An Exceptional Gathering Of Liaison Aircraft From The Second World War

In the context of the 75th anniversary of the allied landings and the battle of Normandy, that will be celebrated in June 2019, preparations have begun for an exceptional commemoration. Indeed, this "quarter of a century" anniversary is possibly the last in which WWII veterans will participate.

The association L-Birds Back to Normandy has organized an unprecedented gathering of liaison aircraft, called L-Birds (L for liaison), from June 6-9, 2019. This gathering will bring together Piper L-4s, Stinson L-5 Sentinels, and some rare L-Birds that are the only airworthy examples of the aircraft.

More than 60 liaison aircraft, all authentic and in their historical colors of 1939-45, will muster in Normandy from the four corners of Europe.

The uniqueness of this event is to bring together for the first time since 1945 an unprecedented number of liaison aircraft, real veterans, and representatives of different types of WWII aircraft, from all countries involved. Truly authentic (historically as visually) aircraft will contribute to the memory of the duty of their owners and pilots. The diversity of the nationalities of participants, be it at the level of the pilots involved in the operation, as in the representativeness of the aircraft, is exceptional. With a strong message of reconciliation, they will be flown together by pilots of 14 different nationalities.

Planned events include:

• June 7, 2019: Commemorative flight over the D-Day beaches.
• June 8, 2019: Presentation of the aircraft to the public at the airfield of St André of the Eure (27).
• June 9, 2019: Reconstruction of an aerodrome of Lessay (Manche), 1944.

Additional details will be released as they are finalized.

(Images provided with L-Birds Back to Normandy news release)

FMI: www.l-birds.fr/en/