The Dakota Association of South Africa

In what would have been a short hop in its hey-day, has now turned into a final two day road trip for the former 35 Squadron C-47TP "Turbodak" which left Air Force Base Ysterplaat early on Sunday, 20th June 2008 for its final journey to the military base at Bokrivier between Ceres and Touwsrivier.

The aircraft with tail number 6864 was one of two redundant Turbodaks, which had been in open air storage at Air Force Base Ysterplaat for several years as updating it to the latest modification status was not performed due to the SAAF's rationalisation programme at the turn of the century, which saw the force disposing of most of its remaining C-47TP Turbodaks. Only a handful remain in service with 35 Squadron at Air Force Base Ysterplaat.

6864 (manufacturer's serial number 12580) has now become a mere shell, with no operational or other equipment remaining. But it is nevertheless an historical airframe which was delivered to the United States Army Air Force as 42-92745 on 21st February 1944, but was immediately diverted as a Lend-Lease aircraft to the Royal Air Force as a Dakota Mark III (KG468). It saw service in the Middle East with the South African Air Force during the final stages of World War 2, and was officially included in the SAAF inventory as 6864 on the 28th September 1945. It had been in SAAF service ever since and saw most of its tenure as a turbine powered DC-3 conversion in Cape Town with 35 Squadron.

Text and pictures: Louis Vosloo

The location of 6864 c/n 12580 33°18'36.08"S 19°44'16.03"E Click to open in Google Maps

 

The other SAAF TP Dak at Bokrivier is 6884 c/n 12064 at 33°19'55.07"S 19°53'29.76"E Click to open in Google Maps