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My TICO BELLE Ride
World War II Survivor Still Working to Preserve The Legacy
This is the dramatic and amazingly true story of a World War II veteran who participated in some of the most important battles of the war. From the Normandy invasion to Cherbourg, to Arnhem, to Bastogne, to the Berlin Airlift and much more, this hero was there and saw it all -- over 65 years ago. Today, this venerable veteran of past battles continues to educate the public about military history and what it meant to not only serve in World War II, but to have been present when so many sacrificed so much in the service of this country and the freedoms that we hold dear.
The story of our veteran aircraft, tail number 42-2100591 (#591), begins when she first saw life in 1942 and was delivered to the USAAF at Mobile Depot on November 6, 1943. She departed for England in 1944, and upon arrival, was assigned to the 437th Troop Carrier Group (TCG) and the 84th Troop Carrier Squadron (TCS). The 437th TCG is the ancestor of the 437th Airlift Wing that is today based at Charleston AFB. You will see the squadron designator “Z8,” of the 84th TCS, in pictures of her from WWII. The 437th TCG and our aircraft (#591) soon took up residence at RAF Ramsbury.
On the 437th’s first operation in support of the Normandy landings, fifty two C-47s were dispatched in moonlight with troop-carrying Waco gliders. The gliders were released south of Cherbourg with the object of isolating the western end of the invasion bridgehead. For its work during this period, the 437th TCG was later awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation. After the successful invasion and by the last week of June, the battle for the Port of Cherbourg had begun. Troops isolated and then captured the fortified port, considered vital to the campaign in Western Europe. During the airborne attack on Holland, 17-25 Sep 1944, two 437th flights, both comprising of thirty five C-47s towing a CG-4A each, brought up the rear of the IX Troop Carrier Task Force for the 101st Airborne Division. The Battle at Arnhem (sometimes referred to as “the bridge too far”), was part of the Market Garden operations plan. It made use of large-scale airborne forces and its tactical objectives were to secure a series of bridges over the main rivers of the German-occupied Netherlands to allow rapid advance by armored units. Although initially successful, unfortunately because of the heavy resistance and lack of sufficient resupply, even with the tremendous efforts by the 437th, the plan was generally considered a disaster and allied forces were forced to pull out; it was then back to hauling supplies to France and Belgium and evacuating the wounded to England with a particularly hectic period during the Battle of the Bulge. Because of the poor weather and the lack of air cover and adequate resupply, the battle lasted from mid-December 1944 to January 1945; while the 101st bravely held out until the weather finally cleared, reinforcements arrived and the encirclement was broken.
In February 1945, the group moved to its Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) at Coulommiers/Voisins, France, when several former Luftwaffe airfields were restored to operational use for action during the air assault across the Rhine, as part of Operation Varsity. When not participating in one of the major airborne operations, the organization continually transported ammunition, rations, clothing, and other supplies, and evacuated wounded personnel to rear-zone hospitals, as well as evacuated POWs and displaced persons to relocation centers.
And Now For The Rest Of The Story..............
After V-E Day our C-47 was put into storage, only to be called out to assist in the massive Berlin Airlift. The Berlin Blockade lasted from June 24, 1948 until May 11, 1949, and was one of the first major international crises of the cold war. The airlift to supply the German 6th Army at Stalingrad required 300 tons per day and rarely came even close to delivering this; the Berlin effort would require at least 5,000 tons a day. In spite of this, by the spring of 1949, the effort was clearly succeeding; and by April, the airlift was delivering more cargo than had previously flowed into the city via rail.
With the successful breakage of the Berlin Blockade, our Aircraft #591 was once again expendable and no longer needed by the United States. In 1950, the Norwegian Air Force took delivery of her, as part of the lend-lease program. In 1956, she was transferred to the Royal Danish Air Force, where her duty assignment was to transport the Royal Family of Denmark. In 1982, with over 13,500 logged hours, the Royal Danish Air Force finally retired #591.
The Valiant Air Command was truly honored to have the opportunity to acquire such a valuable part of history. V.A.C. members, with the help of Royal Danish Air Force pilots, ferried her to the United States. During the latter part of the 80s and the 90s, She flew around the nation as a flying museum, telling of her battle heritage and of the legacy of those who sacrificed so much in the service of their country. Along the way, she acquired her WWII type nose art and she became known far and wide as The Valiant Air Command’s “Tico Belle;” after the Titusville/Cocoa airport where she is based. Sadly, in 2001, returning from an airshow, her landing gear collapsed in a severe wind condition causing extensive damage. We are proud to say that in July of 2008 after the long effort by countless volunteers, her engines pumped to life for the first time in many years. There were misty eyes in more than a couple of the crowd that had gathered to watch her breathe once more.
Once again, the Tico Belle, aircraft 42-2100591, will take her rightful place in vintage warbird formations, complete with Normandy invasion identification strips. We will be able to look up and truly imagine what it must have been like on that fateful day of June 6, 1944, sixty-five years ago, when the freedom of a world hung in the balance, and she made her way in the pre-dawn darkness towards the beaches of Normandy, as a part of one of the largest invasion armadas the world has ever seen.
I was honored and humbled to ride in this World War II veteran who participated in some of the most important battles of the war. From the Normandy invasion to Cherbourg, to Arnhem, to Bastogne, to the Berlin Airlift and much more, this hero was there and saw it all -- over 65 years ago.
Scroll down for the full story.
1944 - Believed to be at RAF Ramsbury, England (Not Verified)
Pilot: Paul Shulten Co-Pilot: Bob Boswell
Flying North over the Indian River
July 4th, 2009: Ken Terry is in his T34 Mentor escorting "TICO" while making a pass over VAC.
Photo flight on December 12th, 2009: this was a flight so I could take "TICO's" portrait in her new paint job and for Bobby Blankenship to make his final qualifying flight.
You too can ride in this WWII warbird.
The Valiant Air Command, Titusville, Florida is offering rides in "TicoBelle".
For information call 321-268-1941 or go to www.vacwarbirds.org
