WW2 MV meet Dakota's event Cherbourg 2014 + Pictures

[12th Air Force]

05.06.2014: WW2 Military Vehicles meet Dakota's event at Cherbourg Airport

- Fly in a DC-3 over the Beaches of Normandy!

Hello D-Day visitors and WW2 Dodge owners!

After a lot of planning in the last weeks I'm able to invite you now to a pretty nice and exclusive event:

The "WW2 Military Vehicles meet Dakota's event 2014" is a organized tour for WW2 Military Vehicles + the option to make a unique 1 h. flight in a DC-3 along the landing beaches!

The guided tour is starting on the 5th of June at the Dog Green Camp that is located at Vierville-sur-Mer (Omaha Beach) and organized by the UNIVEM MV Club, Paris.
Details on the Camp can be found here: http://www.dday2014.fr/

You will have then two opportunities:

- join our WW2 Military Vehicle convoy and drive with us to the Cherbourg Maupertus Airport to see the largest group of Dakotas in place since WW2.

- in addition to book in for a unique long distance flight with a DC-3 over Normandy!

It's about 90 km from Omaha Beach to the Airport and we have planned to do it relaxed way in a tour with about 2 h. time.

At the Airport you will have the chance to see the largest fleet of C-47 Dakota and DC-3 Aircraft in Europe since the Berlin Airlift in 1948! Invitation's for 20 Aircraft have been sent out and more than 11 will be in place (actually confirmed). - So don't miss this chance if you are in Normandy!

We have to see if we can bring our MV as close as possible to the Dakotas and - hopefully - have the chance for some nice pictures of our MV with the parking Dakotas (that part is not confirmed up to now).

In addition to this convoy tour I could find a DC-3 that will take you to the skies over Normandy for a flight along the costline. This is a unique offer to see the Beaches from a DC-3!
The flight will take you from Cherbourg to Utah Beach, then to the famous Pointe du Hoc and it's coastal battery and then to Omaha Beach. We will circle around the Dog Green Camp and then fly the way back to Cherbourg Airport (if possible via Sainte Mere Eglise).

Our aircraft is the famous Breitling DC-3 from Switzerland, the most exclusive plane of this type in Europe.
All details and pictures can be found here: http://www.flydc3.net/de/

Flying time will be approx. 1h or a little bit more, depending on the air traffic on that day.
Price is 300,- Euro p.P. and we are limited to 20 passengers.
Payment has to be made in advance to UNIVEM and there will be a full cash-back in case that we can't fly on that day because of bad weather etc.
UNIVEM is the offical partner for this flight and in charge for reservation, payment etc.

NOTICE: For the booking of the flight is the golden rule "first come - first serve"!

Skyrookie and I will take part in the tour as well as in the flight due to the fact that we are guests of the UNIVEM Camp - so that's why we are able to offer you this unique event.

If anyone is interested in joining us for the tour or want's to book a seat in the DC-3 in addition please contact me via e-mail (please no PM due to limited message space).
I will collect all entries up to the official deadline and hand them over to UNIVEM for the next steps.

DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION IS MONDAY, 14.04.2014!

CU - hopefully - on the 5th and don't miss this outstanding opportunity!

Joakim

[12th Air Force]

Latest update on the DC-3 distance flight over the landing beaches:

Only 10 seats left!

Keep 'em Flying, Joakim

[12th Air Force]

Latest update on the DC-3 distance flight over the landing beaches:

Only 7 seats left!

Remember the deadline (next Monday).

Keep 'em Flying, Joakim

[12th Air Force]

Only six seats in the DC-3 left!

If interested in it: contact me via pm or e-mail.

Keep 'em flying, Joakim

[12th Air Force]

Latest update:

ONLY 3 SEATS LEFT!

[12th Air Force]

Latest update:

ONLY 2 SEATS LEFT!

[12th Air Force]

Latest update: all seats sold!

[12th Air Force]

Hello C-47 and DC-3 friends!

The organization of our WW2 Military Vehhicle meet Dakota's event is now on the final mile!

I have finished our roadbook today for the 92 km convoy tour:

Stage 1:
It will take us at 9.00 a.m. from the UNIVEM Dog Green Camp at Omaha Beach to the Normandy Tank Museum at Catz in a first "stage" (that's a 40 km drive with 8 stopovers).
Arrival at the Museum will be at about 1.00 p.m. with about 45 min. break for "lunchtime" there.

Stage 2:
Then we proceed to the Cherbourg Maupertus Airport after additional 52 km on the N13 and D24. Arrival will be at about 3.00 p.m.
Then we will have the "meet & greet" with the Dakota's and DC-3 that are located there during the D-Day week.

About 10 C-47 + 280 skydivers will take part in several parachute jumps during the D-Day week and have their base at the Maupertus Airport. In addition a group of civilian DC-3 from allover Europe will be in place too. - A unique chance for all classic aviation enthousiasts so keep your cameras prepared!

At about 4.00 p.m. the Breitling DC-3 will start for the distance flight along the coastline and the D-Day landing beaches and return after approx. 1 h. to the Airport.

- A good chance for the remainig group on the ground to make pictures of the starting and landing Breitling DC-3 or just to enjoy the sound of it’s two Pratt & Whitney R1830-92 engines with 1200 hp each!

The actual plan is, that we are leaving then the Airport at about 5.30 p.m. - depending on the timing of the flight and the photo-shooting.

