There is a fresh appeal on
www.britisheagle.net forum for information leading to finding colour photos of G-AMPT Dakota 4 in Eagle Aviation scheme, 1952/1953 (only became Eagle Airways on 1.7.53).
I wish them luck and good fortune, the wider they get their appeal out the more success is likely, however colour photos of the period are somewhat rare.
It appears, that after a number of years of external storage in Malta, this aircraft is now under cover and conservation/preservation work is underway. The aircraft is complete with all instruments so will make a great exhibit in Eagle colours once work is complete, even though the 1952 colours were a minimal narrow red cheat line and mainly white tail. Like most Dakotas this one has served many operators around the world in 65 years.
Built by Douglas at Oklahoma as a C-47B-30-DK, with incorrect constructor's number 16187, corrected post-war to 32935.
44-76603 USAAF. Handed over 24.3.45 on completion by Douglas and prepared for RAF.
KN462 RAF. At RAF Nassau 29.4.45 prior to transatlantic delivery, and as a Dakota IV was taken on charge by ACSEA (Air Command South East Asia) 22.4.45. To 215 Sqdn who formed 4.45 and were involved with supply drops to 14th Army, Burma. At Seletar 15.2.46 renumbered 48 Sqdn and employed on anti-terrorist operations in Malaya. Received by 12MU in the UK 28.10.47, and on 5.8.48 allocated to 240 OCU at North Luffenham. Moved on to 27 Sqdn 2.3.50 - a Berlin airlift unit with UK base at Oakington. On disbandment to 22MU 9.11.50. Declared surplus, and sold for civilian use.
G-AMPT UK Regd 4.3.52, delivered to Eagle Aviation (possibly on 22.5.52). Named "Reliance", with its first civilian Certificate of Airworthiness issued 31.8.52. Based Blackbushe. An advert in 'Flight' 8/52 by Eagle agents Air Liaison Ltd stated a total time of 2188 hours, with a grey, red and polished wood, fully sound-proofed and carpeted interior with 32 'pionair' type passenger seats fitted.
VP-YKM GB regn canx 14.5.53 on sale to Central African Airways in Rhodesia and named "Bemba" later "Angoni".
VP-YKM sold to Air Malawi in 1964, and re-registered with new national prefix
7Q-YKM in 1966.
ZS-EYO with Air Cape Ltd of South Africa, registered 5.70 and used on scheduled and charter passenger flights.
F-ODQL regd to Hemet Exploration 27.9.84, based at Maputo and used for magnetometer survey work. Supported the Trans-Sahara Rally late 84/early 85. Registration
D-CDST reserved by Reise-und-Rundflug 18.3.87, but not taken up - presumably the prospective purchase fell through. Aircraft continued to operate as
F-ODQL with Hemet. Suffered a right engine failure at Tamanrasset, date unkown (one source states probably early 1989). Due to repair costs and inflated airport charges, abandoned there by its owners and suffered further storm damage.
F-GILV Discovered abandoned by Gilbert Vila, eventually acquired, repaired and flown home to Nimes-Courbesac, France 12.89. Registered G-GILV 18.7.90. Restored in bare metal with day-glo nose and tail colours quasi French military colours (no roundels) with '562381' and logo/code 'Z' on tail. Used by Minerve Industries Paraclub. Gilbert Vila was killed when the MS.733 he was in crashed. Sold by his family to new American owners apparently based in Austria.
N48ME regd 9.2.95 to Warmair Inc Trustee of Dover, ME, USA, who appear to have also been known as Cargo Sans Frontiers. Named "City of Villandre". Arrived Malta for servicing with Medavia 17.2.95.
3C-JJN repainted at Malta and departed 7.3.95 for Algiers, apparently en route to Equatorial Guinea, however engine problems forced a return landing at Malta after an hour airbourne.
T9-ABC prepared for delivery to an operator in the newly formed state of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Test flown at Malta 1 & 2.4.95, however never delivered from the Medavia/NAC (New Cal Aviation) facilities at Safi, Luqa. Indeed never flew again. Sold by auction to NAC 1999, who intended to bring it back to airworthy status, however this never happened. The outer wings removed 4.00. It was donated to Malta Aviation Museum during 2002. Moved by road to Ta 'Qali 27.3.06. Undercover 2010 allowing a start on conservation work prior to public display.
Main sources Air Britain's DC-3 book and interest searches. Not all information found is necessarily correct, also found references to it serving with RAF South East Asia Communications Squadron based Ceylon; being operated by 436 Sqdn (I've gone with Air Britain's authoritive version); and regns
F-ODBL rather than F-ODQL, and
N47ME (ntu) after T9-ABC, some may be correct, or maybe red herrings! Not every bit of internet info is necessarily correct.
