on display since 1972, first with a pole under the tail. Now looking more "natural" with the tail on the ground. Still looking pristine even when fighting the, at the time, harsh Swiss winters

This C-47 served with the 9th AF in WW2 and took part in both the D-Day and Market Garden operations in 1944. Post-war, it was based in West Germany until 1954, when it was based at Rabat, Morocco before moving again to Wheelus AB, Libya in 1956. After further service in the USA, it was retired in 1964. It was relegated to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds for target use but survived this to be used by the US Army as a training aid for CH-54 helicopters. When it was no longer required for this role, it was saved and, in October 1986, flown as an underslung load to Dover for permanent preservation.

Postwar became an instructional airframe before being scrapped in 1951. Photo from: Imperial War Museums

Former 5-T-22 with its last flight in 1979. Monument at the old airport. Might well be the southernmost aviation relic in the world.

Dakota IV KJ950 with the RAF, to Greek AF still registered KJ950, then Ypiresia Poitikis Aeriporias (Civil Aviation Autority) as SX-ECD. This very sorry looking C-47 ended up used as a restaurant or a night club. It is well hidden in an ungainly looking street, not far from the old airport, and you really need to look for it to discover it.

Retired by Trans North Turbo Air (C-GWUH) in 1985, this DC-3 appeared in Vancouver destined for Salair. Converted to a Basler BT-67 (cn 52) circa 2006, it was operated by the US Forest Service until acquired by North Star Air (C-FWUI) in 2017.

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.

Later operated by BOAC as G-AIAZ. It was back with the RAF when sold in Australia in December 1946 as VH-SMI. Later VH-MIN. While VH-MIN is still registered at the time of upload, it has not flown in at least 20 years. It was taken by road from Bankstown airport to a rural property at Larras Lee near Molong, NSW in 2009. Photo from: Imperial War Museums

slide scan from the NK collection. - N2VM, built in 1944 and delivered to USAAF as 42-93805, is seen here after its airline service with Vero Monmouth Airlines, which ended in April 1975. The C-47 found a last operator with Air Pennsylvania in 1981 and flew in full their colours until being withdrawn at St. Thomas VI. Noted there in derelict condition in 1987, its reg was finally cancelled as late as 2011.

Nov '44: TOS USAAF as C-47B 43-49457, transferred to USN as R4D-6 50814. Unknown date: Converted to R4D-6Q. 1962: Redesignated C-47J. By 1969: TOS US Army. Converted to EC-47J. Apr 69: U.S. Army Electronics Command, Lakehurst, NJ. Used as airborne electronics testbed. May 70: Electronics gear removed, redesignated C-47J. To John F. Kennedy Center for Military Assistance, Fort Bragg, NC. Flew approximately 500 hours annually in support of Special Forces missions. Sep '75: North Carolina Forest Service, Raleigh, NC with c/r N48211. 1999: Southern Museum of Flight Foundation, Birmingham, AL

Landing at the end of its delivery flight from Shannon to join the museum collection. (Science Museum photo)