On Saturday, the third annual Turkeys Take Flight operation saw a vintage Douglas DC-3 deliver 250 turkeys to the Immokalee (Florida) Regional Airport. They were then distributed to families in need by the Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA). The aircraft previously flew missions in World War II and delivered supplies as part of the Berlin Airlift.
The DC-3 departed Jetscape FBO at Fort Lauderdale International Airport along with three smaller airplanes that carried volunteers from W Aviation FBO at Fort Lauderdale Executive. A majority of the volunteers were members of the Rotary Club of Downtown Fort Lauderdale, as well as Flightline Drug Testing, Publix and Florida Air Cargo.
There were 70 families in need at the RCMA’s Immokalee Community School. This is in addition to other families who were served by RCMA’s child-care operations. Flightline’s Tom Powers said that the community is also trying to give back to migrant families. Besides the delivery of the Thanksgiving feasts, the Collier County Airport Authority and the Immokalee fire department authorized an honorary water arc spray from local fire trucks.