WWII Nose Art | C-47 Tico Belle On the 5 Jun 44 just before midnight, this C-47 Skytrain, now named Tico Belle, was boarding soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division for their historic mission. After flying over the English Channel, at 0407 on 6 Jun 44, flying at 500 feet AGL through heavy flack, she dropped 82nd Airborne soldiers into Normandy near St. Mere-Eglise. St. Mere-Eglise was one of the first towns in Normandy liberated by the Allies on D-Day. She flew three daring missions on D-Day and had a distinguished combat record serving in six major campaigns. After the war, she participated in the Berlin Airlift from 1948-49.. After serving in the Royal Norwegan Air Force and the Royal Danish Air Force, Tico Belle came home to the Valiant Air Command in 1988. Recently, she flew supplies into the Bahamas after Category 5 hurricane Dorian. For the whole story with all images, see WWII Nose Art | a 7 Image Story.
