Name: Vintage WWII aircraft is turned into a Christmas sleigh
Uploaded: 2025-12-21T03:55:12.700Z
Duration: 2 min 20 s
Description: The Southern Cross, a restored C-49 World War II-era plane, is used by a nonprofit group for a peaceful mission this holiday season, to provide a Santa-eye view of the Christmas lights in North Texas. The goal is to keep veteran history alive and air-worthy.

The Southern Cross, a restored C-49 World War II-era plane, is used by a nonprofit group for a peaceful mission this holiday season, to provide a Santa-eye view of the Christmas lights in North Texas. The goal is to keep veteran history alive and air-worthy.

A restored C-47 aircraft from World War II, known as the Southern Cross, is now offering holiday flights over North Texas, providing passengers with a unique view of Christmas lights from 1,000 feet above. Operated by the nonprofit Greatest Generation Aircraft Fleet, the plane serves both as a tribute to military veterans and a means to keep history alive through immersive experiences.

The aircraft features signatures from veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, many of whom have participated in these peaceful missions. Proceeds from the flights help maintain the plane, allowing new generations to connect with the experiences of those who served.

Vintage WWII aircraft is turned into a Christmas sleigh

And finally, here tonight, a piece of military history on a new holiday mission. In tonight's Weekend Journal, CBS's Omar Villafranca goes to Fort Worth, Texas to ride a vintage aircraft that's moved from troop transport to Christmas escort. This is what Santa and his reindeer will see on Christmas Eve. But this isn't your ordinary sleigh. These passengers are on the Southern Cross, a restored C-47 World War II-era propeller plane. Everybody ready to go see some good Christmas lights? Yes, sir. All right. They're cruising at 1,000 feet, getting a Santa-eye view of the Christmas lights in North Texas. It takes you back to whenever you were a kid waking up on Christmas. It was super fun. This plane is part of the Greatest Generation Aircraft Fleet, a nonprofit that keeps veteran history alive and airworthy. Carolina Merritt is the crew chief. You don't fully understand the experience until you step on board the airplane, until we start up our engines and the airplane starts shaking. And then you kind of get into that mindset, OK, I'm doing something really cool flying on a warbird. Pilot Patrick Mahaffrey showed us the cabin of the Southern Cross. What is this? This is called the static line. It's actually a steel cable. And the paratroopers would use this to, basically, this was what deploys their chute when they jump out the door. They actually would sit in these seats right here. But there is something new inside the plane, dozens of signatures from veterans, many who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, and rode on the plane, but this time on a peaceful mission. This gentleman right here, he jumped into Holland in 1944, and he was also in the Battle of Bastogne. Wow. All proceeds from the Christmas light flights go to keep the plane flying, to give passengers the gift of experiencing a piece of history. To actually get inside and hear it, feel it, smell it, it really does bring a little tiny sense of what these guys and gals went through in their service in these airplanes. And to honor those who flew on these planes, not because they wanted to, but because they had to. Omar Villafranca, CBS News, Fort Worth. A Santa Eye view of those holiday lights.

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