Part Of The CAF's Event Marking The D-Day Anniversary

The CAF's C-47 transport airplane That's All, Brother is a pretty special airplane. It has the distinction of being the first aircraft to cross into Europe on D-Day.  On Wednesday, the airplane had a pretty special passenger. Dick Cole, who is the last surviving person who flew the famous Doolittle Raid over Tokyo in 1942, was aboard as the CAF commemorated the anniversary of the D-Day invasion.

The San Antonio Express News reports that Cole was Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle's co-pilot in a B-25 bomber that flew off the deck of an aircraft carrier and ended when the crews bailed out of their aircraft during a thunderstorm at night. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his role in the raid. Cole went on to fly cargo planes in China for 14 months.

The CAF found the historic airplane in Wisconsin in an aircraft boneyard. 'That's All, Brother' was purchased for $35,000 and restored to flying condition over three years.

The Commemorative Air Force plans to take the C-47 to France next year for the 75th anniversary of D-Day, and is currently in the process of raising money to make that trip a reality.

(Image from file)

FMI: Original report