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A Rare Sight at Le Bourget : E-4B Supports Normandy D-Day Commemorations


Paris–Le Bourget Airport (LFPB), June 6, 2014 — A highly classified and seldom-seen aircraft made a quiet but symbolic appearance at Le Bourget Airport on the morning of June 6, 2014. The United States Air Force’s Boeing E-4B, tail number 74-0787, touched down in the Paris region in direct connection with the 70th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy.

The Doomsday Plane


The E-4B, nicknamed the “Doomsday Plane,” is a heavily modified Boeing 747-200 designed to serve as the National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC) in the event of a national emergency, including nuclear conflict. Operated by the U.S. Air Force, only four such aircraft exist. Each one is equipped with advanced, hardened communications systems, nuclear survivability, and the capability to direct global U.S. military forces while airborne.

The aircraft can remain aloft for days through aerial refueling and is often on standby during high-profile U.S. presidential or military operations, ready to serve as a flying command post should ground-based systems be compromised.


A Strategic Presence for a Historic Occasion


The timing of the aircraft’s presence at Le Bourget was no coincidence. On June 6, 2014, President Barack Obama was in Normandy alongside world leaders, veterans, and dignitaries to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings. The E-4B, while not visible at the Normandy beaches, played a behind-the-scenes support role as part of the military security package surrounding the presidential visit.
Defense analysts note that the E-4B often accompanies the U.S. president during foreign travel, especially when national security considerations are at stake. It serves not only as an emergency command platform but as a strategic show of force and readiness.

A Strategic Presence for a Historic Occasion


The timing of the aircraft’s presence at Le Bourget was no coincidence. On June 6, 2014, President Barack Obama was in Normandy alongside world leaders, veterans, and dignitaries to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings. The E-4B, while not visible at the Normandy beaches, played a behind-the-scenes support role as part of the military security package surrounding the presidential visit.
Defense analysts note that the E-4B often accompanies the U.S. president during foreign travel, especially when national security considerations are at stake. It serves not only as an emergency command platform but as a strategic show of force and readiness.

Low Profile, High Security


The aircraft landed early in the day at Paris–Le Bourget, a civilian airport often used for state and diplomatic flights. Kept away from public view, it was parked in a secured area typically reserved for high-level visits or air show preparations.

Witnesses reported a U.S. Air Force ground crew on site, ensuring the aircraft remained in a state of operational readiness. No public statement was issued by either the French government or the U.S. Department of Defense regarding the visit, consistent with standard procedure for movements involving classified military assets.






Conclusion


While world leaders gathered in Normandy to honor the memory of Allied soldiers and celebrate seven decades of peace, the presence of the E-4B in France served as a discreet but powerful reminder of enduring U.S. military capability and transatlantic cooperation.

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