A welcome surprise indeed! Pictured taxying out from the old RAF Turnhouse apron to rw24 for departure.

The Tower at Gatow has undoubtedly looked down on many C-47s over the years. This one had spent 32 years as a gate guard in front of the barracks at Gatow before being refurbished and placed on display to commemorate the Aussie participation in the Berlin Airlift. Based at RAAF Butterworth (Malaysia) from 23 Feb 1967 to 3 Jun 1980. Departed for West Germany 06 Jun 1980 and arrived there 11 days later. Placed on RAF registry as ZD215 for the final delivery flight to Gatow on 18 Jun 1980, because only British, US and French aircraft were allowed to pass through the Berlin air corridors up to 1989.

Seen parked without engines at Coventry. The aircraft carries the titling Pollution Control and MCA on the tail. The aircraft was operated by Air Atlantique.

At Flying Legends 2014. Painted in unusual Norway AF / RAF No. 20 Transport Squadron markings, which were only briefly carried in Norway between June 1945 and Feb 1946. This Squadron, unrelated to the RAF's own No.20 Squadron, was in fact a continuation of the German Air Force 20 Transportfliegergeschwader. The squadron, formally controlled by the RAF, was the first step in re-establishing civil aviation in Norway after the war, using several DC-3s and Lockheed L-18 Lodestars. In 1946 the DC-3s were transferred to DNL, Norway's main pre-war airline and one of the predecessors of SAS. Looking spotless and superb

Display complete and now taxiing back to Parking. (Canon 40D 55mm)

To USAAF as 42-68823 in June 1943. Transferred to Aero O/Y in 1948 as OH-LCG, then to the Finnish AF in 1969 as DO-9. It was sold to the USA and became N59NA on 30 May 1985. But that reg was soon cancelled and on 20 August 1985 N59NA was taken up by DC-3 c/n 9043, which still carries today. Meanwhile, this aircraft became LN-WND in July 1986, initially with Warbirds of Norway, which changed their name to Dakota Norway in 1989. It sometimes features in movies, for example painted as RAF KN452 in 1992 or as Egypt Air "EN-WND" in the 2008 movie "Olsenbanden Junior på rocker'n".

Delivered new to American Airlines in May 1940, serving until 1947. Operated by PBA from 1974. It retains the prewar right-hand door.

This is former Israeli Air Force C-47B 034, still showing those markings and the serial. It was ferried from Israel to the USA in August 2000 and soon stored here, with Comanche Air at Ephrata. A few years later it was restored for Lyon Air Museum at Santa Ana, CA, where it is now based in its original D-Day markings. It is ex 44-76791, delivered to the USAAF in April 1945.

Interesting cabin of a classic! Parked here at the military base of Latacunga. Ex PP-AKI. Dataplate checked by myself. (Nikon D610 + Nikkor 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED AF-S)

Originally a USAF C-47 serialed 42-108810 (cn 11948) that was transferred to the US Navy as bu 17108. It was among those that were converted to R4D-8s and assigned the new cn 43369. To Davis Monthan for storage November 1978 until sold to TBM Inc December 1, 1980. Millardair brought the aircraft to Canada in 1983 and flew it until put into storage May 1990 after they stopped flying. Operated by several other companies in Canada until flown to Opa-Locka, Fla for storage as N587LM.

The DST (Douglas Sleeper Transport) upper slit windows for the bunk beds are readily visible in this view. Delivered to EAL in February 1940. Impressed as a C-49F 42-56616 for the USAAF between May 1942 and return to Eastern in July 1944. Withdrawn in 1979. Obtained from Douglas 50 years ago.

VH-SBT was sold in New Zealand as ZK-DAK in October 1987.

Airfast operated VH-MIN from October 1972 to July 1974. Peter Ricketts photo

"City of St Louis" served C&S from new in April 1940 until the airline's merger into Delta on 1 May 1953. It is operating Flight 92 to Kansas City per the sign near the right-hand passenger door. A stylishly-clad air hostess walks towards the veteran aircraft in this shot obtained from C&S 60 years ago.

A classic on "display", the former Ecuador Air Force FAE49785/HC-AUP, now without serial (ex USAF 43-49785). Shame that nothing has been done to preserve her condition a little better! (Nikon D610 + Nikkor 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED AF-S)

Originally US Air Force. Serial No. 44-76764 Served later with RAAF as A65-95 on the 8th may 1945. seen at Parafield sporting its ARDU livery.