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| News > 440th aircraft from World War II survives six decades, links 95th Airlift Squadron to its rich past |
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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)
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440th aircraft from World War II survives six decades, links 95th Airlift Squadron to its rich past
Posted 1/7/2008 Updated 1/7/2008
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by Lt. Col. Ann Peru Knabe
440th Airlift Wing
1/7/2008 - POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- After more than 60 years, a sturdy member of the 440th Troop Carrier Group was finally recognized for its service -- literally.
A French soldier on duty on a Bosnian air base recognized an old C-47 aircraft - the exact airframe flown during World War II by the 440th TCG. Further inspection of the plane's original data plate showed its roots belonged to the U.S. military. That set off a chain of events that led the telephone ringing in Col. Merle D. Hart's office.
"This may seem like an extremely strange phone call," said the voice on the other line to Colonel Hart, commander of the 440th Airlift Wing. "But I have some information you will probably be very interested in."
Chris Buckner certainly did have some exciting news to share with Colonel Hart. Mr. Buckner called to say a C-47 once belonging to the 440th TCG had been located in Bosnia. Turns out the aircraft, named "SNAFU Special" had been flown by Mr. Buckner's father, Staff Sgt. Joseph Buckner, a radio operator, during World War II.
Originally assigned to the 95th Squadron, the C-47 had been shot up during supply drops in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. It was also flown during Operation Market Garden.
The aircraft also dropped paratroopers around St. Mare-Eglise on D-Day. After the war it flew with the French Air Force, and was later sold to a Czechoslovakian airline. The C-47 was finally retired in 1994 and ended up on the base in Bosnia. Mr. Buckner told Colonel Hart the aircraft was recently discovered at a European Forces base outside of Sarajevo. The aircraft was still intact, but far from pristine.
But the C-47 wasn't out of danger. During the Bosnian War, the aircraft was hit by machine guns to keep from being used. By happenstance, a French soldier saw the SNAFU Special and called a cease-fire so he could look at the aircraft. He found the original data plate that identified the C-47 by Army contract. Like its four crew members, the aircraft had "survived" more than 60 years. Mr. Buckner told Colonel Hart he had found out about the "SNAFU Special" in August when he was contacted by a museum in Merville, France.
"A woman with very thick French accent introduced herself to me on the phone," said the younger Buckner. "At first I thought it was a scam. But then she asked me if I was the son of Staff Sgt. Joseph R. Buckner of the 95th Squadron, 440th Troop Carrier. At that point I knew she wasn't a fraud."
The woman then asked him if he ever heard of the SNAFU Special. It was the same aircraft his father flew in World War II, and from that point on he became personally involved in the aircraft's move across Europe. Once museum curators identified the C-47s tail number, 43-15073, as belonging to the 95th Squadron, 440th TCG, they were eager to bring the aging aircraft to France.
By coincidence, the site of the museum was a German shore battery during World War II that British paratroopers landed at to take out the guns prior to the Normandy invasion. On Veterans Day this year, the presidents of Bosnia and Herzegovina released the aircraft to France, contingent upon them picking it up. By the end of November, a team of French engineers had taken the plane apart and shipped it to the museum.
Colonel Hart said the aircraft's movement involved diplomatic efforts and a group of committed historians. Mr. Buckner wrote letters to everyone he knew trying to move the plane, including representatives, senators and a former ambassador.
"The French's interest in today's 440th is extremely high," Colonel Hart said. "They were ecstatic to find out the 440th is still in existence, and plan to rededicate the plane on June 7, 2008."
The emotions tied to the SNAFU Special affect more than today's Airmen.
"It's been a tremendous emotional rollercoaster," Mr. Buckner said. "Everyone took their first deep breath in several months when we found out the C-47 had crossed into France."
Although his father passed away several years ago, Mr. Buckner said he would have been "totally amazed and incredulous" to find out the SNAFU Special was still around.
"According to flight logs, my father spent more time on this plane than anyone," Mr. Buckner said. "Like today's patriots, my father had perseverance, dedication to duty and dedication to his country. He was a manager from a hardware store who wound up crossing the ocean, getting shot at and almost not making it back. That's a lot like our Airmen of today, hometown heroes doing the unthinkable when the unthinkable is needed."
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