D-Day plus 82 years: UND class visits Normandy and France
UND students, faculty visited sites associated with World War II landings, toured French capital in study abroad experience
Last month, a group of UND students and faculty embarked on a week-long tour of France, visiting some of the most consequential sites of World War II.
The excursion was part of AVIT 372: Global Perspectives in Aviation History. Three faculty members from the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences – Al Frazier, associate professor of aviation, Hyungwoo Jo, teaching assistant professor of aviation and Robert Kraus, dean of the Odegard School, accompanied 24 students on the trip.
The students agreed that visiting Utah, Omaha and Juno beaches in Normandy was an exceptional highlight of the trip. Normandy, of course, was where more than 150,000 allied troops landed in an operation known by its military code name, D-Day. The battle was a major turning point in the liberation of France from Nazi Germany and set the stage for Allied victory in the war.
Students Veronica Amburn and Francisco Diaz – both of whom had participated in the college’s Battle of Britain-themed study abroad in London earlier this spring – said visiting the beaches and associated memorials and cemeteries, was transformative.
“Being able to set foot where this happened, and trying to imagine it from the soldiers’ perspective, was my favorite part of the trip,” Amburn said. “Learning about it in a classroom setting here in the U.S., there’s a bit of a spatial separation – both physically and emotionally.”
“It is something that is hard to describe to someone, unless you go there and actually touch the elements,” Diaz added.
Students also enjoyed the cultural highlights of the trip, bolstered by Kraus’ prior experience living in Paris while on assignment as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force. The group toured several sites in the French capital, including Notre Dame Cathedral, Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe and the top of the Eiffel Tower.
“Having Mr. and Mrs. Kraus guide us – especially since they lived there for a bit – gave us more history and cultural awareness,” said Kayleigh Blake, a student majoring in Helicopter Operations. “When we were interacting with locals at restaurants and museums, it was very helpful. I took three years of French, so it was fun using the little I had to communicate.”
Diaz said the site visits in Normandy put a human face to his in-class learning.
“In class you learn the numbers, but standing in those locations and cemeteries, the weight of what those numbers mean really hits you hard,” he said. “Learning about the battles or transitions between operations can be easily misunderstood as something that just happened versus something that many experienced.”
“It’s going to be a trip that you remember for the rest of your life,” Amburn added. “You should make sure you’re going for the right reasons, though. If you just want to sightsee Paris and say you’ve been to France, you’re probably not going to enjoy the trip as much, because the majority of time will be spent in museums and memorials. If you do care about that history and are curious about experiencing another culture, this is a fantastic trip.”
Kraus concurred, stating that the program offers a blend of learning and cultural immersion.
“This study abroad experience was truly exceptional, providing our 24 aerospace students with a powerful connection between history, leadership, and service,” he said. “Standing on the beaches of Normandy, they gained a profound appreciation for the courage and sacrifice that continue to shape our world, while their time in Paris broadened their global perspective and cultural awareness. I am deeply grateful to our dedicated faculty, Al Frazier and Hyungwoo Jo, for putting this all together and for their leadership and commitment to creating such a meaningful and transformative opportunity.
“I was proud to participate and contribute to the trip from our time living there,” Kraus added. “Experiences like this not only enrich our students academically but also help shape the character and perspective they will carry into their careers in aerospace and beyond.”
Frazier added that the trip is open on a first come, first serve basis to all students of sophomore standing and above, and encouraged anyone interested to apply.
“We don’t require an essay, and if the student is in good standing, they’re eligible,” he said. “Once I check that all the information is there and accurate, they get a confirmation email, and we keep doing that until we fill the class. Although we haven’t had anyone outside the School of Aerospace Sciences attend, I would welcome that. Whatever their major, they are welcome to come along.”
A link to information regarding both the Battle of Britain and Air War over Normandy study abroad programs – slated for March and May of 2027, respectively — is included below.
