G-DAKK was bought by Dutch aviation company ClassicWings last fall. They dismantled her, had the paint stripped and transported her fuselage by road to Weeze (ex-RAF Laarbruch) for restauration. The wings are under repair at Teuge in the Netherlands. Their website http://classicwings.nl has more information (bottom of the page), but unfortunately only in Dutch. Classic Wings is looking for more information about her history. What they have found out so far:
42-23936, s/n 9798, G-DAKK?
Delivered to USAAF 1JUL43
Arrived Oran, North Africa and assigned to 64TCG on 8AUG43
Whether she stayed with 64TCG or went elsewhere in the MTO is undetermined but this is what the 64TCG was doing at that time:
During the month of August 1943, 64 TCG did extensive training at El Djem, Tunisia,prepatory to dropping the 509 PIB at Avellino, Italy on the night of 14/15SEP43
64 TCG supported allied forces on the Anzio beachhead in JAN44.
Afterwards 42-23936 went to England in FEB44, while 64TCG moved to India for operations in CBI.
On 22FEB44 plane ‘936 arrived in UK and was processed by 8th AAF (just about all planes going to ETO from USA or elsewhere were received by 8th AF)
On 2MAY44 she got assignment to 9th AF–which unit is unknown
So officially she was in England in time for Normandy.
42-23936 was flown in Operation Varsity, where she dropped the 2nd battalion of the 507 PIR, back then part of the 17th Airborne division. This battalion was transported by the 438 TCG; the 88th & 89th squadron to be exactly. Their codes were: M2 & 4U
Classic Wings are looking for pics in the WW2 period as well as beyond. Was she involved in the 26 sept 1944 operation into Keent (B82 Grave) in the Netherlands?
Any help would be greatly appreciated! 🙂
By: RonaldV - 11th February 2014 at 10:30
From what I hear restoration is intended to airworthy condition, operating passenger flights.
ClassicWings is a Netherlands based company that operates classic aircraft (An-2, mostly). On their website (http://classicwings.nl/hetbedrijf/) they say (translation): “August 2013 we started a restoration project on a DC3. This aircraft, a war veteran, will be brought back to flying and original condition. However, this will be a multi-year project.”
On the same page they state that they are the only company (along with the Dutch Dakota Association) in the Netherlands with a permit to operate regular passenger flights, both nationally and internationally.
By: ericmunk - 11th February 2014 at 08:41
What are their plans for it? Restoration to fly, or static?
It’s good to hear that it has found a new owner after languishing in limbo for over a decade now since South Coast Airways folded.
From what I hear restoration is intended to airworthy condition, operating passenger flights.
By: Mike J - 11th February 2014 at 08:24
What are their plans for it? Restoration to fly, or static?
It’s good to hear that it has found a new owner after languishing in limbo for over a decade now since South Coast Airways folded.
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February 11, 2014 at 7:58 am