National Warplane Museum’s Whiskey 7, the D-Day Veteran C47 aircraft is coming to the Dallas-Fort Worth area this week. After a month long European tour in June as part of the Museum’s Return to Normandy mission in Normandy, France, Whiskey 7 will be part of several events in the area. This past June, the National Warplane Museum flew their flagship aircraft, Whiskey 7, back to Normandy for the 70th Anniversary of D-Day celebrations. While there, Whiskey 7 dropped members of the Liberty Jump Team over the original D-Day drop zones. The aircraft was reunited with some old friends as well. PFC Leslie Palmer Cruise, Jr., a paratrooper of the 82nd Airborne, 505th, jumped from Whiskey 7 on D-Day and Bud Rice, a WWII C47 pilot, flew Whiskey 7 during the war. Together, these special passengers were able to enjoy a flight on their old C47, looking down upon the drop zones of Sainte Mere Eglise, and reflecting back on those moments from 70 years ago.
This week, Whiskey 7 has been invited to continue her work bringing honor and recognition to our country’s Veterans. Amongst several events included on her schedule is her proud static display at the American Airlines sponsored Air Power Sky Ball on October 25. In partnership with Snowball Express, American Airlines is able to bring nearly 2000 children and spouses of the fallen to Dallas each December for four days of activities. Other partnerships to benefit military service members and their families include the Gary Sinese Foundation, Honor Flight and USO. Â