Douglas C-47 Skytrain

C-47 of the 99th Troop Carrier Squadron, 441st Troop Carrier Group. The absence of D-Day stripes on the wings and the lack of vegetation on the trees in the background dates this photograph in the winter of 1944 / 1944.

On D-Day the 441st TCG took part in "Mission Alabany" which was the codename given to the combat drop of the 101st Airborne Division. On this mission the 441st TCG dropped the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment.(1/501st PIR and 2/501st PIR) in the Angoville au Plain area between 01:26 and 01:34 on June the 6th 1944.

The 99th TCS, which this aircraft belongs to, formed the 18 aircraft of Serial 14 and dropped elements of 1/501st PIR on drop zone "D" at 01:26. The 3J marking on the aircraft identifies this aircraft as a member of the 99th.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_Albany

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-47

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101st_Airborne_Division