Did you miss the flyover on Tuesday honoring healthcare workers? Well, whether you saw it or not, local residents will get another opportunity this weekend, this time involving historic planes.

According to the National Warplane Museum President Austin Wadsworth, they will be conducting a series of flyovers in Western New York this weekend to honor first responders and essential workers. The missions included in “Operation Thanks From Above” are being designed to overfly key hospitals, Veterans Affairs locations, city centers, parks and other notable venues in the Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse areas.

A flight map released shows a morning flight on Saturday that includes Forestville, Fredonia, Brooks Memorial Hospital/Dunkirk, Silver Creek, Irving, Angola, and Derby. There were no specific times listed on the flight map, although times may be released later in the week.

Local sponsorship is by is being sponsored by the Dunkirk-Fredonia Rotary Club, Farrell Roofing, Graf Realty, Lake Shore Savings Bank, Gugino and Ryel, Larson-Timko Funeral Home and Rustico Restaurant, the former Moose Lodge, on Route 5.

The NWM’s very own Douglas C-47, affectionately named Whiskey 7 will lead the mission. The Douglas C-47 is a World War II veteran and was the lead aircraft in the second wave of the D-Day invasion on June 6th, 1944 over Ste. Mere Eglise, Normandy.

“The values associated with this aircraft are bravery, sacrifice, honor and hope so it is only fitting that it will lead the way in reminding our local heroes how appreciated they are,” read a statement released by the National Warplane Museum. “Since the start of the coronavirus, each worker, family, and organization has had to make drastic, unusual, and spontaneous changes to the way that life and business are conducted. On the frontline, we are fortunate to have first responders and essential workers who take risk to ensure that safety, care, and supplies are available to everyone, every day. These heroes accept risk and they expect fatigue.”