On the morning of June 6, 1944, a C-47 plane named Placid Lassie took off for Normandy during the D-Day invasion, towing a glider that carried airborne infantry and equipment. Over 81 years later, Placid Lassie will land at Wings Field in Blue Bell on Sept. 6 for this year’s installment of the long-running Wings N’ Wheels festival.
Unlike many other warbirds, or old military aircraft, Lassie is not a replica or a restoration from multiple separate airplanes. Besides some fresh paint and updated engines, she has largely remained in the same condition as that day in 1944.
The opportunity to see such a significant piece of history in Montgomery County is appealing for WWII buffs, amateurs, and everyone in between.
Lassie's guest appearance
Wings N’ Wheels is an annual fundraiser run by Angel Flight East (AFE), an organization that provides free flights to people needing medical treatment. However, it’s not every year that a WWII-era plane is part of the festivities.
Placid Lassie’s appearance at Wings N’ Wheels was coordinated through the help of Will Miton, a Chestnut Hill resident and a commercial pilot for an airline. In his spare time, Miton volunteers for the Tunison Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and commemorating WWII military aviation. Based out of Poughkeepsie, NY, the organization’s flagship aircraft is Placid Lassie.
“When I found out they had a Wings N’ Wheels event, I reached out to Angel Flight East,” Miton said. “The airplane burns a lot of fuel. It costs a lot to maintain...Very nicely, [AFE] offered to sponsor the aircraft so we can bring it down and bring a little more life to the Wings N’ Wheels event.”
During the festival, volunteers from the Tunison Foundation will be on hand to offer free walk-throughs of the airplane. The organization will also be selling merchandise such as t-shirts and hats to generate revenue. According to Miton, the aspect of Lassie that most surprises visitors is its angled interior; the walk from the back of the plane to the cockpit is steeper than those of modern commercial airliners.
A storied history
Placid Lassie’s history dates back to July 1943, when she was constructed by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, CA. She was assigned to the 74th Troop Carrier Squadron, 434th Troop Carrier Group, the next month. Lassie trained with her crew in Alliance, NE before making her way to Europe. Her engines were named Idling Ada and Eager Eileen after the wives of two crew members.
Following the war, Lassie served as a cargo aircraft until 2000, when she was parked in Georgia and became derelict. By 2010, Lassie’s ownership switched hands and she was restored to her former glory. During the D-Day 70th anniversary celebrations, Dutch historian Hans de Brok reconnected Ed Tunison, Lassie’s wartime radio operator, with the airplane. Shortly after Tunison’s death in 2016, businessman James Lyle and pilot Eric Zipkin founded the Tunison Foundation.
Since then, the foundation has operated Lassie at many airshows and had static displays at events. She also returned to Normandy for the 75th and 80th anniversaries of D-Day, where historical reenactors parachuted out of the interior of the plane.
"Bitten by the aviation bug"
According to Cathy Brzozowski, director of marketing and communications for AFE, airplanes attract passionate people, and Placid Lassie is no exception.
“The camaraderie [people] have for public-benefit flying and historic aviation tied into that is really remarkable,” Brzozowski said. “They have their own community. I think if we can get the word out about [Placid Lassie] for military folks, historians, and people interested in aviation, this is going to be a great opportunity for them to come and check it out.”
Miton agreed, saying he was “bitten by the aviation bug” himself.
“When you see and hear one of these [historic airplanes] take off and fly by, you’re transported into a different era,” Miton said. “The airplanes look, feel, smell, and fly differently. There’s a very visceral experience to it.”
Other attractions
In addition to Placid Lassie, Wings N’ Wheels will have other attractions, including antique cars, robotics demonstrations from local high schools, food trucks and breweries, live music, and even a contest to decide which restaurant has the best chicken wings. Plus, there will be a PT-26 aircraft that served as a training plane for WWII pilots. This plane will take people up on sightseeing tours.
Hank Stoebenau, a former AFE volunteer pilot who runs the Wings N’ Wheels planning committee, is excited for the community to see what AFE has in store — for both kids and kids at heart.
“If we have reasonably good weather, you can expect between 3000 to 3500 people,” Stoebenau said. “I used to get upset if we didn’t have a lot of neat airplanes for the static display, but I’ve learned over the years that the real focus is families and kids.”
Wings N’ Wheels will be on Sept. 6 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Wings Field in Blue Bell. For more information, visit angelflighteast.org and tunisonfoundation.org. Maggie Dougherty can be reached at Margaret@chestnuthilllocal.com.
