Slovenian Dakota in a Field

I was driving around Slovenia the other day, as you do, when I spotted a random Dak in a field…nice condition and accessible. Made my day it did. Anyway, I’ve googled a bit but would really like some info on it’s actual service with the various air forces it flew with if anybody can add any more please?

Struggling to add photos from my phone so here’s my walkaound video;

https://youtu.be/jEIDReCnOnk

Yugoslavian Douglas DC3 Dakota / C47 Skytrain 71253 RAF POW Partisan Chetnik Memorial at Otok pri Metliki, Slovenia

Serial: 71253

Type: Douglas DC-3 Dakota Mk3 / C-47A Skytrain

Construction Number C/N : 25460

Manufacturers Serial Number MSN : 14011

United States Air Force : 43-48199

British Royal Air Force : KG783 G-AJBH

French Armee de l’Air : 48199 F-BTDD

Location: Podzemlje Otok pri Metliki / Crnomelj / Letalo , Bela Krajina region 

This C-47 is preserved near the border between Slovenia and Croatia where it serves as a monument to a provisional airfield called Piccadilly Hope which was used during World War II to supply partisan troops in their fight against Nazi Germany. Delivered as KG783 to the Royal Air Force in August 1944, it also flew for the French Air Force before it ended up with the Yugoslav Air Force around 1971.

Restored and displayed in the colours of 267 Squadron, RAF

Donated in 1984 for display as a Partizan, located along the road Crnomelj – Metlika, in the direction of the village Otok, 5 km from Metlika. On display by 18th August 1984 in its Yugoslav markings. It had been painted in RAF colours by 1986 

“At the edge of the meadow by the crosswords for the village of Podzemlje in the Bela Krajina region stands a military version of the plane DC-3. The plane has even been called Dakota. The motor plane by the Douglas factory used to be one of the most popular in the history of aviation during World War II and after it.

The aged plane of the Yugoslav National Army was set years ago as a memory of the provisional partisan airport during the war. The English and Americans used to fly the injured from Bela Krajina, which was liberated territory, to Allied hospitals in Italy during World War II as well as send weapons and other materials to the partisans. The interior of the plane is not accessible.”