Want to see the Dakota armada heading for France, places to be

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Miss Montana C47

https://missmontanatonormandy.com/gallery/

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We are fortunate to have an historic C-47 aircraft in the Museum of Mountain Flying in Missoula. She has a rich history we would like to share with you!

N24320 was built as part of the United States war effort. She did not fly during World War II, as the war ended prior to her being completed. Her original mission was to serve our country in World War II, and this is one of the reasons we are flying her to Normandy…to complete her mission. Even though she did not serve in World War II, she has led a life of service.

Our N24320, is the airplane that flew the smokejumpers that fought the Mann Gulch Fire near Helena in 1949. Twelve smokejumpers and 1 smoke chaser perished in the Mann Gulch Fire. N24320 is displayed in the Museum of Mountain Flying as a tribute to those smokejumpers and all smokejumpers that help protect the forests of the United States.

While under the ownership of Johnson Flying Service, N24320 crashed in water killing the pilot and 12 passengers. She was repaired and put back into service. Johnson Flying Service, which was a FBO in Missoula, is significantly represented in the Museum and provided much of the training and first piloting opportunities for many of our Museum members.

N24320 was located by Museum founder Dick Komberec, a retired Delta pilot whose early piloting experience included working for Johnson Flying Service. Mr. Komberec spotted N24320 near Atlanta, Georgia during one of his flights to that area, and the Museum undertook fundraising efforts to purchase the airplane which was flown back to Missoula in and has since been a centerpiece of the Museum.

N24320 has been a work of pride for many museum members who annually take her to the runway for an engine run-up. She has a current airworthiness certificate and a crew of volunteers will be ensuring that she is in top form and ready to cross the Atlantic with the other planes from the United States which will participate in the Normandy tribute.

The Museum membership includes several experienced trans-Atlantic pilots who, along with younger, yet experienced, pilots, will be making the flight to Duxford, UK, and participating in the many activities scheduled during the two months of the tribute project.

The C-47 committee has selected the designation “Miss Montana to Normandy” to represent and honor the participation of the over 57,000 Montana citizens who served during World War II in all branches of the military, and also to honor the citizens of Montana who served in the war effort on the home front. The original designation “Miss Montana” was the nose art on the B-25 flown by Capt. Malcolm W. Enman, a Drummond, Montana resident who earned the Distinguished Flying Cross with a cluster, the Air Medal with 5 oak leaf clusters, and the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and American Defense ribbons, along with three stars for participation in three major campaigns, the Gilbert, The Marshall and the Caroline Islands. Mac, now deceased, is the father-in-law of Dick Komberec and grandfather of Eric Komberec, museum members, who plan to make the trip to Normandy as pilots.