International Plastic Modellers Society Dunedin Serving the modellers of Dunedin since 1986
				This page is dedicated to my late father-in-law, Ken McKay, and his brilliant research document on the Douglas C-47 Dakota in the service of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Anything, Anywhere, Anytime. This document is held in the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum (Wigram) Christchurch and can be accessed through their normal channels. I am also very fortunate hold a copy myself, as well as the copies of the RNZAF photographs used in the book. I have chosen to detail the history of this aircraft its final resting place is the RNZAF Museum, where it stands as a tribute to the fine years of service provided by this wonderful aircraft.
		Model : C-47B-45-DK USAAF : 45-960 Built : Oklahoma City Date : 21/7/45 Construction number : 16963 / 34223
	Introduction Just 31 days before the end of WW2 an aircrew left New Zealand for the United States to collect a C-47B which was to roll off the assembly line 25 days before the war ended. The aircraft and crew joined at San Diego and after the usual checks and preliminaries set off for New Zealand via Hickam Field, Hawaii, on track 4, speed 142 knots, at an altitude of 8,000 ft. Delivery After arrival at Whenuapai on 14 August it then flew to Hamilton to be taken on charge by the RNZAF. This latter action probably coincided with the end of the war, VJ Day, and it is likely that the formalities were not attended to quite as expeditiously as usual. It has been noted that NZ3551 had only one wartime flight in the Pacific, that of course being from San Diego to Whenuapai, so it was essentially a peacetime aircraft. NZ3551 was the first of 49 C-47s allocated for the second half of 1945 and it arrived on the day that attempts were begun to cancel all undelivered Lead / Lease aircraft. Seven more were to arrive but two which had reached Hawaii were cancelled. It is interesting to note that the number of RNZAF C-47s would have effectively doubled had the war gone through to 1946. Of course by this time projected moves to Borneo and points nearer to Japan would have eventuated and the extra two C-47 squadrons envisaged would have been required. It is interesting to speculate what would have happened to over 100 surplus C-47 aircraft at war's end. Operational Service It was nevertheless busy soon after, in the Island Group area with No 41 Squadron, as the whole RNZAF operation in the Pacific was to be dismantled as soon as possible and personnel returned to New Zealand. The tasks noted below give an idea of the high use the RNZAF C-47s for the next three months. All departures noted immediately below were from Whenuapai. Chart to be added This bare outline does of course not tell the whole story. Three hours out from Whenuapai oil streamed from the port engine cowling and oil pressure was lost. An initially unsuccessful attempt was made to feather and 2,000 ft was lost before it was eventually accomplished. As NZ3551 continued back to base it was still losing height despite freight being jettisoned and 45 minutes later the aircraft was below 5,000ft and still dropping. When the luggage was jettisoned height was maintained at 4,50ft for the next two hours. With power reduced on the good engine the New Zealand coastline was crossed at 2,000 feet and a relieved group of airmen arrived over Whenuapai after 4 1/2 hours on one engine and a successful landing was made. The firewall and wheel well was covered in oil but no sign of the cause was obvious until the oil reservoir was filled and the engine started. Oil immediately jetted from a split hose. A Catalina and a Hudson had been despatched to assist as the C-47 was returning but fortunately their services were not required. High praise was given to the captain of NZ 3551. By mid 1946 NZ 3551 was flying the Norfolk I. And Japan routes with 41 Squadron. Departures for Norfolk Island being notes as for 28 August 1946, 7 October, 21 October, 1 November and 11 December. A log entry dated 13 December notes a 30-minute pre-flight check prior to leaving for Japan. As noted for NZ 3550 (refer to the original book Anything Anywhere Anytime), an Air department signal to Ohakea in July 1947, instructed that NZ 3551 was to be flown to Ohakea for an engine change after NZ 3550 was completed but the change was delayed due to the late arrival of NZ 3550. Eventually NZ 3551 had its engine change and was flown back to Whenuapai 'in September by the crew which had delivered NZ 3552 to Ohakea for its change. As WW 2 receded into the past, the RNZAF C-47s spent more flying in New Zealand and although a number of them served in Malaya, NZ 3551 seems to have largely done its flying here in home territory. November 1949 saw NZ 3551 attached to B Flight, 41 Squadron, at Whenuapai. It flew a 1.20 hour task from Whenuapai to Rukuhia and return two days later a one hour search from Whenuapai although the log did not specify what was the object of the search. On the 23rd and 24th it was based briefly at Wigram for long range navigation exercises to the Bounty and Chatham Islands. The