Commemorative Air Force

On June 14 and 15, 2025, don't miss the event of the year: the Navy to Victory Tour at the Cerny-La Ferté Alais airfield, a unique opportunity to relive the history of the Second World War through emblematic aircraft and objects!

We are honored to welcome from Texas a World War II veteran aircraft, the Douglas R4D Ready 4 Duty, the US Navy version of the famous DC-3, belonging to the Commemorative Air Force. This legendary aircraft will open its doors to you for exceptional interior visits, to discover the flight conditions of the time and the technical characteristics of this living legend of military aviation.

The exhibition also features objects and relics from World War II warships such as the USS Texas, USS Laffey and USS Yorktown, moving testaments to the heroism of American sailors.

This event is organized by the CAF French Wing and the Musée Salis in partnership with Le Fana de l'Aviation magazine, in an exceptional setting where history buffs, families and the curious can immerse themselves in the heritage of the Atlantic and Pacific wars and military aviation.

Timetable :

10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Prices :

- General admission: 19€ (5-14 years 15€)

- Navy Gold Wings Spotter Ticket (privileged access to exceptional viewing areas, meeting and dinner with pilots and crew, night photo shooting with engines running... Entertainment and supervision by the DCA association): 180€.

On-site catering

Come and celebrate history, freedom and the courage of those who fought for peace. We look forward to seeing you for an unforgettable weekend at the heart of World War II history!

On Saturday June 14, 2025, the French Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, the Musée Volant Salis and the DCA association are organizing a special operation for photographers.

On the weekend of June 14 and 15, 2025, the Navy to Victory Tour will stop at the wonderful La Ferté Alais airfield.

The Douglas R4D-6S, after a journey from Texas through the eastern USA, will cross the Atlantic to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe on May 08, 1945, which marked the end of more than five years of war.

Ready 4 Duty

The Douglas R4D “Ready 4 Duty” is the naval version of the C-47. The CAF version was modified to carry anti-submarine grenades. It was assigned to the U.S. Navy Atlantic Special Service Squadron. It served in the Caribbean, from Texas to Guantanamo (Cuba), in South America as far as Rio, in the South Atlantic as far as Dakar, in the Eastern Atlantic and in the Northern Hemisphere, from Newfoundland to Greenland and as far as Iceland. During operational patrols in February 1945, he was one of 20 members of a squadron that surprised and sank a German submarine surfacing off the Brazilian coast.

Navy Gold Wings Spotters Pass

We want you to experience an exceptional day and feel privileged.

You will be greeted by volunteers from the DCA Association, who will give you your badge, which will be your key to accessing the activities reserved for you, including :

Admission to the Musée Volant Salis

• Exhibition of artifacts from warships USS Texas, USS Laffey, USS Yorktown.

• Shooting of the R4D arrival and Corsair in flight from dedicated spotting areas. You'll be accompanied by DCA volunteers.

• A tour of Ready 4 Duty with crew commentary.

• A masterclass in aeronautical photography led by Kris Christiaens and the DCAs, focusing on photographing aircraft in flight and static, at night, with engines running or accompanied by extras, will be a fascinating experience for photographers with a passion for aviation.

• Kris Christiaens is a recognized expert in the field of aerial photography, and will guide you through advanced techniques for capturing breathtaking images.

Program:

1. Introduction to aeronautical photography

Understanding the environment: Light, weather and airspace conditions necessary for a good shot.
Recommended equipment: Choice of cameras (DSLR or mirrorless) and lenses (telephoto, wide-angle), as well as accessories such as ND filters for exposure control.

2. Shooting techniques

• Aircraft in flight :
• Ground - Air: Use slow shutter speeds to capture the movement of the propellers and not freeze the movement of the aircraft, while preserving sharpness.
• Spin: Specific settings for tracking aircraft movement with long focal length lenses.
• Air to air: Choice of speeds, anticipation and communication , type of briefing
• Static aircraft:

Techniques for capturing motionless aircraft with dramatic backgrounds.
Working with natural or artificial light to add volume and texture.
Shooting with extras/reenactors:
Working with extras in period costume to recreate historical scenes or add a human element.
Staging techniques: composition, interaction with extras and positioning for immersive photography.

