Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire

Congratulations from the team at AHL

What an emotional sight

Today we had the privilege of meeting Lt Col David Hamilton USAF (Retd) when he returned to the former airfield of RAF North Witham, now Forestry England’s Twyford Woods, near Grantham.
David is 97 years old and has a spectacular ability to recall his wartime memories as a US Troop Carrier Pathfinder pilot.
David was the commander of C-47 serial number 43-15330 when it took off for Normandy just before midnight on 5 June 1944. It was carrying Pathfinder paratroops of the... US 82nd Airborne Division, whose mission was to mark out the drop zones for the main force of paratroopers following soon afterwards. David’s aircraft was subjected to heavy anti-aircraft fire but he managed to drop his passengers - from the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division -accurately on the designated drop zone. The paratroopers landed in a German troop concentration and were not able to set up their marker lights but were able to use one ‘Eureka’ beacon. As a result, up to 50 aircraft from the follow-on force found the drop zone and delivered their troops onto it.
Today, at his former airfield, David stood on the very runway he flew from on 5 June 1944, and drove along it in a wartime jeep. The C-47 ‘D-Day Doll’ from the US D-Day Squadron flew over in tribute, as David sat in the jeep on the runway. This aircraft is itself a D-Day veteran and has made the journey from the USA to Europe for the D-Day 75th Anniversary commemorations.
Afterwards, David unveiled a new information board at the car park in Twyford Woods, from where the public can walk onto the old airfield. He then travelled to South Witham, where he unveiled a ‘Lest We Forget’ bench in the village centre and was hosted to a wonderful luncheon in his honour laid on by the village community.
This was a very moving and memorable day for us all, when we were privileged to walk in the footsteps of heroes while in the company of one.
Thank you David.
Lest we forget. 🌺🌺🌺🌺
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Some nice jumping!