Dakota/DC-3 at RAF Church Fenton

eventful flight yes VERY, probably not the place to explain what happened.

pt

Oh Go On! We’re all ears 😉

only just seen this one

super flight in this on my birthday in 2005

wait for it 9/11

mucky day, waited for cloud to clear a bit (1 1/2 hours maybe) Paddy offered me a go.

Sat chatting to him and i must say he is a very nice bloke.

eventful flight yes VERY, probably not the place to explain what happened.

pt

Very smart indeed – missed a flight in her when the other Beech chaps were given the chance to enjoy a few circuits in her at Brunters last September – quite an eventful ride IIRC – but no doubt Phil will expand!

TT

There are a number of bullet holes/shrapnel holes in the aircraft that are nicely patched on the outside, but on the inside, the strikes are very visible and really quite sobering. Another bullet entered the cockpit and struck the pilot’s seat – the evidence still there… Paddy is trying to find out exactly what happened and what the eventual outcome was – obviously the aircraft landed safely but what happened to the pilot?

Beautiful!

Picture taken Sunday May 28th at the Dakota Fly-in at Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands.

if you scroll down the page here…
http://www.ruudleeuw.com/dc3-n5831b.htm
theres a few pictures of it part way through the repaint..

Neil

Fellow Aviation Forum Members,

I wanted to update you about this aircraft and my father, Orlando “Bill” Allin, a US Army Air Corps C-47 pilot. He flew this aircraft during the D-Day/Normandy invasion of World War II. After meeting up with his former aircraft (the Drag ‘em Oot) and its new owner, Paddy Green in Great Falls, Montana, USA, the aircraft was flown to its new home in Leeds, England north of London.

My dad had a great response from the news articles written about his reunion. He heard from many people across the state and country. Of particular delight was hearing from a classmate of his from grade school in Seattle who now lives just a few miles from him in Olympia. They had not seen each other since the 1930’s and became reacquainted after the story came out.

The aircraft has been undergoing restoration to its wartime configuration and markings and will be a key part of the 2006 D-Day commemorations in France in early June. My father and mother have been invited by Mr. Green to join him during the events in Normandy and fly on the aircraft during some re-enactment flights and drops of parachutists over the World War II landing areas.

Following is a link to a British newspaper’s article of the plane, its current owner and plans for the D-Day celebrations in June: http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflintononouse/news_06_30.html

Mr. Green has sent me photos of the completed aircraft and it looks smashing.

Respectfully,

Gary Allin
Olympia, Washington, USA

Jacks is still at North Weald – G-DAKS I beleive.

TT

Probably Jack Ruskin’s machine (remember him?)

Hi Guys

If it’s undergoing work why is it at Church Fenton ?

Scott C

Only one of the three hangars at RAF Church Fenton has been used since the JEFTS departure a year or two ago. Paddy Green, the DC-3’s owner, apparently lives in Yorkshire which might go some way towards explaining the aircraft’s (most welcome) visit to Fenton – plenty of space and close enough to keep an eye on the progress. I gather that there are plans to finish the machine in a USAF olive drab colour scheme circa 1944.

No idea mate – as the Edwards Bros were dealing with maintenance I guess she’s in for a repaint? As a D-Day veteran (c/w bullet holes!) I remember she was going back into her original markings at some stage.

TT

Hi Guys

If it’s undergoing work why is it at Church Fenton ?

Is the work being done by VT Aerospace ?

Scott C

Cheers TT. Maintenance or cosmetic?

Yes – its the Liverpool (Speke?) based one, N5831B owned by Paddy Green -currently undergoing work by the Edwards Brothers – nose art is ‘Drag em oot’

TT