3. Tips and Tricks

• Safety precautions: Aviation photography requires careful preparation, especially when shooting in flight. Make sure you're well trained and follow safety precautions.
• Network with pilots and reenactors: Establish links with pilots, associations, organizations and reenactment enthusiasts to obtain opportunities for collaboration.

4. Safety reminders and presentation of spotting areas for the day

You'll soon have the opportunity to put all these techniques and tips into practice on this beautiful day.

You'll soon have the chance to put all these techniques and tips into practice on this beautiful day.

Dinner:

You'll dine in the sumptuous surroundings of the B-17 hangar, with the pilots and crew. Quality food will be served at the table, in a jazzy swinging atmosphere, thanks to the duo Madeeson & Co.

• A night photo shoot with reenactors, followed by a sequence of R4Ds and Corsairs with their engines running.

• • The Klondike Group, dressed in US Navy gear, will give your photos a WWII atmosphere and bring history to life.

All proceeds from the event will be donated to the aircraft.

For your convenience, the number of places will be limited, and we reserve the right to close registrations at any time.

The program is subject to change, depending on mechanical and weather conditions.

Photographers, spotters, this day of June 11, 2024 is for you. On their way from Normandy, where they will have commemorated the 80th anniversary of D-Day, to Germany, where they will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, the two Dakotas of the Commemorative Air Force will stop at La Ferté Alais.

You'll witness their arrival in flight, and be able to welcome the crews for dinner. (BBQ)

Before or after dinner, you'll attend a workshop on night shooting and running engines led by photographer Laurent Cluzel.

Well-equipped re-enactors in WWII uniforms will bring your static photos to life.

The two Commemorative Air Force aircraft, the C-47 "That's All Brother" and the R4D "Ready 4 Duty" will be open to you for interior photos, with lighting adapted to the shots.

Finally, once night has fallen, you'll be able to photograph a rotating engine aircraft.

This program is subject to change depending on weather and mechanical conditions.

The price is 90€ per photographer

All proceeds from this operation will go to the two Commemorative Air Force aircraft.

That's All Brother by Rich Cooper

The Douglas C-47 Skytrain "That's All Brother" is a true veteran of the Normandy landings. She led the main assault wave at dawn on June 6, 1944. The Commemorative Air Force has completely restored her to her original configuration to bring her to celebrate the 75th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy in 2019. She made the trip again from San Marcos, Texas, for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Ready 4 Duty by Alan Wilson

The Douglas R4D "Ready 4 Duty" is the naval version of the C-47. The CAF version was modified to carry anti-submarine grenades. She was assigned to the U.S. Navy Atlantic Special Service Squadron. It served in the Caribbean, from Texas to Guantanamo (Cuba), in South America to Rio, in the South Atlantic to Dakar, in the Eastern Atlantic and in the Northern Hemisphere, from Newfoundland to Greenland and Iceland. During operational patrols in February 1945, she was one of 20 members of a squadron that surprised and sank a German submarine on the surface off the Brazilian coast. "Ready 4 Duty is based in Dallas Forth Worth, Texas.
She too has been to Europe before, in 1985.

Other C-47/DC-3s could land at La Ferté and remain on static display, such as the C-47 Placie Lassie and the DC-3 Western Airlines, which have already been confirmed.

In addition to your photos and memories full of eyes and ears, you'll leave with the Daks over LFA patch.

Practical info:

Parking: The Musée Volant Salis parking lot has 150 spaces.
Welcome: Laurent Casaert, representative of the DCA association, co-organizer of this event, and volunteers will meet you on arrival at the Musée Volant Salis.
An access badge, valid for the day, will be given to you on arrival (please bring proof of identity).

On June 7 & 8, 2019, Daks over Normandy will be an event of exceptional magnitude and historical importance with which the CAF French Wing is associated. Together with other aircraft, CAF’s C-47 Skytrain "That's All Brother" and C-53 Skytrooper "D-Day Doll" will cross the Atlantic to join, first at Duxford and then at Caen-Carpiquet, the fleet of European DC-3’s and C-47’s to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Normandy Invasion in the Daks over Normandy event which is assembling about thirty DC-3, C-47 and C-53 aircraft, plus a number of single engine World War II fighters, like Spitfires and  Mustangs

The program includes commemorative flights with parachute drops into  the original Drop Zones, where "That's All Brother" will return as the Lead aircraft, when in the Dawn of June 6, 1944, it led the main assault wave of the "Albany" mission.

