D-Day Doll Century Club

Douglas C-53, Serial Number 42-68830, entered service into the United States Army Air Force in 1942 as a "Skytrooper" or parachute version of the famed DC-3. She was assigned to the 88th Troop Carrier Squadron, 438th Troop Carrier Group from 1942 to 1945. During her time in the USAAF she was based in England and dropped American Paratroopers into France on D-Day to help eventually overthrow the German occupation of Europe. After serving with the USAAF she was sold surplus and spent the next 60 years of her life hauling people and cargo.

In 2001, The Commemorative Air Force recognized her historical value and saw the need for her to be saved for future generations. As this volunteer organization has found out though, in order to keep this girl airworthy, it requires both thousands of hours and thousands of "cubic dollars". She has never let us down but the cost of operation grows each year she gets older.  Parts are harder and harder to find and 70 years of service let us know every now and then that she needs special TLC. Your yearly donation of $100 will help assure her service as a flying history lesson for years to come.

Unfortunately, many of today's generation have not had the opportunity to know or learn from the veterans of WWII.  We here at the Inland Empire Wing have been lucky enough to know the brave men and women who sacrificed everything to keep America free. We will do our very best to honor them every day by keeping "The D-Day Doll" flying as a tribute to their sacrifice.  Children born today may never know those who gave them the great country we have today but we can tell their story by keeping The D-Day Doll flying through the next century!