WWII veterans attend museum D-Day exhibit opening

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WARNER ROBINS, Ga. (AFNS) --  More than 40 World War II veterans gathered Oct. 17 here to help open an exhibit recounting their wartime experiences on June 6, 1944. 

The veterans, mostly paratroopers of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment that trained at Fort Benning, near Columbus, Ga., jumped from C-47 troop carriers into battle zones over Europe on D-Day. 

The veterans, other family members and friends attended a luncheon in their honor in the new World War II Exhibit Hangar at the Museum of Aviation. They also helped cut the ribbon on a 6,000 square-foot exhibit entitled, "Down To Earth: The 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the Air Invasion of Normandy."  The veterans were joined by more than 300 other guests for the exhibit opening. 

One of the most comprehensive exhibits ever built at the Museum, "Down To Earth" is a walk-through sight-and-sound interactive exhibit explaining how American and allied military forces planned and executed a monumental air, sea and land assault on Europe to ultimately defeat Germany and its Nazi occupation of the continent. 

The 6,000 square foot exhibit includes a cut-a-way fuselage of a C-47 showing the paratroopers and crew ready to make their drop and a full C-47 dramatically elevated 22 feet over the entire exhibit. It also includes many D-Day artifacts, weapons,  uniforms and a movie made especially for children entitled, "Papa Said: We Should Never Forget." The movie highlights paratroopers' experiences and the gratitude the French people have for American troops restoring freedom to their country. 

The exhibit brought back many emotional memories of the veterans wartime experiences. In the bloody fighting that occurred on the beaches of Normandy, June 6, 1944, it is estimated that American, British and Canadian forces suffered approximately 10,000 casualties.  All told, more than 296,000 U.S. military members were killed during the four years of World War II and another 671,000 were wounded. 

The members of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 82nd Airborne during the Normandy Invasion, were later attached to the 17th Airborne and fought in Operation Varsity in the Rhine and in the Battle of the Bulge.

Active-duty 507th PIR members from Fort Benning and Airmen from nearby Robins Air Force Base, Ga., were on hand to welcome the veterans to the Warner Robins museum. 

The luncheon was part of a two-day tribute to World War II veterans that included a reception and black-tie dinner Oct. 17 attended by Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue. 

The Air Force "Glen Miller Band," The Airmen of Note, presented a special patriotic program that evening. A free public concert was held in front of the Museum of Aviation Oct. 18 featuring Lee Greenwood performing with the Band of the Air Force Reserve.

The new permanent exhibit is now open free to the public every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. For more information, visit www.museumofaviation.org. 

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