Caen-Carpiquet Airport will be open to the public on Friday, June 7 and on Saturday June 8, 2019, from 10.00 to 17.00.  Visitors will be able to see the aircraft and speak to the crews and see this extraordinary armada fly.

You can, right now, get your tickets here www.daksovernormandy.com/tickets

You can also get tickets at the entry, but the online prices are lower

The CAF French Wing and the Overlor Museum of Colleville sur Mer, represented by its director Nicolas Leloup, had the great honour of welcoming the family of pilot Marvin Jerome Rosvold.

On 17 August 1944, returning from a mission in the putanges sector, Marvin J. Rosvold of the 397th Fighter Squadron, 368th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force, was shot down, his P-47’s engine hit by flak.

He bailed out near Falaise and landed behind Allied lines. He returned to his unit the following day. In 1992, Michel Rainfroy, a history and aviation enthusiast, found the crash site south of Falaise and excavated the engine and eight machine guns with the help of Michel Leloup, owner of the Falaise Museum. At the time, they did not know the identity of the pilot of this P-47. In 2011, Stéphane Duchemin, Wing Leader of the Commemorative Air Force’s French Wing, discovered and restored 1Lt Rosvold’s parachute and reconstituted his entire story except for location of the crash site. Michel Rainfroy and Stéphane Duchemin met in 2016 and pooled their researches, thus confirming that the P-47 discovered by Michel Rainfroy was that of Marv Rosvold.

His brother Harlan, also a World War 2 veteran who served as a US Marine Corps corporal in the Pacific (Tinian, Saipan and iwo Jima), his daughter Suzan and five members of the Rosvold family were able to discover the remains of his aircraft and parachute and follow his past footsteps at the location.

It was during the Bastille Day, France’s national holiday, that the meeting was scheduled in Vierville for a lunch with a view on the seafront. After lunch, they were surprised with the arrival of their chauffeur for the afternoon, Michel Meslin, who was to drive them around in a 1942 Dodge WC51, raking them back to the atmosphere of 1944.

They were expected at the Overlod Museum in Colleville, where they were greeted by a large crowd surrounding the town’s mayor and Nicolas Leloup who made a moving speech. The family discovered with great emotion the remains of the P-47’s engine as well as Marv Rosvold’s parachute. Nicolas Leloup had had a special mount built especially for the event in order to present the engine and machine guns as well as an information panel in both French and English.

The welcoming staff of the Overlord Museum then invited the participants to a toast to friendship and Harlan Rosvold gracefully accepted to sign books, photos and profiles of his brother’s P-47 created by the gifted artist Gaëtan Marie.

The Rosvold family then boarded the Dodge again to drive to the neighboring American cemetery in Colleville and pay their respects.

The afternoon was concluded with a Dodge drive along Omaha beach.

Mireille Bajum then welcomed the party of 15 people to a dinner in her mansion, “Le Domaine de Bayeux” which was followed by the screening of a presentation made by Stéphane Duchemin, retracing the operations of the 368th Fighter Group in Normandy and the details of the 65th mission of Lieutenant Rosvold, which ended in his bailing out of his aircraft.

On the morning of the 15th of July, the Rosvold family regrouped at Cardonville, where the former ALG A-3 was located and which was the home base for Marv and the 368th FG during the summer of 1944. The mayor, Mrs Chantal Faudemer, had prepared a warm welcome for them with flying American flags and a reception in the small town hall where photos of Cardonville during the war were exposed as well as a movie of wartime US archival footage prepared by the local association of municipalities. She accompanied the group to the Cardonville castle, which was used during the war as headquarters and officer’s club by the 368th FG. It is nowadays a farm belonging to the Mattmann family, whose daughter kindly welcomed the family and gave them a tour of the area.

Madame Faudemer had planned an event with local officials around the memorial monument dedicated to the men of the 368th FG and those of the 816th Engineer Aviation Battalion who built the airfield. The monument was decorated with flowers and Madam Mayor favored applauses over the more traditional moment of silence to celebrate these men. A convoy of military vehicles and reenactors drove by the monument.

