French Enthusiasts Battle to Save Douglas C-47

[Ztex]

I saw this news article form today's Ft. Worth paper...the airplane story sounded familiar...

Cool story.


Story

http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/682508.html

Photos...

http://www.star-telegram.com/news/photos/gallery/682509.html

[Django]

Boy, if that doesn't bring a tear to your eye.

[tulsaboy]

Some of the French guys involved in that project visited our museum here in Tulsa on their way to see Eugene Nobel, the pilot who lives here in town. They were incredibly nice, and pretty fired up about their project. They were going to shoot an interview with him before returning to France with him for the dedication.

Way to go, guys!

kevin

[patelie]

Hello

Today, I am pleased to say... It's DONE!
During a sunny saturday 7 june afternoon, the ceremony for the come back in Normandy of The S.N.A.F.U. Special was held in front of more than 3,000 people at the Merville battery - Normandie - France.

The photo album on my website is updated and you can see now all the story between November 2007 and June 2008..
http://www.6juin1944.com/snafu/index.php

To make a comparison, here is a then and now photograph from this period.



Enjoy !!

[Pat Carry]

Fantastic. Congradulations on a job well done!

[Steve Nelson]

Fan Freakin' Tastic!!!

SN

[daveymac82c]

Fantastic work. It looks wonderful!

Cheers,

David

[Baldeagle]

Great stuff Patrick, can you also tell us the life story of the C-47 in the Airborn Museum at Ste. Mere-Eglise?

[muddyboots]

I saw it on the strip outside Sarajevo years ago, but I never thought anybody would ever rescue it--and I certainly never thought it was a DDay veteran. What a fantastic thing--this bird is a real treasure. And the folks who rescued her sure have done us all a tremendous service!

[Django]

Looks great! That was fast.

[Ztex]

Great work!

Felicitations!

[gary1954]

**High Fives** from across the Pond, well done, well done

[michaelharadon]

Bravo, et merci beaucoup!

[patelie]

Great stuff Patrick, can you also tell us the life story of the C-47 in the Airborn Museum at Ste. Mere-Eglise?

Hello
I made less research about the plane in Ste Mere Eglise than on The SNAFU Special but I can say that the plane at Ste Mere is not in her original markings.

The plane is painted with the markings of the Argonia #43-15159. She was the lead plane of serial #11, 439th TCG, piloted by Lt. Col. Charles H. Young
BUT
in fact she is #42-100825 - 439th TCG - 92nd TCS
on d-day she was in serial #12, Chalk Number #49 dropping elements of 2/506th PIR on DZ "C" at 0120. Take off from Upottery.
Pilot : 1st Lt. Imschweiler, Charles H.
Co-pilot : 2nd Lt. Ristvedt, Karl, Jr.
Navigator : 2nd Lt. Ryder, Marshal B.
Radio-operator : Sgt. Jensen, Charles R.
Crew chief : S/Sgt. Ginter, John

http://www.6juin1944.com/assaut/aeropus ... p?page=s11
http://www.6juin1944.com/assaut/aeropus ... p?page=s12

I don't know why they don't repaint her in her original markings...

We can say that The SNAFU Special is the only plane in Normandy which was here on d-day and displayed in her original markings.

[fotobass]

in fact she is #42-100825 - 439th TCG - 92nd TCS
on d-day she was in serial #12, Chalk Number #49 dropping elements of 2/506th PIR on DZ "C" at 0120. Take off from Upottery.
Pilot : 1st Lt. Imschweiler, Charles H.
Co-pilot : 2nd Lt. Ristvedt, Karl, Jr.
Navigator : 2nd Lt. Ryder, Marshal B.
Radio-operator : Sgt. Jensen, Charles R.
Crew chief : S/Sgt. Ginter, John

Any way to find out what troopers flew with her on D-Day?