Air Force Re-Enacts D-Day Invasion on Social Media

On the evening of June 5 and the early morning of June 6, Joint Base Charleston will conduct a real-time historical re-enactment of World War II’s D-Day invasion, solely on social media.

During World War II, a total of 821 allied C-47 troop carrier aircraft took off at planned intervals from bases in England during the D-Day invasion of Europe, June 6, 1944. They all passed over check point Bill of Portland at their assigned altitudes at their designated times in a long string headed toward Normandy, France. On the evening of June 5 and the early morning of June 6, 2018, Joint Base Charleston, S.C., will conduct a real-time historical re-enactment of the D-Day invasion, solely on social media. Starting at 7 p.m. EDT, both the 437th and 315th Airlift Wings will start Facebook and Twitter posts as if the D-Day invasion is happening in real time, as it did 74 year ago, through the eyes of their predecessors, the 437th and 315th Troop Carrier Groups. Air Force graphic

Planned Routes

During World War II, a total of 821 allied C-47 troop carrier aircraft took off at planned intervals from bases in England during the D-Day invasion of Europe, June 6, 1944. They all passed over check point Bill of Portland at their assigned altitudes at their designated times in a long string headed toward Normandy, France. On the evening of June 5 and the early morning of June 6, 2018, Joint Base Charleston, S.C., will conduct a real-time historical re-enactment of the D-Day invasion, solely on social media. Starting at 7 p.m. EDT, both the 437th and 315th Airlift Wings will start Facebook and Twitter posts as if the D-Day invasion is happening in real time, as it did 74 year ago, through the eyes of their predecessors, the 437th and 315th Troop Carrier Groups. Air Force graphic

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Credit: Michael Dukes

VIRIN: 180531-F-AM806-001A

Starting at 7 p.m. EDT, both the 437th and 315th Airlift Wings will start Facebook and Twitter posts as if the D-Day invasion is happening in real time, as it did 74 year ago, through the eyes of their predecessors, the 437th and 315th Troop Carrier Groups.

Honoring Heroes, Celebrating Heritage

“This is a great way for us to celebrate our heritage,” said Air Force Col. Jimmy Canlas, commander of the 437th Airlift Wing. “This project will give the public a glimpse of a day in the life of some real heroes that did what our nation needed them to do 74 years ago.”

During D-Day, the active-duty 437th Airlift Wing flew out of Aldermaston Field in England and towed gliders for the invasion; the Air Force Reserve’s 315th Airlift Wing flew out of Spanhoe Field, also in England, and dropped the 82nd Airborne Division near Sainte Mere Eglise, France.

D-Day Revisited on Social Media

Both wings will use their official social media to post real-time accounts and photos of the events that happened on D-Day involving the respective units from historical and personal observations as well as both wings' official histories.

The social media re-enactment will start at 7 p.m. EDT and go until 6:30 a.m. the following morning. All historical posts will use the hashtag #DDayRemembered.

The 437th Airlift Wing can be found on Facebook and Twitter at 437AW and the 315th Airlift Wing can be found on Facebook and Twitter at 315AW.

For additional information, contact Air Force Maj. Wayne Capps at (843) 963-2035 or (843) 437-4238.