It's one of the most iconic aircraft of World War II: the C-47 Dakota. For the Allies, it was the ultimate military transport aircraft. In the Netherlands, the sky was darkened by the Dakota fleet during Operation Market Garden near Arnhem.
Dakota C-47
In 1945, the Douglas factory in Oklahoma built this Dakota, construction number 16371. The U.S. Air Force placed the aircraft into service on April 24, 1945, with the 439th Troop Carrier Group (439th TCG). Here, the Dakota was assigned to L4: the 91st Troop Carrier Squadron (TCS). This squadron was active on many fronts in Western Europe, including D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, and Operation Market Garden.
After World War II, the aircraft was transferred to the French Air Force as part of military support for its allies due to the growing Russian threat. At the end of 1946, the French Air Force transferred the aircraft to Air France, which flew it for many years. It is highly likely that this Dakota was part of the airlift to Berlin during the Russian blockade in 1948. At that time, there was also a French Zone in Berlin, and French aircraft actively participated in supplying the isolated city.
In the 1970s, this Dakota was decommissioned, and since 1981, it stood as a focal point at a war museum in the Belgian Ardennes. In 2002, the Liberating Wings Museum in Best purchased this C-47 and put it back on display. The museum closed in 2010, and that same year, the aircraft was moved to Valkenburg as a wreck. Nevertheless, it remained a recognizable war icon. The major musical "Soldier of Orange" wanted to feature this Dakota in its spectacular stage set. But that didn't happen. During transport, the aircraft became stuck under a bridge near Katwijk and was declared lost in 2013.
But as a "flying precious metal," this Dakota now lives on. Aviation Foundry has some of the original aluminum parts of this remarkable Dakota. It forms the basis for a bold wristpiece with an incredible history.