SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2004 NORMANDY - LA FIERE MEMORIAL PARK - C-47 DROPS
The audience was treated to the display of over 600 parachutists in a re-enactment of the D-Day invasion. Aircraft approached the DZ in multiple waves and serials of C-47's, C-130s and C-17s released their precious cargo. In keeping with the authenticity of the era, all men jumped with T-10 chutes rather than the more modern version.
Classic Craft A C-47 approaches the DZ silhouetted against clouds that seem threatening but were not
First Man Out Stick leader's chute is released by the tug of his static line (Photo courtesy Bill Nation)
One Good Chute Deserves Another Instants later the canopy billows and the next man is in the air (Photo courtesy Bill Nation)
Third Man Out The stick continues to be disgorged by this marvelous old aircraft just as it was in '44 (Photo courtesy Bill Nation)
C-130 AND C-17 DROPS
Serial Business A wave of nine C-130s bear down on the DZ
Lead Aircraft arrive overhead, the green light will be illuminated shortly and the words "Go, Go, Go!" will urge them out the open door
Count The Chutes Seven men are in the air. Four fully deployed chutes from aircraft 1 (off frame) are joined by two partially opened chutes from aircraft 2. The seventh man is seen exiting the jump door
Behemoth C-17s dwarf the older C-47 and C-130 birds and seem to defy gravity as they lumber over the field at a slow speed that accommodates the jumpers
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