Douglas C-47 Dakota – ZA947

Built in 1942 in Long Beach California, ZA947 was originally assigned to the ISSAF in September 1942. A week later, she was transferred under lend-lease to the Royal Canadian Air Force and redesignated as a Dakota III and served entirely with the RCAF until the end of the War. She supported Canadian forces in Europe until 1969 before changing hands to the British Royal Aircraft Establishment, where she was allocated a new serial number, KG661. It was then realised KG661 was actually the registration of another Dakota that had previously been lost in an accident, so she was registered again as ZA947 In 1992, she was acquired by RAF Strike Command to be used by the BBMF as a multi-engine, tailwheel training aircraft and flying memorial to all those who flew and operated in unarmed transport aircraft during the war.