The 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy on 5 June is facing significant challenges due to a shortage of RAF aircraft. Originally, 450 men from the British Parachute Regiment were supposed to jump out of Hercules C-130s, but only one plane is currently available. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has ordered an urgent review to address the shortage and ensure that the commemorative event can proceed as planned. The RAF’s transport fleet is stretched thin due to ongoing crises in Ukraine and the Middle East. Critics have called the situation an insult to those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Second World War. Emma Woolf and Grant Shapps have both expressed concerns, with Shapps stating, 'We can do better than that!'
D-Day remembrance planes will be found, says Shapps https://t.co/xkfTkNsXk9
D-Day parachute jump scaled down due to lack of aircraft, as RAF bosses scramble to fill gaps https://t.co/ncsNuljMci
Hundreds of paratroopers were supposed to jump into Normandy on 5 June to honour the actions of their predecessors in the Second World War, but the plans have been scaled back due to a shortage of aircraft Read more🔗 https://t.co/iaPavFvi3u
Grant Shapps orders review into plane shortage before 80th D-day anniversary https://t.co/Ts4Ii4niho
Britain does not have enough planes to properly commemorate the 80th anniversary of storming Normandy 450 men of the British Parachute Regiment in four planes were supposed to honor war heroes by jumping out of Hercules C-130s, but there is only one plane left, the Daily Mail… https://t.co/pMlhv5oZLM
‘We can do better than that!’ Grant Shapps orders urgent review to find aircraft for paratroopers to mark D-Day https://t.co/z0gWw1vnqo
Urgent review as D-Day parachute jump scaled back due to lack of RAF aircraft Read more🔗 https://t.co/ud7J3WZJmd
Review ordered into lack of aircraft for D-Day commemorations, says Defence Secretary https://t.co/XtCkgal1EG
'It's incredibly important to remember the past, if we don't do that we commit ourselves to making the same mistakes again in the future.' Grant Shapps addresses reports that there will be a slimmed down D-Day commemoration service and says he has ordered a review into it. https://t.co/E8UwAWKlY1
'It does seem a real shame.' Defence chiefs are scrambling to secure more planes for a parachute drop to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day as crises in Ukraine and the Middle East have left the RAF’s transport fleet stretched. Emma Woolf reacts. https://t.co/Gwfb22anrx
Revealed: Just ONE plane available for mass parachute drop commemorating 80th anniversary of D-Day landings in Normandy - with critics calling it 'an insult to those who made the ultimate sacrifice' https://t.co/RidzPWghkN https://t.co/b9l2pNQwTk