WW2 Douglas C-47 Thats All, Brother Returns To US After D-Day European Tour
WW2 Douglas C-47 Thats All, Brother Returns To US After D-Day European Tour
- C-47 Skytrain "That's All, Brother" restored to D-Day 1944 likeness with a few alterations
- Commemorative Air Force flies restored C-47 in D-Day commemorations and other events
- Commemorative Air Force has grown from modest beginnings to 181 warbirds and over 13,000 members
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain “That’s All, Brother” recently made a triumphant return to Europe to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the victorious Allied invasion that started the liberation of mainland Europe from Nazi Germany’s grasp. “That’s All Brother” has a fantastic restoration story to get to this point.
Finding and restoring Thats All Brother
The lead C-47 of 800 C-47s of 13,000 paratroops dropped behind enemy lines to pull the Nazis off the beaches, hold key bridges near the Normandy coast, and hold them accountable for their inhumanity to humanity. “That’s All Brother” would take paratroopers from the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division across the English Channel and start to make history.
As you can see above, with weeks to spare in 2014, military historians Matt Scales & Kent Tilley found the warbird in a Wisconsin aircraft yard – namely Basler Turbo Conversions at Oshkosh – and weeks from being cannibalized to help turn DC-3s and C-47s into turboprop BT-67s. You can see below a BT-67 explanation with ample “That’s All Brother” restoration footage inter-spliced in to help compare the C-47 and BT-67:
Instead, with the help of many donors – including the author – the Commemorative Air Force was able to purchase the first C-47 to take the 101st Airborne Division to the Normandy plains to make history happen. Further fundraising restored the full airworthiness of “That’s All Brother” by 2018 after decades of civilian heavy use and being again in Basler Turbo Conversions’ boneyard. The restoration combined original and new parts, genuine to what would have been assembled at the Douglas Aircraft C-47 factory lines in Midwest City, Oklahoma. Then, the paint scheme was recreated as “That’s All Brother” on June 5, 1944. One may review a documentary on the restoration and history on YouTube.
But finding and restoring “That’s All Brother” was just the first and second steps for the Commemorative Air Force. The next step would be flying her back to Normandy for the 2019 75th anniversary and 2024 80th anniversary of D-Day.
Flying Thats All Brother back to Normandy
In 2019, as leader of a fleet of 15 C-47/DC-3 radial-engine transports, “That’s All Brother” flew back to Europe and participated in many D-Day +_ 75 commemorations. One of those commemorations was on June 5, 2019; “That’s All Brother” flew with 18 paratrooper reenactors that recreated “That’s All Brother” participation in D-Day, complete with a successful para drop into Normandy.
As CAF volunteer and aircrewman Andy Maag shared in a June 2, 2023, Commemorative Air Force statement announcing the return,
Thats All, Brother is one of the world's most historically accurate C-47 restorations. It is our honor to return to Europe with such an authentic piece of history, to pay tribute to those who participated in D-Day and remind the generations that followed how important this event was in history.
Return to Europe, “That’s All, Brother” did. Not just in 2019 but again in 2024. In 2019, “That’s All, Brother” was able to fly in formation with a US Air Force C-130J over Normandy:
In 2024, “That’s All, Brother” could return to Normandy again. This time, she also commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift – taking supplies to Western forces over the Soviet blockade of East Germany in 1948 and 1949. A full explanation of the Berlin Airlift is in the below CNN documentary:
The Commemorative Air Force considered the presence of “That’s All Brother” in their June 25 statement as “a tribute to the spirit of cooperation and resilience that defined the Airlift.” Indeed, as a defeated Germany and bombed out, Berlin was dependent on outside logistics to care for its citizens, but the Soviet Union cut off those logistic links partially to respond to the Allies introducing a new currency in West Berlin and partially in an attempt to reunify Berlin and arguably Germany under Communist control despite treaties to the contrary. Instead, thanks to the Berlin Airlift, Berlin remained under shared control, and West Germany stood up—all thanks to the power of the Berlin Airlift.
About the Commemorative Air Force
The Commemorative Air Force (CAF), formerly the Confederate Air Force, began modestly in 1957 with former US Army Air Corps pilots wanting to get a North American P-51 Mustang and two Grumman F8F Bearcats back to flying condition. This led to the CAF's September 6, 1961, formation as a living history nonprofit. By January 1, 1962, the CAF grew to nine warbirds.
Photo: Christian D. Orr | Simple Flying
But this was only the modest beginning for the CAF. The CAF has grown into having a Boeing B-29 Superfortress “Fifi,” three P-51 Mustangs of different models, a Boeing B-17 “Sentimental Journey,” and more.
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Today, the CAF has six foreign-made aircraft, including a Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero and a Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIV. Overall, the CAF cares for 181 warbirds of 60 different types today, including 17 transports, including a PBY-6A Catalina.
Keep up with the latest Simple Flying coverage of military aviation here.
The four objectives of the CAF are:
- To acquire, restore, and preserve in flying condition a complete collection of combat aircraft flown by all military services of the United States and selected aircraft of other nations for the education and enjoyment of present and future generations of Americans.
- To provide museum buildings for the permanent protection and display of these aircraft as a tribute to the thousands of men and women who built, serviced, and flew them.
- To perpetuate in the memory and in the hearts of all Americans the spirit in which these great planes were flown to defend our nation.
- To establish an organization having the dedication, enthusiasm and esprit de corps necessary to operate, maintain and preserve these aircraft as symbols of our American military aviation heritage.
Finally, in 2001, the CAF membership voted for the name change from Confederate Air Force to Commemorative Air Force to clarify the mission. As a result, the CAF has over 13,000 members.
Bottom line
As Deena Clausen, Wing Leader of the Commemorative Air Force Central Texas Wing, shared in the Commemorative Air Force’s June 25 statement,
"We are thrilled to welcome That's All, Brother back home. This aircraft is a flying museum and a testament to the bravery of those who served during World War II. Its journey to Europe and back has allowed us to honor and remember their sacrifices in a profound way."
Indeed, and we’ll give Deena Clausen the last word.
What are your thoughts? Please share with civility in the comments.