More Whiskey Seven

I can't recall an event that received more coverage in the Usual USAF Source than Whiskey Seven's European trip.  Here's another such item:

Air Frame: A World War II-era Douglas C-47 Skytrain (foreground), known as Whiskey 7, flies alongside a C-130J Super Hercules from the 37th Airlift Squadron over Germany, May 30, 2014. The C-47 came to Ramstein Air Base to participate in activities with the squadron, its legacy unit, before returning to Normandy, France, to recreate its D-Day role in dropping paratroopers over Sainte-Mere Eglise, France, on June 6, 1944, as part of the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. (Air Force photo by SSgt. Sara Keller)

It's really hard to find a trash hauler that's prettier than the C-47.  I know I've mentioned this before (in other places) but I'm old enough to have flown in an active duty USAF C-47.  There was a C-47 based at Vandenberg AFB in the mid-60s; my maintenance officer (who was rated) at the 669th Radar Squadron used to fly that bird twice a year to "maintain proficiency," which is code for "keep my flight pay even though I'm in a non-flying billet."  He'd take as many squadron members along on those flights as there were available seats; I went on two or three of those excursions around the local area.  I also flew on several commercial DC-3s when I was a child, as well.  So yeah, this ol' geezer is familiar with the ol' Gooney Bird.