D-Day +75 Memorial Parachute Jump

***********This fundraiser officially closed on 7/6/2019. We raised slightly more than our goal amount, which means that 53% of the total cost of this endeavor was paid for by the donations of family, friends, and complete strangers who share a common bond. Totally awesome!**********

This coming June will mark the 75th Anniversary of the Allied Invasion of Normandy, most commonly referred to as D-Day.

June 6th, 1944 saw what was arguably the largest military invasion in world history, let alone WW2. The D-Day invasion marked “the beginning of the end” of the Nazi war machine, and also began the liberation of Western Europe.

This incredible undertaking was led by a massive airborne invasion - consisting of approximately 24,000 allied airborne troops - who either parachuted or landed by glider across the fields of Normandy. The aircraft entrusted to accomplish this incredible mission was the Douglas C-47 Skytrain.

This coming June, a memorial event of historic proportions is scheduled to take place in Normandy, France - on the exact same fields where the battle was fought 75 years ago.

Approximately 40 C-47 aircraft from around the world will gather at an airfield in Duxford, England. Once they arrive in England, they will begin preparations to fly in formation across the English Channel and over the Normandy coast, just as they did in the early morning hours of D-Day. Once this memorial flight arrives over Normandy, nearly 300 paratroopers dressed in WW2 allied airborne uniforms will parachute onto one of the original D-Day drop zones.

My name is Warren Johnson, from Minnesota, USA, and I’m proud to say that I’ve become involved in this incredible event.

Several years ago, I began conducting some personal family research, largely focused on my grandfather and his 5 brothers, as they all served during WW2. I wanted to learn more about what they did, and since they are all passed away, I began a research project.

During this research, I keyed in on one of my grandfather’s older brothers, named Lambert L. Johnson. I never met my Granduncle, as he died in 1979, and I was born in 1987. But, his story grabbed my attention for 2 primary reasons; not only had we both served in the U.S. Army, but besides myself, he is the only person in my family I know of that went into law enforcement after military service. After WW2, Lambert was elected Sheriff of Richland County, North Dakota.

While researching my Granduncle Lambert, I found that he was a Sergeant with Easy Company, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment , 82nd Airborne Division. I found that he had jumped into Normandy on D-day, and after acquiring a copy of the planes flight manifest, I have been able to track down the family members of several other men on the plane. Since then, I’ve been able to slowly piece together some of their stories, and get a better understanding of where they landed and what they did. It’s been an incredibly fun, humbling, and rewarding experience all at the same time..

Perhaps most incredibly of all, in 2014 I discovered that the airplane my granduncle jumped from on D-day - is still flying!

I made contact with the organization that owns the plane, named 'Flygande Veteraner'. This organization is located in Sweden, and my discovery assisted them in filling in some of the aircraft’s missing history as well. It’s been a really neat and historical exploration to be part of!

This past spring, the chief mechanic for the airplane got ahold of me and informed me that the plane, now named “Daisy”, is going to take part in a memorial parachute jump over Normandy, France for the 75th Anniversary of D-Day.

Ever since I had learned of the planes existence, I had hoped go see it someday. After hearing about a flyover in Normandy, I knew this was the time. When I heard she would be dropping parachutists, I thought, ‘there’s no way…I wonder if I could be one of the jumpers?’

To make long story short, I got some really great advice from the event director who is coordinating the memorial flyover event known as ‘Daks Over Normandy’, Peter Braun. With Mr. Braun’s advice, and the expert instruction at the X-35 airborne school in Dunnellon, Florida, over the last 5 months I’ve managed to complete the 10 required parachute jumps needed to participate in the event. I am now fully qualified and registered to jump into Normandy this June…quite possibly from the exact same airplane that my Granduncle did on D-day! The planes chief mechanic states that they are working hard to ensure the static line cable is installed in time, and once that’s accomplished everything will be good to go. Should the cable not be installed in time, I’ll still be jumping, but from another C47. Here’s to hoping “Daisy” is ready in time though!!

This has all been a really incredible experience for me. While the adventure of it all is really exciting, my main goal is that this jump – this event – this little fundraiser – will all serve as a memorial and reminder to us all. I strive to make sure we never forget the sacrifices made by my grandfather – his brothers – and ALL of those who laid their lives on the line for us and the freedoms we enjoy.

Obviously, making this goal a reality has cost me a decent chunk of change. Every penny worth it to me though – the cost I'm paying is absolutely nothing - nothing - compared to the price that was paid by my grandfather and his brothers; as so I feel a little money spent to honor them is the least I can do.

After much convincing by my spouse - and a few friends and co-workers - I’ve decided to open up half of the expenses to fundraising, while I use money earned while working overtime to cover the other half myself. I didn't initially intend on doing a fundraiser, but I've been convinced that there are others out there who hold the same passions and desires in their heart that I do, and they would really want to be apart of making this memorial jump happen.

So, if that person is you - If this is a cause which you are passionate about, whatever donation you feel led to give will be sincerely appreciated.

Thank you so much for reading!

Also, you can now follow along on this journey via my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/dday75warrenjohnson

“As long as there is someone left to remember, nobody ever dies. Their deeds live after them.” ~ George “Chappie” Wood, 82nd Airborne Division, WW2 vet.

Take care,

Warren