"Parashurama" taxiing in at Aero India 2023. It bears the name of the warrior avatar of Lord Vishnu. This Dakota was RAF's KN397, later G-AMSV and N347DK. Donated by R. Chandrasekhar, MP, it joined the IAF Heritage Flight in 2018 after the Tiger Moth and Harvard. The tail number bears a special significance as VP905 of No. 12 Sqn "Yaks" was the first to land at Srinagar on 27 Oct 47 carrying troops of 1 Sikh to save the town and area from Pakistani raiders, marking the start of the 1947-48 Indo-Pak War.

Ex USAAF 44-76488, delivered on 19 Mar'45, 2 days later to RAF Montreal as KN397 on where it ended up with 12MU at Oakington on 8 Sep'47. It became G-AMSV in May'52, then N347DK in Feb'08. Sold to Rajeev Chandrasekhar in 2011 and donated by him to the Indian AF Vintage Flight at AFS Hindon on 13 Feb'18. It received serial VP905, the same as the first C-47 in Indian service that transported the troops in 1947. It departed the UK on delivery to India on 17 Apr'18, arriving there on 26 Apr'18. It is named Parashurama, the sixth avatar among the Dashavatara of the preserver god Vishnu in Hinduism

Ex USAAF 44-76488, delivered on 19 Mar 1945, two days later to RAF Montreal as KN397 on where it ended up with 12MU at Oakington on 8 Sep 1947. It became G-AMSV in May 1952, then N347DK in Feb 2008. Sold to Rajeev Chandrasekhar in 2011 and donated by him to the Indian Air Force Vintage Flight at AFS Hindon (Uttar Pradesh) on 13 Feb 2018. It received serial VP905, the same as the first C-47 in Indian service that transported the troops in 1947. It departed the UK on delivery to India on 17 Apr 2018, arriving there on 26 Apr 2018. It is seen here over a massive audience applause over Aero India 2023.