Travel letter to Normandy - The troops gather

Text and photos: Martin Nilsen

WELCOME: Helge Hem gives both thumbs up to the fact that the Danes have also arranged a trip to England and Normandy. PHOTO: Martin Nilsen

LEE-ON-SOLENT: The longest trip in Dakta Norway's history is underway. On Monday afternoon, the machine with a crew of five and 14 parachutists landed with coordinator Kjell T. Olsen to a warm reception at the old military airfield Lee-on-Solent on the British Channel coast. The newly refurbished American C 47 that has flown all the way across the Atlantic to take part in Daks over Normandy, the 70th anniversary of the Allied invasion in 1944, was already in place, and LN-WND had no more than set the parking brakes before our Danish friends landed, direct from Cherbourg in France.

"OPERATION OVERLOAD": A witty Norwegian soul drew the historical parallel to Operation Overlord when he saw this American gang. PHOTO: Martin Nilsen

Tuesday is devoted to thorough briefings of both jumpers and pilots as the other five machines arrive. The registered ten Dakotas are unfortunately now only eight, but organizer on behalf of Round Canopy Parachute Team, Peter Braun, is still very pleased to have managed to gather eight machines in an event that has only been planned since September last year.  

TWO LEADERS: Olaf Olsen, the leader of the Veterans' Parachute Club on the trip, and Peter Braun, Dutch organizer of the entire Daks over Normandy, had a lot to talk about when they met. PHOTO Martin Nilsen

  He shows great appreciation for the organizations that have been able to participate. On Wednesday, the ship will cross the English Channel, and most of the excitement is related to the weather, which is not expected to be particularly favorable for the operation.      

WELL FORWARD: The entire Norwegian contingent, minus the photographer, together, the Danish machine to the right. PHOTO: Martin Nilsen

LONG TRIP: If Dakota Norway is on its longest trip to date, at least this machine has set off from the USA. PHOTO: Martin Nilsen

VETERANS: The British locals in Lee very kindly opened their homes to those honoring the Allied veterans. Here, American jumpers queue up and wait for their hosts outside the church in Lee. PHOTO: Martin Nilsen

EXCHANGE OF HISTORY: The Mayor of Lee, retired Royal Navy officer John Beavis and his wife had a lot to talk about with the history-loving Norwegian jumpers. PHOTO: Martin Nilsen

SPARTANISH: The American Daken has a very spartan interior with some misplaced new-old seats from the 60s for those in the seating areas on board. PHOTO: Martin Nilsen

 

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