Airmen 
with the 19th Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Campbell, Ky., are helping to restore a C-47 Skytrain on static display that dropped paratroopers into France during the Normandy D-Day operation in June 1944, according to a June 3 unit release. Douglas Aircraft Company built this C-47, tail no. 42-100828, in 1942; the airplane deployed to Europe in 1944, said squadron officials. The restoration involves repainting the D-Day invasion stripes, stars, and bars, and other historical markings, they said. “Restoring this C-47 has been a huge success story, thanks to a team effort from the 19th ASOS and the 101st Airborne Division,” said Col. Scott Kindsvater, 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing commander, parent unit of the squadron. He added, “They have preserved this World War II icon, an important piece of our common aviation history, to its full glory and at a very low cost compared to other aircraft restoration projects.” (Fort Campbell release by Nondice Thurman)
Dozens of fighter jets gathered at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida last week to kick off one of the service’s biggest air combat exercises despite the government shutdown. More than 50 aircraft and 500 personnel are participating in Checkered Flag 26-1.
