The Dakota Association of South Africa

History of the Dakota Association of South Africa

Dakota Association founder Victor Philip Fouche

Its founder, the late Victor Philip Fouche formed the Dakota Association, in 1984. The founder members were mostly serving members of the SAAF's 44 squadron, and a handful of Second World War veterans, all of whom flew the Dakota at some stage in their careers.

The following year saw the 50th Anniversary of the DC-3 celebrated in South Africa by a fly-past of 27 Dakotas, 24 SAAF and 3 civil, in formation over Swartkop Air Force Base, near Pretoria. The Dakota Association was very much involved in the event, and along with the SAAF, was justifiably proud of what must have been the largest formation of Dakota's since the end of the Second World War.

This event alone more than doubled the membership figures of the association, and, for the first time, the founder members found themselves surrounded by eager new enthusiasts who idolised not only the DC-3, but the men who flew her too. Many more events were held, including the celebrations of the anniversary of the first DC-3 to land in South Africa, the “Reiger”, of KLM.

The association grew from strength to strength, and saw members joining from as far afield as Holland, Germany, England, and Australia and, of course the U.S.A.

On more than one occasion the Association was sure that they had finally acquired a Dakota, only to have their hopes dashed. After several promises and proposals failed to materialise, the committee decided to pursue the acquisition of an airworthy example of the Dakota through sponsorship and based on commercial viability. This policy continues today, and there are some exciting prospects being investigated at the time of this writing.

The untimely death of the founder and chairman of the Association in May 1999, resulted in the possibility of the Association disintegrating, as so many institutions do that find themselves suddenly leaderless. However, at a special general meeting all members present voted unanimously to continue the running of the Association with the founder's son and ex-pilot Mark Fouche as the new chairman.

Mark was not able to continue running the association and it lay dormant until 2008 when it was resurrected and was soon gaining interest and members.