Arkia's DC-3/C-47's helped keeping Israel's southernmost city - Eilat - connected to the rest of the country in the late 1950's / early 1960's. However, the airframe shown here never carried the registration 4X-AES, which did exist though but had c/n 11923 (USAAF FY 42-92154 > RAF FL562 > HB-ATO > NC74136 > OO-AFB > to Israel DF) and then to Arkia between April 2, 1957 and June 26, 1966. The history of the airframe shown here is best described at http://www.dc-3.co.za/dc-3-individual-aircraft-history/cn-6223.html . "4X-AES" has since been moved a few miles north to the new Eilat Airport LLER.

Built for the USAAF as C-47A 42-23624 then transferred to the US Navy as 12429 in 1943. Converted to an R4D-5Z in 1947. Registered as N7632C in 1958. Redesignated as a VC-47H in 1962. To the FAA ans N58 in 1966. Reregistered as N78 in 1973. To Northern Peninsular Fisheries as N78125 in 1976. Withdrawn from use at Arlington, WA by 1987. Fuselage noted at El Mirage, CA from 1997 to 2000.

Built for the USAAF as 42-23553 then transferred to the RCAF as 653 in 1943. Reserialled as 12937 in 1970. To Basler N400BF in 1991. Converted to BT67 #40 in 2003.

Delivered the USAAF as 43-23552 then transferred to the RAF/BOAC as FD868/G-AGHN in 1943. To VH-BZB in 1949, Thai Airways as HS-TDF in 1958 and the Royal Thai Army as 9414 in 1966. Preserved at the Science Centre in Royal Thai Air Force colours from 2002. English titles on this side.

Delivered the USAAF as 43-23552 then transferred to the RAF/BOAC as FD868/G-AGHN in 1943. To VH-BZB in 1949, Thai Airways as HS-TDF in 1958 and the Royal Thai Army as 9414 in 1966. Preserved at the Science Centre in Royal Thai Air Force colours from 2002.

Delivered to the USAAF as 42-23518 in 1943. To NC53426 in 1947, C-75, C-505, HK-505, N3938C in 1951, N66W then N5V in 1952, N5144 in 1967, N514X in 1968 and N53ST in 1980. To the Commemorative Air Force as N147AZ in 2016.

Delivered to the USAAF as 42-23518 in 1943. To NC53426 in 1947, C-75, C-505, HK-505, N3938C in 1951, N66W then N5V in 1952, N5144 in 1967, N514X in 1968 and N53ST in 1980. To the Commemorative Air Force as N147AZ in 2016.

Delivered to the USAAF as 42-23509 in 1943. To OK-VAV in 1946, Czech Air Force D-05 in 1950, French Air Force 23509 in 1960, N18262 in 1974 and C-GWIR in 1975. Damaged beyond repair in a landing accident at Yellowknife in 2013.

In Buffalo Airways colours with no titles. Delivered to the USAAF as 42-23509 in 1943. To OK-VAV in 1946, Czech Air Force D-05 in 1950, French Air Force 23509 in 1960, N18262 in 1974 and C-GWIR in 1975. Damaged beyond repair in a landing accident at Yellowknife in 2013.

Ordered for the USAAF as C-47A 42-23496. Delivered to the US Navy as R4D-5 12418 in 1943. Converted to an R4D-5L in 1956 and became the first plane to land on the ice at the South Pole. To the Smithsonian Institute in 1958 and stored at Silver Hill. To the Naval Air Museum in 1974.

Built for the USAAF as 42-23424 then Delivered to the RAAF as A65-9/VHCTI in 1943. To Qantas as VH-EAM in 1946, East West as VH-EWA in 1953, VH-EWF in 1959 and to VH-PWN in 1967 and used by various operators. To Pionair as ZS-AMS in 1993 then to Classic Wings as VH-CWS in 2006. Shipped to South Korea in 2016.

43-48092 was based at Bentwaters with the 81st, which was initially a fighter-interceptor group. In 1955 it gave up its F-86s for F-84Fs and became a fighter-bomber group. The changed role can be seen in the badge behind the cockpit, which signified a nuclear strike role. It is not known if the photo is at Bentwaters, Sculthorpe or Shepherd's Grove. Photo from: 2nd Lieutenant Kenneth Robert "Bob" Holloway

Taxying for departure after a 3 day stay en-route to Normandy to celebrate the 70th anniversary of D-Day. The aircraft had been there already on the 6th June 1944.

This immaculate DC-3 is one of seven airworthy aircraft on display at the Lyon Air Museum. All seven are in similar condition, looking as if they're brand new. This one is a civilianised C-47A (ex 42-100931, a D-Day veteran), which was acquired by the museum in Dec 2008 and then restored in these very nice old American Airlines colours as "Flagship Orange County".

One of the seven airworthy aircraft at the Lyon Air Museum. All look splendid, as if they were built yesterday. This C-47B served with the French Air Force since 1945, and then with the Israeli Air Force since 1967. It was sold as N791HH in July 2000 and ended up in storage at Ephrata, WA, until acquired by the museum in Aug 2006. Following restoration it was painted in these 97th Troop Carrier Squadron D-Day markings as "Willa Dean", with its original serial 44-76791.

One of seven airworthy aircraft on display at the Lyon Air Museum. All seven are in immaculate condition and look as if they were painted and polished yesterday. This DC-3 is in fact a civilianised C-47A (ex 42-100931, a D-Day veteran), which was acquired by the museum in Dec 2008 and painted in these very nice old American Airlines colours.

Delivered to the US Army Air Force in September 1943 as 42-92157. To the RAF as FL585 in January 1944. Delivered to the South African Air Force in October 1945 as 6873. Retired in 1995, sold as ZS-NTE. Restored to flying condition (and modified from a C-47 cargo version to DC-3 passenger configuration) in 2009, after 7 years of storage. The aircraft was flown to Zweibrücken (Germany) in 2015. In 2017, Aer Lingus supported the arrival of the aircraft to Ireland, where it was repainted in Aer Lingus' 1956 livery with registration EI-ACD (which used to belong to an actual Aer Lingus DC-3.