• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
General Aviation News

General Aviation News

Because flying is cool

  • Pictures of the Day
    • Submit Picture of the Day
  • Stories
    • News
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Products
    • NTSB Accidents
    • ASRS Reports
  • Comments
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ad
  • Events
  • Digital Archives
  • Subscribe
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Commemorative Air Force aircraft to lead Victory Tour

By General Aviation News Staff · February 4, 2025 · Leave a Comment

Ready 4 Duty. (Photo by Karolina Marek)

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II, “Ready 4 Duty,” a U.S. Navy World War II-era aircraft operated by the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), is embarking on a transatlantic journey from Texas to Europe to honor the service and sacrifice of American and Allied sailors.

Ready 4 Duty’s 12-week, 12,000-mile Navy to Victory Tour, which runs from April through July, includes appearances at over a dozen aviation and ceremonial events across the southern and eastern U.S., Iceland, the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands.

“Safely operating an 80-year-old aircraft for such an extended journey is no mean feat,” said Christopher Volpe, Navy to Victory Tour’s lead coordinator. “But helping to build a lasting legacy for veterans makes all of the preparations and sacrifices worth it.”

According to Volpe, the advancing age of World War II veterans, the youngest of whom are now 97, factored heavily into the decision to conduct this intercontinental tour.

“The window to honor these men and women while they’re still with us is closing rapidly,” said Volpe. “For them, their families, and society at large, we’re committed to paying tribute to them on this 80th Anniversary of the Allied victory.”

The iconic aircraft will also transport artifacts from surviving U.S. World War II-era warships, such as the U.S.S. Yorktown, Battleship Texas, and U.S.S. Laffey, during the Navy to Victory Tour. The exhibition, assembled specifically for this tour, marks the first time that artifacts from so many U.S. World War II warships are publicly displayed together, CAF officials noted.

Ready 4 Duty flying over Battleship Texas moored in Galveston. (Photo by Chris Childs)

About Ready 4 Duty

Built in 1944, Ready 4 Duty is a Douglas R4D-6S, the U.S. Navy’s version of the legendary DC-3 and C-47. The last of its kind still flying, the aircraft is a centerpiece of the Dallas/Fort Worth Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history of World War II aviation.

For more information: DFWWing.com, CommemorativeAirForce.org

Reader Interactions

Share this story

  • Share on Twitter Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook Share on Facebook
  • Share on LinkedIn Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit Share on Reddit
  • Share via Email Share via Email

Join 110,000 readers each month and get the latest news and entertainment from the world of general aviation direct to your inbox, daily. Sign up here.

Curious to know what fellow pilots think on random stories on the General Aviation News website? Click on our Recent Comments page to find out. Read our Comment Policy here.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

© 2025 Flyer Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Writer’s Guidelines
  • Photographer’s Guidelines