After that we will offer two opportunities for your way back:

1.) you can drive in a group or at your own “the relaxed way” back to your "homebase"

2.) you can choose the “evening entertainment part” at Utah Beach and drive back with a stopover there.

At Utah Beach is in the evening a lot to see and to do. So it’s up to you what you want to see and when you want to return.


The Utah Beach evening at a glance (status: 29.04.2014):

Thursday 5th of June - UTAH BEACH

7.30 p.m.: Parachute drop from C-47 Dakota planes on Utah Beach.
Organization: Utah Beach Museum - 0033 233 71 53 35 or musee@utah-beach.com

8.00 - 9.30 p.m.: Official Ceremony at Utah Beach with the French army.
Legion of Honor given to John Roman, David and Gene Dewhurst. Organization: Townhall.

9.30-11 p.m.: Concert of U.S. actor Gary Sinise (Forrest Gump, CSI: NY) with his Band “The Lt. Dan Band”, at the Utah Beach Museum (to be confirmed!).

10.45/11 p.m.: Lightning of the Norman coast with 23 simultaneous fireworks along the coastline.
At Utah Beach: firework and Military music.

CU at the beaches, Joakim

[12th Air Force]

Hello Folks!

I have finished the roadbook for our WW2 Military Vehicles meet Dakota's event and uploaded it for all of you that are interested in to join us or "just need an inspiration" for a nice day trip thru Normandy.

You can download the roadbook (english version!) here:

http://www.steel-toys.com/Div/WW2%20Mil ... 0rev03.pdf

CU at the Beaches,

Joakim

[12th Air Force]

Hello Aviation Fans!

After about 5 months of intense planning with contacts to several C-47 and DC-3 owners we could finally make it to the skies over Normandy in the beautiful Breitling DC-3 from Switzerland!

To say it that way: it was the perfect day!

We started at 10 a.m. at Omaha Beach with the "yellow" UNIVEM convoy "on the path of the 29th Division". On the Beach we had a line-up of about 60 MV incl. Dodge of several types (4x4 and 6x6), J**p's (of cause), GMC, Scout Car, VW Kuebelwagen and Opel Kadett 1937.



The MC and J**ps of the Univem Club blocked each crossing street and all traffic for us so that the convoy could follow the roadmap as one group. Great organisation!



Part of the convoy was a Dodge CC with our special guest - an U.S. WW2 Veteran that returned to "hedgerow hell" and shared the day with us.



From Omaha Beach we had a scenic tour on tiny streets across Normandy, incl. a stop-over at a nice castel with a re-enactors camp and a salute of the re-enactors for the veteran.



From the castle we drove to the Normandy Tank Museum at Catz (close to Sainte Mere Eglise) - with every crossrod closed temporary by a UNIVEM escort J++p and it's crew. Damned professional organization by the UNIVEM Club!



At the Airport we splitted from the group and drove to the Airport and arrived there at 2.30 p.m.
Our flight took place at 4.30 so we had plenty of time to see the C-47 and DC-3 parking or starting and landing.
Overall about 8 have been based at the Cherbourg Maupertus Airport + additional at Caen Airport.
Among them the C-47 "Whisky 7" from the USA, a DC-3 from Norway, one from Finland, one from the Netherlands + a rare Catalina (PBA Flying Boat) that came from the Netherlands that day.



In addition we had "something modern" from the U.S. Government landing (Learjet-Lookalike-Something) and an offical climbing out with bodyguards and a dozen U.S. officers waiting lined up at the gangway. No idea who that fellow was. To pale for Obama and not as tall as Kerry...

While waiting for our flight we could see the round canopy parachuters preparing their gear and their briefing - all in WW2 101 AB uniforms. But even better: among them was a WW2 veteran from the 101 AB: "Pee Wee" Martin - waiting for his parachute jump with them - at the age of 93!!!
He was totally relaxed and after 127 interviews I had the chance to talk to him.
His last jump was only 4 years ago (from a helicopter!) and now he was waiting for a tandem-jump with the other parachuters that mostly had half of his age or even less... - What a "damned cool old bone"!
- I was deeply impressed!



At 4.30 p.m. the refueling of our DC-3 was finished and it was time for us to start the highlight of our week: the flight with the beautiful Breitling DC-3 along the coast of Normandy!



The flight was along the western coast of the Cotentin Peninsula, then we circled several times over Sainte Mere Eglise at low speed and altitude... WOW!



From there we proceeded to Sainte Marie du Mont and Utah Beach, following the coastline to the nort up to the beautiful Cape La Hague with it's old lighthouse.



After circling around the lighthouse we returned to the Airport and passed about 11 or 12 parking U.S. C-130 that have been used for parachuters during the D-Day week as well as a Catalina flying boat from WW2 that came over from the Netherlands.

After all we had 1.10 h flying time with the Breitling DC-3 and a outstanding event.
- All of us (18 alltogether) came with a huuuuuuuge grin out of the plane!
On the way back we passed a C-47 parked next to us - so we made some pictures in front of it as well.



= GREAT FUN!!!

Thank's to all that shared with us the tour and the flight!

Here is the link to all 147 pictures: http://www.steel-toys.com/DK14/

Joakim

PS: Our "perfect day" ended at Utah Beach with about 5 C-47 approaching in formation and dropping parachuters behind the Beach late in the evening (about 9.30 p.m.).
- The sky was full with round canopy parachutes. Felt like beeing part of D-Day!

[12th Air Force]

PS: I added today some pictures for the lazy ones that don't open the picture gallery.