During the Border War, the SAAF carried no roundels and the serial number was only carried on the nose. At the time this Dakota was operated by 44 Sqd at AFB Waterkloof. Delivered to the USAAF as 44-76303 9 Feb 145, to the RAF as KN326 18 Feb 1945, and to the SAAF as 6854 9 March 1945. Converted to C-47TP for maritime patrol duties with 35 Sqd, stored from around 2005. Photographer unknown

Delivered to the USAAF as 42-72312 September 1944, to American Airlines as N90437 post war, Air France as F-BBDR October 1949, after several French airlines she ended with Air Comores as F-BDDR in 1973, later D6-CAA. Sold to the SAAF as 6907 in a clandestine deal in 1981. Withdrawn from SAAF service in 1993 and sold to Africa Cargo Airlines, briefly registered ZS-XXX and then ZS-NJN, 7Q-YYY and finally 3D-NJN. Sold in 1998 as 3D-ADW and used for flights between South Africa and Angloa. Abandonded at Kinsasha late 1990s and scrapped there. Seen here at Rand in SAAF camouflage with ZS-XXX crudely applied and attempted removed. Photographer unknown

First flown 30 September 1971 and delivered to South African 22 October. Serving the airline until withdrawn 23 November 2003, she was ferried from Johannesburg to Rand 5 March 2004 for preservation at the SAA Museum where it has rested since.

Delivered to the South African Police in August 1993, ZS-NIT continued to serve with the South African Police Service which was established in 1995 after the fall of apartheid when the police services of the so called bantustans were incorporated into one police force. Photographer unknown

Photographer unknown

Photographer unknown

One of relatively few DC-3Ds built postwar from uncompleted C-117 parts. First flown as NC34976 by Douglas, then to Swissair as HB-IRB 15 March 1946. Sold to Riis Flyrederi 2 September 1964. Immediately sold on to Comair and flown to Johannesburg where it was registered ZS-DXW on 24 September. She remained in Africa the remainder of her service life, moving to Ehtiopian Airlines 19 January 1983 serving as ET-AIB until withdrawn from use at Addis Ababa during 1991. Photographer unknown

Built as G-AHOT for BEA in 1946. To Eagle Aviation, 1952 and Airwork in 1953. To ZS-DKH September 1954 first with Trek Airways and later Protea Airways. Between 1963 and 1987 it was on display at Vic's Viking Garage south of Johannesburg. It went to South African Airways for restoration in a three-way deal where SAA gave a Lockheed Lodestar to the SAAF, the SAAF gave an Avro Shackleton to Vic who gave the Viking to SAA. In 2024 the Viking is still with SAA Technical. Photographer unknown

Delivered to United as NC18942 in 1938. Reregistered as N18942 after 1948. Sold as N92C in 1954. To N80R in 1956, N8044 in 1969 and ZS-KEX in 1978. Stored at Lanseria from 1979. To Rand in 1993 for continued storage there.

Parked on the ramp at Rand while undergoing maintenance.

The apron and tower at Rand seen from the Springbok Lodge.

built as 42-101021 for the US Air Force. After the War to I-LALO, VP-PXP and ZS-EJK. Later to Air Botswana and w/o on 12 October 1982 when it hit a mountain near Hoedspruit. Fortunately there were no fatalities.

The Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force operated this Arava in several colour scheme over the years. This is the first. Photographer unknown

Seen shortly after delivery to South Africa in 1965. Later to Rhodesia as VP-WDX and VP-YBP operating for among others Rhodesia United Air Carriers. Photographer unknown