GREENVILLE, Mich., (WZZM) -- June 6 is the 70th anniversary of D-Day and there is a big piece of that history right here in West Michigan.
"It was carrying one of the Generals of the 101st airborne, into Normandy," says Bob Christensen with the Fighting Falcon Museum in Greenville. Christensen is referring to one of the gliders used in the Allied invasion of Normandy.
"Their primary role was to bring supplies, in this case they were bring the general, his Jeep and communications equipment," he explained.
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The glider also has an important connection to West Michigan.
"When the Army decided to do a glider program, every aircraft company was building aircraft, so they looked for other companies to build aircraft. And Gibson Refrigeration in Greenville received a contract to build gliders."
The company was successful at building the gliders but they weren't the sturdiest of planes. When the gliders landed, they often broke into pieces when they hit the ground.
"The general and the co-pilot were both killed by the crash," Christensen said.
In 2004, a group of students, veterans, and Gibson employees raised money to restore the Fighting Falcon and bring it back home to Greenville.
