The Dakota Association of South Africa

Delivered to the USAAF on 11 January 1945 as 43-49838

Transferred to the RAF on lend-lease at RAF Nassau on 18 January 1945 as KN231

To ACSEA on 6 March 1945

To 31 Squadron RAF

To 52/353 Squadron RAF

To 48 Squadron RAF 1949

To 110 Squadron RAF 5 May 1951

To 22 MU/UK 27 November 1951

Sold to Airwork Ltd and registered as G-AMZW on 29 May 1953

Sold to Sudan Airways and registered as SN-AAH on 1 June 1953

Reregistered as ST-AAH in 1957

Transferred to Sudan Air Force as 424 in October 1965

Returned to Sudan Airways as ST-AAH in July 1967

Arrived in South Africa in May 1975

To South African Air Force as 6850 (2) delivered August 1975

To SAAF Museum

Was to be donated to the Dakota Association of South Africa but due to matters unclear was never delivered.

Sold to private concern and displayed inside Caesar’s Palace Casino near Johannesburg International Airport in April 2000.

Sold to private concern and donated to the SA National Museum of Military History in Saxonwold Johannesburg in 2009.

-26° 9' 47.02", +28° 2' 31.15" opens in Google maps. Cope the co-ordinates and paste into Google Earth

Transported from the Emperors Palace (previously Caesars Casino) to The South African National Museum of Military History now part of the group called Ditsong Museums of South Africa on Sunday 5 April 2009.

The SA War Museum, as it is sometimes referred to, is situated in Erlswold Way in the northern Johannesburg suburb of Saxonwold adjacent to the Johannesburg Zoo.

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During January 2010 The Dakota Association of South Africa was invited by the South African National Museum of Military History to get their recently acquired C-47 into "live status" and get the engines running. Brendan Odell compiled this preliminary to do list on 13 January 2010.

As a summary;

1. Before the engines can be run, the aircraft should be moved back slightly (maybe 10m).
2. The electrical and hydraulic systems need to be tackled before any engine work. This is done in the following order:

1. Fill the hydraulic system with oil and pressurise the accumulator with nitrogen to 250 psi.
2. Lift the flaps and fix the outer ones (which are missing many parts) up.
3. Replace the missing fittings/hoses on the brakes and do the adjustment on the shoes and bleed all four brakes.
4. Do a thorough inspection of the aircraft's wiring and cap all open wiring. Pull all the circuit breakers and put 28 volt DC on the aircraft. (I will bring a ground power unit from Rand)
5. Test operation of required components (Fuel booster pumps etc.)
6. Put 400 litres of fuel into the tanks (all in one tank - left or right main is fine)
7. Pressurise carburettors and check for leaks in carbs and flex hoses (missing primer hoses can must be replaced). Leave carbs to soak with fuel.
8. Repair flight controls and adjust elevator rigging (we will need some elevator authority - given the confined space.
9. Carry out tappet/magneto timing checks. Remove, clean and test all the spark plugs.
10. Put about 20 USG of oil into both engines and carry out hot oil priming procedure.

Whilst working with cowlings off and preparing for engine runs volunteers can begin the process of cleaning each engine thorughly, removing all traces of oil and general greasy build up that is present.

I have a friend of mine who will teach Jeff Bell and any other interested party, how to do the fabric repairs (as these techniques will be necessary on other aircraft on display) and I will also teach some of the staff on how to carry out the engine runs - should they feel confident to do them.

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