can make will help us pay tribute to those who so bravely fought for us all.