South Africa retires Turbo Dakotas

While it has yet to be formally announced by the South African Air Force (SAAF), the air arm has decided to retire its surviving fleet of World War Two-era C-47TP Turbo Dakota light transports after 81 years of service. In early May, the unofficial website of the SAAF, saairforce.co.za, reported that the air arm’s sole remaining Turbo Dakota unit, No 35 Squadron at AFB Ysterplaat in Cape Town, had recently been told its remaining C-47TPs will be withdrawn. The SAAF’s