To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II, “Ready 4 Duty,” a U.S. Navy World War II-era aircraft operated by the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), is embarking on a transatlantic journey from Texas to Europe to honor the service and sacrifice of American and Allied sailors.
Ready 4 Duty’s 12-week, 12,000-mile Navy to Victory Tour, which runs from April through July, includes appearances at over a dozen aviation and ceremonial events across the southern and eastern U.S., Iceland, the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands.
“Safely operating an 80-year-old aircraft for such an extended journey is no mean feat,” said Christopher Volpe, Navy to Victory Tour’s lead coordinator. “But helping to build a lasting legacy for veterans makes all of the preparations and sacrifices worth it.”
According to Volpe, the advancing age of World War II veterans, the youngest of whom are now 97, factored heavily into the decision to conduct this intercontinental tour.
“The window to honor these men and women while they’re still with us is closing rapidly,” said Volpe. “For them, their families, and society at large, we’re committed to paying tribute to them on this 80th Anniversary of the Allied victory.”
The iconic aircraft will also transport artifacts from surviving U.S. World War II-era warships, such as the U.S.S. Yorktown, Battleship Texas, and U.S.S. Laffey, during the Navy to Victory Tour. The exhibition, assembled specifically for this tour, marks the first time that artifacts from so many U.S. World War II warships are publicly displayed together, CAF officials noted.
About Ready 4 Duty
Built in 1944, Ready 4 Duty is a Douglas R4D-6S, the U.S. Navy’s version of the legendary DC-3 and C-47. The last of its kind still flying, the aircraft is a centerpiece of the Dallas/Fort Worth Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history of World War II aviation.
For more information: DFWWing.com, CommemorativeAirForce.org