Empire (now Commonwealth) Games opened on 25 January and once again a dwindling number of C-47s participated in a flypast at the Games at the Games Opening Ceremony in Auckland. This time NZ 3551 and two others participated. The following day it was back to daily tasks again. While practising circuits and landings at Whenuapai on 15 May, two C&Ls had been accomplished successfully. While taking off for the third circuit, white smoke began to pour from the cowling of the starboard motor. The aircraft was taken to 300 ft to feather the propeller in a gusty wing and with a 284 ft hill nearby. The propeller would not feature so the fuel and ignition switches were turned off and the aircraft was landed with the port engine only. A court of inquiry was suggested but not thought necessary. The pilot was commended for his quick reaction. By January 1952, NZ 3551 was one of the nine C-47s left in the RNZAF. The following month Ohakea signalled Air Headquarters that NZ 3551 had been sent to Palmerston North that day, 21 February. On the 26^th Air HQ signalled Whenuapai with a decision on storage had no yet been madeso the aircraft was to be kept in serviceable condition at Whenuapai for the meantime. Once again the misfortune over took “51” on takeoff from Whenuapai but as the damage was slight it was not noticed until arrival at Wigram. The all up weight on takeoff was 29,199lb which as below the permitted maximum. It was decided that the damage was caused by the premature raising of the undercarriage at Whenuapai due to a misunderstanding of the engineer’s signals. Minor damage was caused to the port aileron and navigation light. April 17 1953 again saw a signal from Air HQ to Ohakea , and Te Rapa, that NZ 3551 was to be placed in short term storage pending requirement. Seven week later “51” was flown toParaparaumu in preparation for conversion to VIP status for the Royal Tour later in the year. It was then delivered to the de Havilland plant at Rongotai on 5 June 1953 for refurbishment. A photo reputed to have been taken some time in 1953 shows NZ 3551 with 42 SQUADRON RNZAF on the cheat line, white above the line and polished metal below. The roundel had no bans and there was no logo. The rings and centre were of equal width. At the conclusion of the work “51” was flown from Rongotai to Ohakea on 13^th November where it joined C Flight of 42 Squadron in readiness for the beginning of the tour the following month. Press reports published at the time of the completion of the refit gave a full account of the finished product. It was described as the equivalent of a five-star hotel and those who saw it before leaving the hanger for Ohakea were suitably impressed. The interior had been striped of its transport seating and two "beautifully finished compartments" built. The rear compartment was the Royal compartment and the forward had seating for four others accompanying the Queen and the Duke. Aft of the main compartment was a dressing room, while in the tail was a servery staffed by two stewards. The colour scheme in the main compartments was a 'symphony' in grey in various tonings and the seats and windows facing were of fireproof material. The seating was particularly comfortable with a curtained window beside each seat. There was also the obligatory light switches and call buttons. Folding tables were available between the seats while in the toilet there was a dressing table and stool plus a wash basin with hot and cold water. There were also wardrobes for the Royal pair. An anonymous donor, later known to be CAS AVM D B Carnegie CB CBE RAF, provided wooden plaque replicas of the RNZAF Squadrons Nos 1, 3, 4, 14, 41, 42 and 75. (It should be remembered that 40 Squadron was disbanded at this time). There was also the crest of the RNZAF itself on display. The refitting by de Havilland Aircraft company was supervised by the RNZAF Director of Engineering (W/C W G Woodward) and his predeccessor W/C J C pope and Mr J A Kerr was the New Zealand Manager for de Havilland. In preparation for the tour of the North NZ 3551, NZ 3545 and NZ 3553 were positioned at Whangarei but a familiarisation flight was first meade from Ohakea to Whenuapai, Kaihohe thence to Whangarei. The early part of the tour was overshadowed by the disaster at Tangiwai on Christmas Eve 1953 when the Wellington - Auckand express train crashed into a flooded Tangiwai river with the loss of many lives. It was decided that the itinerary of the tour be altered to allow the Queen to attend the funneral of Tangiwai victims and so NZ 3551 flew an unscheduled flight from Hamilton to Paraparaumu for the funeral on 31 December. While undergoing a test flight after an inspection, the starboard engine began over speeding and the generators overcharging following the feathering. On inspection back at base, it was found that the feathering relay had stuck and the engine could not be featured. By 1955 NZ 3551 and NZ 3553 were the only two C-47s left in RNZAF service both being used on VIP and communications work. The Wellington Airport was opened on 24 October 1958 and NZ 3551 of 42 Squadron was present. I was parked