WEIRTON, W.Va. -- A Weirton woman got the surprise of lifetime after she got a call that brought her late husband’s war history to life.

Barbara Smaltz recently received a phone call that a plane her husband flew in World War II had been found and was to be restored.

“You just couldn't believe it,” said Barbara Smaltz. “It was something you could never imagine."

Smaltz told NEWS9 she was still in shock to watch everything unfold.

Her husband Don Smaltz, a World War II veteran, used to show her pictures of the plane he flew, the Douglas-C47 named the "SNAFU Special," years ago, but she knew very little about his experience.

That’s until recently, when a woman named Beatrice Guillaume called Smaltz to tell her the plane that flew many U.S. combat troops into Normandy, France on D-day had been found.

"I thought this has to be a scam,” said Smaltz. “Until she said to me, ‘well the plane's name is SNAFU Special,’ and I knew then that was the plane my husband had flown."

Guillaume is the mayor of a small village in Normandy, and she decided months ago to try and track down the historic plane.

"We discovered that she took part in the main battles for the Freedom of France,” said Guillaume.

After months of searching, Guillaume tracked the battle plane to Bosnia, where she said its fate would've been reduced to scrap metal.

"We couldn't imagine this great plane, who took part in all these great battles, so important for us, could finish with scraps,” said Guillaume.

Volunteers transported the 'SNAFU Special' to Normandy, where it's set to become part of the town's historic museum this June, and Barbara Smaltz is one of many veterans' family members who will be there.

"I think it's wonderful,” said Smaltz. “And I think it'll be wonderful for the young people of the world. Maybe they'll learn a little about the hardships people went through."

Natalie Pasquarella, NEWS9

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