Douglas C-47A (June,6,1944)

C-47A 43-15137 was assigned to the 306th Troop Carrier Squadron (TCS) 442nd Troop Carrier Group (TCG) 50th Troop Carrier Wing (TCW) IX Troop Carrier Command, Royal Air Force (RAF) Station Fulbeck, England. On June 6th 1944 C-47A 43-15137 was assigned the Airborne "Chalk" number 40. 1st Lt. Buckley A. Maynard with his crew, Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Elmer W. Ambler, Navigator 2nd Lt. Donald J. Markey, Flight Engineer SSgt. Francis A. Kline Jr and Radio Operator Sgt. Vernon F. Coss took off under Mission "Boston". Serial 26 for Operation Overlord-the invasion of Normandy, France. This aircraft's history was lost for decades after WWII, as it passed inti civilian service and was mostly cut up for scrap-except for its nose and cockpit section, from which this fragment was taken.