That's All, Brother Still Touching Hearts

We had the privilege here at the Society to receive a couple of lovely e-mails from - would you believe it! - a lovely couple. Kristina Johnson and Andy Thompson, two aviation photographers, experience first-hand what it is like to fly the DC-3, especially that of such significance as the Commemorative Air Force's C-47 "That's All, Brother", and a testament to our goal in educating the public, and future generations, of the DC-3's role in both war and peace.

Kristina: I surprised Andy at the Pistons & Props Airshow in Janesville with a flight aboard the C-47 That’s All, Brother—his favorite radial-engine warbird. I secretly bought the ticket and waited until we walked over to photograph the plane before telling him he wasn’t just there to take pictures—he was going to fly on it. With its incredible history, including leading the D-Day invasion into Normandy, the experience was truly unforgettable. When he stepped off the plane, he was at a loss for words.

All he could say was, “It was unreal."

Andy: So the day started with what I thought was just a trip from Middleton, WI, to Janesville, WI for an airshow which Kristina and I had never attended before. Once we got on the grounds, and made our way over to the bird, she surprised me with a ride aboard it. To say that I was shocked is an understatement. I couldn't wrap my head around this amazing opportunity I had been gifted.

We received our debriefing prior to boarding, along with some history and rather unique facts about the plane. Once we had completed this part of the journey, we began boarding the plane. Even climbing aboard was a bit surreal, knowing that extremely brave, young men had climbed into this aircraft over 80 years ago, to fly into enemy-occupied territory, and jump out of a perfectly good aircraft, to serve our country, defend our freedoms, and to restore things to how they were prior to war time.

Andy: I sat down in my seat, which was merely a scalloped-out section of the bench seating which ran the length of the fuselage, providing enough room for each paratrooper in the day to rest and prepare for their mission ahead as they made their way to the dropzone(s). I looked all around the inside of the plane, taking in all of the details, and trying to comprehend what could be going through each soldier's mind. From the closing of the door, to the taxiing, takeoff, the flight over the WI countryside, to returning to where my journey started, the experience was unreal. What those brave individuals aboard that plane did for all of us cannot be easily summed up. They made sacrifices, with some making the ultimate sacrifice. We must remember them. We cannot let this fade. They are true heroes, and we should all be eternally grateful for what they did.

In closing, I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to have this remarkable experience. I smile from ear to ear every time I think about that day and will never forget it. Thank you, Kristina, for making this warbird-loving aviation geek a happy kid again!

You may follow Kristina and Andy on their aviation adventures by checking out their Instagram accounts, @kjtravels40 and @negative_ghost_rider_photography