"Workhorse of the air" is the name regularly given to the indestructible Douglas C-47 Dakota. The SAAF has for some time had the largest remaining fleet of Dakotas in the world, namely 47 aircraft. As a result of the SAAF decision in recent years to rationalise, it no longer retains the “pole position”.
The SAAF took on charge a large number of Dakotas during World War II and allocated them the serials 6801 - 6884.
At the cessation of hostilities in 1945 a large number of surplus Dakotas were disposed of, including transferring some to the South African Airways. The survivors of the SAA fleet found their way back to the SAAF in 1971 when they were allocated the serials 6885 to 6889.
When sanctions were imposed on South Africa from about 1975, other plans were devised to obtain aircraft and a number of Dakotas were purchased from various sources to supplement those still in SAAF service. In total 16 were added to the SAAF strength and most were given “old” serials.
One of the most successful “coups” was the purchase of 5 Royal New Zealand Air Force Dakotas which were withdrawn from that service in 1977. These were purchased by a concern in the Comores Islands with the name Island Associates and given Comores registrations before flying from New Zealand to the Comores. Once they were safely in the Comores, the next leg of the “coup” was to fly them to South Africa. In SAAF service they were given “old” serials, and some of them have found their way into the "Turbo Dak" program.
As a result of the rationalisation that has taken place over the last few years, a number of the “Turbo Daks” have been offered for sale during late 1997 and early 1998 and most of them have been bought by customers in the United States.
The only remaining operational Dakotas are those serving with 35 Squadron in Cape Town and which have been converted to the maritime role to patrol the long South African coastline. Those no longer required for service have been stored, pending disposal.
Winston Brent 4 July 2009
The list below is of Douglas C-47 aircraft that have seen service with the South African Air Force
Crew not known, A/Sgt W Anderson (k), L/Cpl W Upton (k) SA Army
6809
28.09.45
Capt JS Sandilands (s), Lt HC Read (s), F/Sgt WM Scott (s), Sgt RT Stewart (s) Passengers: Pte BJ Schoombie (k), Pte JN Schoombie (k), Tpr HLJ Roux (k), Tpr JE De Bruyn (k), Lt DC Armstrong (k), Pte HB Stoop (k), Lt SA Darier (k), WO2 GG Maritz (k) SAAF, Pte BS Scheepers (k), Cpl CJ Uys (s), Lt-Col H Klein (s), Cpl J van Rensburg (s), Pte H Smith (s), Sig W Barry (s), Pte A Grobbelaar (s), WO1 HW Steel (s), Lt A Maxwell (s), Maj B Harris (s), Pte R Hincks (s), Sapper A Benade (s), Cpl JM Robinson (s), Pte HJ Potgieter (s), Sapper CJ Lourens (s), Pte EW Gottschalk (s)
Lt IL Christianson (s), A/Sgt LJ Wallace (k), A/Sgt C Johnson (s), A/Cpl LK Kairuz (s)
6851
25.03.80
Lt JH Leeuw (k), Lt CJ Wessels (k), CO (Miss) ES Swart (k)
6856
10.02.61
Capt FK Siebrits (k), Lt AJA Heyns (k), A/Sgt LF Meise (k), LAM DH Nel (k), LAM JE Serfontein (k)
6878
24.05.81
Hangar fire
6883
25.06.46
Swartkop
6850 (1)
04.08.72
Capt PJ Steenkamp (s), Lt L Webb (s)
6858 (1)
26.02.48
Lt JF Breytenbach (s), Lt WC Botha (s), Lt BJ Grove (s), A/M MB de Meillon (k) (SAAF Tech on the ground)
6875 (1)
03.07.64
Destroyed by fire
FZ574
19.09.44
Lt KCG Wyness (s) engine cut, belly-landed on approach Maison Blanche 19.09.44
KG471
04.09.44
Capt KL O’Leary (s) crashed in forced landing Delabole, Cornwall 04.09.44
KG498
21.12.44
Lt GP Cronin (k), Lt CJ Jooste (k), Lt PS Moore (k), A/Cpl HV Kilburn (k) flew into hill at night 10m SSW of Torretoria Italy 21.12.44. Tyre burst on t/off, stalled, crashed Maison Blanche 15.03.45
KG525
15.03.45
KG690
31.07.44
Lt CJK Schutte (k), Lt JHS Glenny (k), Lt GC Pennington (k), A/Cpl R Hosner (k), A/Cpl RB Boraine (k) flew into cliffs on high ground, in cloud, Salalah, Aden 31.07.44
KG710
13.12.44
Capt AR Oldridge (k), Lt NS Campbell (k), Lt J Zurschmiede (k), A/Cpl CA Kalis (k). Missing between Bari and Hassani 13.12.44.
KN332
19.04.45
Lt HN Greenberg (k), Lt AF Smith (k), Lt LC Loram (k), A/Cpl T Griffiths (k), + 3 pax killed. Flew into hill descending in cloud near Vitrolles France 19.04.45 dbf
RAF Dak
16.07.44
Capt HW Solms (k)
Disposal
The table below lists the first batch to be offered for sale in late 1997
Serial
New reg
date reg
Air frame hours
6835
N145RD
15.12.97
1737,4
6853
N148RD
19.12.97
6648,9
6858
N146RD
15.12.97
2248,4
6879
N147RD
11.12.97
13168,3
6890
N149RD
19.12.97
8992,1
The table below lists the first batch to be offered for sale in 1998
Serial
New reg
date reg
Air frame hours
6820
N192RD
15.07.98
6844
ZS-OJK
.11.99
6846
N8241T
14.07.98
6855
N8194Q
14.07.98
6857
N193RD
08.07.98
6863
N81907
14.07.98
6865
N8190X
14.07.98
6868
N194RD
15.07.98
6870
N332RD
14.04.00
6874
N81952
14.07.98
6876
N81949
17.07.98
6880
N330RD
14.04.00
6886
N8194Z
14.07.98
6891
N198RD
14.04.00
6892
N195RD
03.01.99
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
Air Operations School
Central Flying School
TFDC (Test Flight and Development Centre) at Bredasdorp
Ysterplaat Station Flight
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:
6852 Fleur C/N 27002
6857 Klein Tierberg later Elandsberg C/N 33375
6868 Rustig C/N 32948
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.
SAAF Daks
