Troop Carrier Groups' Reunion 2008

Merle Hart, 440th Airlift Wing, Commander, exhanges stories with WWII veterans Joseph Beyer and Hugh Rafferty during the Troop Carrier Groups' Reunion reception at the Airborne and Special Opperations Mueseam located in Fayetville, N.C., October 24, 2008. (U.S. Air Force photo, SrA Jacqueline Pender)

Troop Carrier Groups' Reunion 2008

Retired General George Johnson speaks with Captain Tyeshia King, Wing Executive officer, 440th Airlift Wing, about his military service during the Troop Carrier Groups' Reunion reception at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum located in Fayetteville, N.C., October 24, 2008. As former commander of the 440th Troop Carrier Group?s 96th Troop Carrier Squadron, General Johnson took part in all of the major D-day operations of World War Two to include D-Day. (U.S. Air Force photo/ SrA Jacqueline Pender)

Historic C-47 aircraft links 440th to its rich legacy

The SNAFU Special, a C-47 used by the 95th Airlift Squadron in World War II, was recently discovered in Bosnia. The aircraft’s World War II crew was comprised of Pilot 1st Lt. James P. Harper, Copilot 2nd Lt. Donald M. Smaltz, Radio Operator Staff Sgt. Joseph Buckner and Crew Chief Tech. Sgt. Layfette Nerren. The surviving son of Sergeant Buckner, Mr. Chris Buckner, was contacted by a museum curator from Merville, France, when the aircraft was “rediscovered” in Bosnia Herzegovina. The aircraft is being restored in France, and will be rededicated on June 7, 2008. (U.S. Air Force photo)