WW II-era C-47 aircraft landing in Presque Isle

    PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Presque Isle will be the first stop for a World War II-era warplane making an historic Trans-Atlantic flight to take part in a reenactment of D-Day 70 years later.
The Douglas C-47 aircraft and its crew will arrive Thursday, May 15, and will overnight in the Star City before continuing a three-week, eight-city flight plan leading to the June 6 anniversary event in and around Normandy, France.
Known as Whiskey 7, the C-47 landing in Presque Isle served on D-Day to deploy paratroopers over northwestern France. The make of the warplane also has historic significance to Presque Isle as the C-47 was frequently used to transport injured troops from the European theater to the busy Presque Isle Army Airfield where a large hospital complex sat on what is now the north end of the NMCC campus.
“We are so pleased that Presque Isle and the Northern Maine Regional Airport will be a part of the D-Day 70th anniversary ceremonies that will take place in Normandy, France in early June with the stopover of this C-47 aircraft. It truly underscores the important role that Presque Isle played in WW II and the strategic importance the airfield, and now airport, holds not only in our region’s past and present, but in our nation’s military history, as well,” said Nathan Grass, president of the Presque Isle Air Museum, which is housed at the airport. “This event will provide an opportunity for older residents to re-live an important part of the Star City and Aroostook County’s past, while serving as a vibrant history lesson for all area residents, especially school-aged children.”
For more information on the plane’s visit, log onto TAMC’s website at www.tamc.org or the Northern Maine Regional Airport website at www.flypresqueisle.com.