The Dakota Association of South Africa

 The Douglas C-47 Dakota in SAAF service

The SAAF never operated the DC-3 version only various Marks of the C-47 Dakota versions.

DOUGLAS C-47 DAKOTA

The list below is of Douglas C-47 aircraft that have seen service with the South African Air Force

The list is sorted by SAAF serial number

Disposal

The table below lists the first batch to be offered for sale in late 1997

The table below lists the first batch to be offered for sale in 1998

South African Air Force

The C-47 Dakota in SAAF service

Information supplied by:

Dean Wingrin who owns and manages the fantastic and informative website www.saairforce.co.za

Derrick Page

Steven Mclean

SAAF Operators and Squadrons that operated the Dakota

5 Wing

21 Squadron

25 Squadron

27 Squadron

28 Squadron

35 Squadron

44 Squadron

60 Squadron

86 Multi-Engine Flying School

5 Wing

21 Squadron

21 Squadron was formed During May 1941 flew operational flights in North Africa and Italy. The squadron did not make use of the Dakota. The unit was disbanded in 1945.

On 1 February 1968 the squadron was reformed again, this time as a VIP squadron from part of 28 Squadron, equipped with a Viscount and three C-47 Dakotas.

The three VIP Dakotas were:

The Dakotas were later transferred out.

Douglas C-47 Dakota

25 Squadron

Douglas C-47 Dakota 1 January 1951 to 13 November 1953

Douglas C-47 Dakota 1 February 1968 to 31 December 1990

25 Squadron inherited the Station Flight Dakotas

Reformed in January 1951 from 21 (CF) Squadron, Dakotas were flown as a part-time transport unit until being renumbered 44 Squadron in November 1953. Ysterplaat saw the squadron reformed in February 1968, once again equipped with the Dakota. The squadron was finally disbanded in October 1990.

Douglas C-47 Dakota

6832

6834

6835

6839

6840

6844

6858

6862

6865

6873

6877

27 Squadron

Douglas C-47 Dakota October 1962 to October 1969

27 Sqn never had its own Dakotas but drew from the Station Flight pool as did Nav School

The squadron was reformed again in October 1962 at Ysterplaat, flying inshore maritime reconnaissance with Dakotas until the Albatross was received in 1969.

Douglas C-47 Dakota

6811

6816

6820

6829

6832

6834

6839

6840

6860

6862

6867

6879

28 Squadron

Douglas C-47 Dakota 29 July 1943 to 1962

The Squadron was formed at Almaza, Egypt, on 1 June 1943 operating the Avro Anson. By August, Wellingtons and Dakotas had joined the fleet.

In September 1945 the squadron returned permanently to South Africa and was based at AFB Swartkop from where it shuttled South African troops home from North Africa and Europe (the 'Springbok Shuttle') during 1945 and early 1946 using Dakotas.

VIP flights remained an important part of 28 Squadrons tasks, with various Dakotas and Venturas fitted out with improved accommodation.

From 22 September 1948 to 25 September 1949 two contingents participated in the Berlin Airlift, flying RAF Dakotas.

When the Dakota could no longer be used to fly VIPs to Europe, a Viscount was acquired in 1958, with the Dakotas being retired in 1962.

Douglas C-47 Dakota

6832

6834

6835

6843

6854

6856

6857

6868

35 Squadron

Douglas C-47 Dakota November 1984 to 9 September 1994

Douglas C-47TP Turbo Dak 1991to Current

After the AVRO Shackleton maritime reconnaissance aircraft were withdrawn in November 1984, the squadron continued to perform its maritime patrols with converted C-47 Dakotas - the Dakleton.

With the closing of 25 Squadron at the end of 1990, a transport flight was formed to operate the Dakota and King Air in the medium-range transport role.

In 1991 the 'classic' Dakota was replaced by the C-47TP in the transport role, while the maritime flight converted to the Turbo Dak in September 1994.

In 1998 the two separate flights were combined with crews able to perform both maritime and transport tasks.

Douglas C-47 Dakota

6814

6825

6829

6832

6840

6848

6852

6854

6862

6864

6867

6873

6877

6879

6884

Douglas C-47TP Turbo Dak

6811

6845

6848

6854

6858

6864

6870

6875

6877

6884

44 Squadron

Douglas C-47 Dakota    12 March 1944 to 6 December 1945

Douglas C-47 Dakota 13 November 1953 to ?

Douglas C-47TP Turbo Dak July 1992 to 1998

Renumbered from 43 Squadron at Cairo West on 12 March 1944 with Ansons, the squadron began conversion to the Dakota by the end of the month. The squadron was involved in scheduled and unscheduled flights throughout the region and even as far as Rome, Russia, Karachi and the Gold Coast (Ghana).

In February 1945 the squadron moved to the Italian port of Bari for operations in the Balkans, including providing support to Yugoslav partisans. The squadron’s activities were not confined to the Balkans, with general transport and VIP flights to the south of France, Turkey, Egypt and Britain. The squadron was eventually disbanded at Bari on 6 December 1945.

The squadron was reformed in November 1953 at Swartkop as a transport unit flying Dakotas by renumbering 25 Squadron. The squadron spent a few years at Waterkloof between 1956 and 1963 before returning to Swartkop.

In 1992, the squadron moved to AFB Waterkloof and re-equipped with Dakotas converted to the C-47TP standard. During 1998 the C-47TPs were transferred to 35 Squadron when the squadron took over the CASA 212s and CN-235 of the disbanded 86 MEFS.

Douglas C-47 Dakota

FD851

FD925

FL610

KG487

KG499

KG509

KG511

KG626

KG627

KG688

Douglas C-47 Dakota

6814

6825

6828

6834

6851

6853

6854

6855

6859

6876

6878

6882

6888

6892

Douglas C-47TP Turbo Dak

6825

6852

6877

6892

60 Squadron

86 Multi-Engine Flying School

Douglas C-47 Dakota    11 January 1968 to July 1992

Douglas C-47TP Dakota July 1992 to 1994

The Multi-engine Conversion Flight, 44 Squadron was re-designated Multi Engine Conversion Unit (MECU) on 1 February 1968 at AFB Swartkop.

In July 1968 the unit was relocated to AFB Bloemspruit in order to escape the dense air traffic in the Pretoria area.

The C-47 was replaced by the C-47TP in July 1992 and the Dakota C-47TP was phased out in 1994.

86 MEFS ceased operations on December 31, 1997 when the squadron was absorbed by 44 Squadron at Waterkloof.

Douglas C-47 Dakota

6811

6828

6837

6843

6846

6855

6859

6863

6875

6882

6884

Douglas C-47TP Dakota

6816

6845