{"product_id":"original-u-s-wwii-d-day-c-47a-chalk-40-aircraft-fragment-from-306th-troop-carrier-squadron-mission-boston-june-6-1944-limited-edition-18-20","title":"Original U.S. WWII D-Day C-47A “Chalk 40” Aircraft Fragment from 306th Troop Carrier Squadron - Mission Boston, June 6, 1944 - Limited Edition 18\/20","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal Item: One-of-a-Kind. This is a very interesting framed relic incorporating an actual fragment attributed to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDouglas C-47A Skytrain serial number 43-15137\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, assigned to the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e306th Troop Carrier Squadron, 442nd Troop Carrier Group, 50th Troop Carrier Wing, IX Troop Carrier Command\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and flown on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eD-Day, June 6, 1944\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn August 2015, QuestMasters commissioned aviation artist \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRon Cole\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e to create an illustration of C-47A \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e43-15137\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e as it deployed paratroopers during the Normandy invasion. The artwork is copyrighted by QuestMasters and Ron Cole.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eC-47A \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e43-15137\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was assigned to the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e306th Troop Carrier Squadron\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, whose nose code was \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e7H\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and operated from \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRAF Fulbeck, England\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, also known as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUSAAF Station 488\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 442nd Troop Carrier Group was composed of:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e303rd TCS - Nose Code J7\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e304th TCS - Nose Code V4\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e305th TCS - Nose Code 4J\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e306th TCS - Nose Code 7H\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor the June 6, 1944 airborne operation, C-47A 43-15137 was assigned \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChalk Number 40\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe “chalk” number was the temporary loading and formation number assigned to an individual aircraft for a specific airborne operation. The number was literally written in white chalk near the aircraft’s jump door to help organize troops, equipment, and aircraft before departure.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor this mission, the aircraft carried the number:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e40\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eC-47A 43-15137 took off under \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMission Boston, Serial 26\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, as part of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOperation Overlord\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the Allied invasion of Normandy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe crew was:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePilot: 1st Lt. Buckley A. Maynard, O-529480\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCo-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Elmer W. Ambler, O-816197\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNavigator: 2nd Lt. Donald J. Markey, O-697797\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFlight Engineer: SSgt. Francis A. Kline Jr., 13145545\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRadio Operator: Sgt. Vernon F. Coss, 17098809\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMission Boston was one of the major American airborne operations carried out during the opening hours of D-Day, when IX Troop Carrier Command aircraft transported and dropped paratroopers over Normandy in support of the amphibious landings.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis framed display incorporates a fragment attributed to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eC-47A 43-15137, “Chalk 40,”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e together with the aircraft’s D-Day history and Ron Cole artwork. The piece is signed and copyrighted by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRon Cole in 2016\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and is part of a very limited edition of only 20 examples.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis example is numbered:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e18\/20\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe frame measures approximately:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e8 7\/8 x 11 3\/8 inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe aircraft fragment itself is mounted to the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003efront surface of the frame rather than enclosed behind the glazing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, allowing the relic material to remain directly visible.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA particularly evocative D-Day aviation display combining a physical aircraft fragment with the documented history of a C-47 assigned to one of the airborne missions flown during the Normandy invasion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44941355188293,"sku":"ONSV26FWI079","price":325.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV26FWI079__01.jpg?v=1777482475","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-wwii-d-day-c-47a-chalk-40-aircraft-fragment-from-306th-troop-carrier-squadron-mission-boston-june-6-1944-limited-edition-18-20","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}