A stick of paratroopers sat in silence aboard a C-47, hearts pounding, waiting for the signal that would send them into the night over Normandy. The engines hummed, the plane bounced, and the soldiers gripped their gear, thinking of the battle ahead — the landing, the gunfire, the unknown. Every detail mattered: the straps of the harness, the steel helmet, the weight of the pack. Every sound, every movement carried the tension of a mission that would help change the course of history.
I’ll soon step into that world. I’ve been invited to gear up for the American Airpower Museum’s “Living History Flight Experience” in Farmingdale, joining participants who will suit up like paratroopers of the 101st Airborne. Field jackets, helmets, and simulated jump harnesses will recreate the physical reality of preparing for the jump, while historians guide us through the briefing that paratroopers faced on the eve of D-Day.
During the 25-minute flight over Long Island’s south shore beaches, we’ll follow the imagined path of airborne troops preparing for Normandy, gaining a sense of what it took to carry out one of the most daring missions in military history. Every step — from gearing up to boarding the C-47 — is designed to immerse participants in the sights, sounds, and emotions of that critical moment.
I’ll be documenting the entire experience for South Shore Press readers, bringing the courage, anticipation, and history of the Greatest Generation vividly to life.
Stay tuned for my firsthand account of stepping into history aboard the legendary C-47, experiencing what it felt like to be part of the mission that helped secure freedom for generations. Until then, the Living History Flight Experience urges you to keep your eyes on the sky… and remember to Keep ’Em Flying!
To take a flight, visit them at www.americanairpowermuseum.com