but not accessible to the public as it was due to leave at 3.16pm on a flight to Napier carrying the Governor-General and his party. Back at Wellington the next day it was opened to the public. On the 26th it was once again involved in a display by the RNZAF, this time at Ohakea where it was parked by the hangers. In January 1961 a mercy mission was flown from Hawera Hospital to Auckland where the patient received treatment for burns. One brief note for 1963 puts NZ 3551 at Wigram on 11 July 1963 but no details were given. Early the following month a flight from Wellington to Napier and return was made carrying the Governor-General. Sir Bernard Fergusson held the appointment by this date. It will also be noted that VIP passengers were embarked at Wellington and the use of Paraparamumu declined. February 22 1964 was Air Force Day at Ohakea and after arriving at the Base Sir Bernard and Lady Fergusson inspected the guard of honour. A further visit was made to Ohakea by the vice regal couple when they arrived from Auckland on NZ 3551 for an Anzac Day Service. Early in July Whenuapai became fogbound and NZ 3551 used Ardmore as an alternative. On 2 October it landed in transit at Wanganui before arriving at the opening of Rotorua Airport with the official party the following day. A further flight by Sir Bernard and his wife on 9 November took them from Wellington to Timaru and return. NZ 3551 began and completed the flights at Ohakea. Later in the month the Prime Minister Mr K J Holyoake, flew Wellington to Rotorua and return the same day. On the 19th of the following month NZ 3551 was noted at Wellington. In the period 9 November 1964 to 11 June 67, there appears to be no evidence that NZ 3551 did not leave New Zealand. Based at Ohakea all flights originated and terminated there. The bulk of the flights read something like and extended bus run covering mainly Ohakea - Whenuapai - Wellington and Wigram. Occasional flights were made to Mt Cook - Queenstown - Invercargill - Hokitika - Dunedin - Rotorua and Paraparaumu. Only three entries for 1965. 14 February saw NZ 3551 take the Minister of Works, Mr Allen, to Kawerau from where he went by road to see flooded areas around Whakatane. Later the same month this aircraft carrying the Governor-General, landed at Rotorua to pick up another passenger then flew on to Napier. It was later seen at Wellington on 19 April. Further briefs for 1971 included flying the Governor-General (Sir Arthur Porritt) to Invercargill during the first week in March, an overhaul by NAC at Christchurch in May and two further sightings at Christchurch in August. The Governor-General, Sir Arthur Porritt, made an unusual farewell visit at the end of June, to Ohakea Air Base to say goodbye to No 42 Squadron. Equipped with six Dakotas 42 Squadron was the RNZAF's communications unit, charged with flying the Governor-General and most other VIP's around the country. After seeing members of the Squadron, Sir Arthur was presented with a framed photo of NZ 3551, the RNZAF's VIP Dakota in which he had done most of his travelling. A short time later he left the Base on one of his last flights in that particular aircraft In 1973 NZ3551 was still flying with the RNZAF and on 16 July flew on the 50th Anniversary of the RNZAF at Wigram and in November of the same year flew at the Anniversary of 42 (Comm) Squadron at Ohakea. On 20 December 1943 the Communications Flight at Rongatai was redesignated as No 42 Squadron. At the time of the celebrations the squadron flew six C-47 from Ohakea and Whenuapai. Retirement Time eventually ran out for this C-47 which was one of only two of this type of aicraft which spent their flying careers with the Royal New Zealand Air Force. By 2 May it had flown 12,135 hours, much less than many other which had flown with NAC as well as the RNZAF. It should also be remembered that it flew few of the long overseas flights or the day by day flights of a civil airliner. It was also virtually brand new when the war finished. With NZ 3546, NZ 3551, the last two RNZAF C-47s flew a circuit and landed at Ohakea before being ceremonially retired from the service. A note at the time described the landing as synchronised whereby both aircraft landed on runway 27/51, one on grass and one on the runway, one of few such landings with aircraft of this size. The pilot of NZ 3551 was S/L Brausch. Some details of hours flown and inspection times as at November 1977 are given below. The aircraft was test flown on 20 January 1978 and again on the 24^th. The next day it departed Ohakea for Wigram at 0946 hours on what surely must be the last operational flight of an RNZAF C-47. NZ 3551 was struck of the RNZAF charge and transferred to the Government Stores Board for disposal in March but fortunately it was not to be., High level discussions were underway initiated in part, it is understood, the S/L Brausch and eventually then the Minister of Defence the Hon. Mr Allan McCready gave approval for the aircraft to be assigned to what is now the RNZAF Museum at Wigram. It was placed on static exhibit in 1979.
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