Dakota aircraft land at Duxford ahead of 75th D-Day anniversary

Around 30 Dakota aircraft have landed at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, ahead of the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

The aircraft played a vital role in the success of the Normandy campaign.

As part of Tuesday's commemorations, they will be dropping parachutists over Duxford and Normandy.

• Click below for Matthew Hudson’s report

Peter Braun, from Daks over Normandy, said: “This is the first time since the end of the Berlin airlift, which is in 1949, that we have been able to assemble this many aircraft of this type anywhere in Europe.

“It will be the first time and the last time we've been able to do this. We're in for a big treat.”

Production of Dakota finished with the end of World War Two.

The Dakotas were among the workhorses of D-Day, playing a major part in the success of Operation Overlord and the subsequent Normandy campaign.

John Brown, Executive Director of Imperial War Museum Duxford, said: “The Dakota was a general duties aircraft. It is a fantastic design.

“It was very capable at carrying paratroopers, but it could equally be used for carrying cargo or indeed air-dropping supplies to people on the ground. Over the D-Day period it was used in all of those roles.”

Parachutists have been arriving from as far away as New Zealand for Tuesday's event at Duxford.

Organisers say those who come to see it will be getting a once in a lifetime experience.