D-Day Pilot Celebrates His 99th Birthday Flying a C-47

Each July, the WWII Airborne Demonstration Team (ADT) conducts its annual Summer Jump School in Frederick, Oklahoma, at the site of the former WWII Frederick Army Air Field (FAAF). ADT has restored the sole remaining massive 79-year-old hangar where they house their Douglas C-47 and C-49, and train students who come to attend the 8-day immersive parachute school that is based on the WWII airborne training regimen. The students come from all walks of life, with or without prior military or parachuting experience and, by the end of the week, they have five round-canopy parachute jumps from a C-47 under their belts, weather permitting.

During this year’s jump school, the ADT was privileged to have as an honored guest, Lt. Col. Dave Hamilton (USAF Ret.). Hamilton was there to celebrate his 99th birthday on July 20, and he would do so by flying the ADT C-47 Boogie Baby during a morning flight to drop 20 parachutists over the ADT drop zone a mile west of FAAF. ADT pilots Bob Prater and Paul Rasys, flew Boogie Baby to 1,500 feet where Rasys switched right seat positions with Hamilton, allowing him to fly several minutes during the flight. Hamilton was all smiles in the cramped C-47 cockpit. The birthday flight was very special to Hamilton and the team. Having this WWII veteran at the controls of the team’s C-47 bridged 77 years back in time to a frightful night in 1944.

Hamilton is very familiar with the C-47 having logged many hours in them, including combat time. As a 21-year-old, 1st Lt. Hamilton piloted aircraft number 14 of the 20 C-47s that took off late the evening of June 5, 1944, carrying 82nd Airborne Pathfinders to drop them into France behind German lines. Hamilton dropped his Pathfinders around 1:00 a.m. on June 6. The mission of the Pathfinders was to set up electronic homing equipment to help guide the more than 800 C-47s in the aerial armada that was already crossing the English Channel an hour behind Hamilton’s flight. On those aircraft were 13,000 paratroopers that would drop into the dark of night at the start of the invasion of Europe in the Normandy region of France.

Hamilton recalled that after dropping his pathfinders at around 800 feet, he dove down to about 100-150 feet and pushed his C-47 as fast as he could, wanting to get out of Normandy and over the English Channel on his way home to his base in England at RAF North Witham. As he was making for the French coast, his aircraft was taking anti-aircraft and small arms fire. On their return to England, more than 200 holes were counted in his C-47. Now, 77 years later, Hamilton is the last surviving Pathfinder pilot of that fateful 20-ship mission.

Hamilton also dropped Pathfinders during Operation Dragoon in August 1944. Operation Dragoon was the invasion of southern France. In September 1944, he flew five missions during Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands. The Allies received a bloody nose in the ill-fated operation and had to withdraw to fight another day. In December 1944, he led several C-47s to Bastogne to airdrop supplies to the surrounded 101st Airborne during the Battle of the Bulge. Several aircraft were lost on that mission. Hamilton was awarded four Air Medals for his service in WWII.

Hamilton left the US Army Air Force when World War II ended and flew C-47s, Douglas C-54s and Lockheed Constellations for American Overseas Airline. In 1950, he was recalled into the US Air Force to serve in the Korean War and flew 51 combat missions in the Douglas B-26. Hamilton would be awarded an additional five Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in Korea. After the Korean War, and throughout the 1950s, he flew various jets including the F-86D. Dave retired from the US Air Force in 1963 as a Lt. Colonel serving in defense intelligence.

Having an American hero visit ADT and fly its C-47 was a high honor for the team. Hamilton spent several days at the Summer Jump School and was treated like royalty. He enjoyed recalling his wartime experiences to the rapt attention of the students and team members during his visit. He is already making plans for his 100th birthday flight on July 20, 2022! Thank you for your service Lt. Col. Hamilton…and Happy Birthday!

Learn more about the WWII Airborne Demonstration Team at: wwiiadt.org and facebook.com/wwiiairbornedemonstrationteam