Epilogue
The Man, the Mission and the Plane
Capt. Royce W. Barnes (ret.) returned to his home in Weatherford, TX. In 1949, he and his family moved to Fort Worth, TX where he owned and operated the first department store in the Ridglea area and subsequently spent 25 years in the commercial construction industry.
Capt. Barnes, at the age of 66, passed away on February 3, 1987. He was survived by his wife, daughter, son, mother, a sister and three grandchildren.
C-47 Skytrain # 292838 is now at its permanent home at the Midwest City Veterans Memorial Park in Midwest City, Okla. less than 10 miles from where it originally rolled off the assembly line at the Douglas Manufacturing plant.
Operation Overlord—June 6, 1945—D-Day was the largest amphibious invasion in military history. The invasion, with the combined the forces of 156,115 U.S., British and Canadian troops, 6,939 ships and landing vessels, and 2,395 aircraft and 867 gliders that delivered airborne troops. Thanks in part to the massive influx of troops and equipment, D-Day marked a decisive turning point in WWII.
Before Skytrain #292838 found it’s permanent resting place, it was perched atop a pole in the Oklahoma State Fair Grounds. After its rescue, the outer body was restored. There are however, no plans to restore the interior fuselage and cockpit because it contains asbestos. Below, Sandra Stepp explores the inside.
Skytrain #292838 at the Midwest City Veterans Memorial Park. It’s accompanied by five different placards which tell the stories of the C-47 planes and (eventually captain in the USAFR,) Royce W. Barnes.
Images courtesy of Sandra Stepp.