The group took to the road again and reached the Falaise sector where the mayor of Saint pierre du Bû was expecting them for refreshments. They were joined there by Michel Rainfroy, who had discovered the wreckage of the aircraft. On the way to the field in which Marv’s aircraft fell, a quick stop was made at the emplacement of the german Flak battery that probably shot Marv down. Then the owner of the field gave the family permission to access the premises. Armed with his metal detector, Michel Rainfroy made a first unsuccessful scan. Nicolas Leloup had taken with him photos of the 1992 excavation of the engine and machine guns. A final check was made with these and made it possible to narrow the location. Stéphane Duchemin and Michel Rainfroy made a final sweep and Stéphane finally made the detector sound. The first pieces of fuselage that were found were offered to Suzan. Her husband Thomas dug more and found additional parts. Sue left with a few parts of her father’s aircraft and some earth of the crash location.

The following stop was made where Marv had landed in his parachute and were a local woman had found his parachute one morning. Sue, Nicolas Leloup, Mathieu Bianchi and Stéphane Duchemin met her son who now lives in the house and happens to be a great enthusiast of aviation and warbirds.

At 4:30 PM, the mayor of Saint Pierre du Bû had invited the Rosvold family to a ceremony at the village’s monument to fallen soldiers. A large public was there to greet them. Youths from the village raised the American, French and European flags. Musicians from the local music school accompanied the raising of the colours. An honor guard of 25 standard-bearers from several Veteran associations was present, under the orders of the mayor, a former Colonel of the French Air Force. The mayor gave a speech that was simultaneously translated by an interpreter for the benefit of the Americans. A wreath was set down by the Rosvold family and the mayor after which the hymn for the deceased was played and a minute of silence was observed. The American, European and French anthems were played. Mr Leroux, mayor of Saint Pierre du Bû, then offered Sue and Harlan the city’s medal of honor. They were both moved and touched by this gesture of respect and gratitude by the French people towards the combatants who sacrificed everything for their freedom.

The mayor then invited the assembly to follow him to the village hall for a toast of honor. The standard-bearers assembled into a row of honor to greet the guests. The members of the Rosvold family saluted them and thanked each of them individually. The hall’s tables had been decorated with a table runner with the colours of the two countries. Michel Rainfroy had set up an exhibit of aircraft parts, photos and documents covering his years of research on aircraft fallen in the region and mainly P-47s. The mayor explained to the assembly how the mystery surrounding Rosvold’s 65th mission was solved and then invited Michel Rainfroy, Nicolas Leloup and Stéphane Duchemin to speak. The inhabitants got a chance to exchange with the Rosvold family and ask questions to those who had uncovered his operation story in Normandy.

On behalf of the CAF French Wing, Stéphane Duchemin would like to thank the Rosvold family for coming to France to honor Marv’s memory, Nicolas Leloup and the Overlord Museum for organizing and financing this operation, the museum staff for their welcome, mayor of Colleville Patrick Thomines, François Mathy, Michel Leslin, owner of the magnificent Dodge WC51, Bertrand Brown for his profiles of Marv’s P-47, Mathieu Bianchi, Patrick Pierre-Pierre and the “locals” John Rouxel, Kevin Rouxel and Jérôme Delile, all members of the CAF French Wing, for their support, Mireille Bajum of the Domaine de Bayeux for her welcom, Michel Rainfroy, who discovered the wreckage, for his research, comments and exposition, Chantal Faudemer, mayor of Cardonville, his family and the elected officials of Cardonville and Osmanville, the Mattmann family, owner of the castle, Jean-Claude Leroux, mayor of Saint Pierre du Bû and his constituents and volunteers, for their exceptional welcome.

For watching the pictures of those two days, it's here

Video made by Mr Léveillé, owner of the fiel where Lt Rosvold's P-47 crashed

Translation, Bertrand Brown

The CAF French Wing, with help from its members in Normandy, will do everything it can to support this initiative. Nick Coleman will associate the CAF French Wing in its videos and we were briefly interviewed at the Overlord Museum in Colleville

We will keep you posted on the progress of this project.

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