Dakota KK205

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas DC-3 / C-47 Skytrain/С-53 Skytrooper / Dakota - СШАUSA - 1935

Two close-ups of KK205 which was with the Netherlands East Indies Communications Squadron early in 1946 when Allan was in the crew. The nose was painted in 15 Corps colours with the badge of Allied Land Forces, SE Asia aft of the roundel. There were three stars on the outside of the rear door.
The nose art showed the head of Hermes (if our Greek holds out after forty years his name is round his collar) and the title 'Hermes' is in English below the painting.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas DC-3 / C-47 Skytrain/С-53 Skytrooper / Dakota - СШАUSA - 1935

KN594 was photographed at the end of August 1945 at Mingladon during the time the airfield was being extended after its capture from the Japanese. Such was the urgency in extending the runway that KN594 failed to get out of the way in time! We have not pinned down any unit for this aircraft or any reason why it got into this bizarre situation but it would be reasonable to assume that it undershot the existing airfield shortly before the photograph was taken. Some cannibalisation has been undertaken so one must assume that the forward end was sufficiently damaged to make it not worth while to salvage the airframe.
KN594 was not struck off charge until 30 May 1946. Presumably nobody could find it since the previous August. Depending on the rusting period of alclad in Burmese soil, one wonders if a dent developed later in the runway.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas DC-3 / C-47 Skytrain/С-53 Skytrooper / Dakota - СШАUSA - 1935

One Lancaster that did not get into 'The Lancaster File'. It is a RCAF Mark 10 with the codes 'DC-A ' and has gone through the barrier. Is that the pilot legging it by the roundel? He seems to have a chute on. But where and when did this incident take place and which aircraft was involved? None of the RCAF write-offs seem to fit the case.
In AM.2/86, we published a photograph of what was apparently a RCAF Lancaster on fire. It had a maple leaf centre to the roundel and the code letters 'DC-A'. There has been a resounding silence to our appeal for details apart from a letter from Norman Wiltshire in Sydney. He suggests that the centre of the roundel is NOT a maple leaf but a standard circular centre which has been distorted by the wire mesh on the surrounding fence. If so, the letters could stand for the Department of Civil Aviation in Australia and close examination shows a non-standard fuel barrel on the wing. In other words, it was a firefighting exercise. And if you wonder what Lancaster the DCA got its hands on to for firefighting practice, look more closely. It is not a Lancaster, but a Lincoln! Count the rivets...

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Avro Lincoln / Type 694 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944

"Фульмар" I на береговом аэродроме, апрель 1941 г.
The photo of Fulmars was, we believe, taken at Yeovilton.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Fulmar / P.4/34 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1937

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Blackburn Perth / R.B.3 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1933