Joint Base Charleston conducts the Air Force’s first ‘social media reenactment’ of the D-Day invasion

On the evening June 5 and the early morning of June 6, 2018, Joint Base Charleston will conduct a real-time historical reenactment of the D-Day invasion, solely on social media. Starting at 7 p.m., both the 437th and 315th Airlift Wings will start Facebook and Twitter posts as if the D-Day invasion is happening in real-time, as it did 74 year ago, through the eyes of their predecessors, the 437th and 315th Troop Carrier Groups.

D-Day troop carrier routes map

A total of 821 Troop Carrier C-47s took off at planned intervals from the above bases in England. They all passed over check point Bill of Portland at their assigned altitudes at their designated times in a long string headed toward Normandy. On the evening June 5 and the early morning of June 6, 2018, Joint Base Charleston will conduct a real-time historical reenactment of the D-Day invasion, solely on social media. Starting at 7 p.m., both the 437th and 315th Airlift Wings will start Facebook and Twitter posts as if the D-Day invasion is happening in real-time, as it did 74 year ago, through the eyes of their predecessors, the 437th and 315th Troop Carrier Groups. (U.S. Air Force Graphic)

Charleston plans virtual D-Day reenactment

Published May 31, 2018
By Maj. Wayne Capps
315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The 437th and 315th Airlift Wings here will conduct an Air Force first by reenactment of the D-Day invasion, solely on social media.

Beginning on June 5 at 7 p.m., both wings will start Facebook and Twitter posts as if the D-Day invasion is happening in real-time, as it did 74 years ago, through the eyes of their predecessors, the 437th and 315th Troop Carrier Groups.

“This is a great way for us to celebrate our heritage,” said Col. Jimmy Canlas, commander of the 437th Airlift Wing. “This project will give the public a glimpse of a day in the life of some real heroes that did what our nation needed them to do 74 years ago.”

The active duty’s 437th Airlift Wing flew out of Aldermaston Field in England and towed gliders for the invasion; the Air Force Reserve’s 315th Airlift Wing flew out of Spanhoe Field, also in England and dropped the 82nd Airborne Division near St. Mere Eglise, France.

Both wings will use their official social media to post real-time accounts and photos of the events that happened on D-Day to the respective units. The prospective will be taken from historical and personal observations as well as both wing’s official history. The “social media reenactment” will start at 7 p.m. and go until 6:30 a.m. the following morning. All historical posts will use the hashtag #DDayRemembered.

The 437th Airlift Wing can be found on Facebook and Twitter at 437AW and the 315th Airlift Wing can be found on Facebook and Twitter at 315AW.