Dakota G-AMHJ - KG651 was formally presented to the Assault Glider Trust by Mr Stuart Powney on 7th November 2003 on behalf of Air Atlantique. This aircraft was built as a C47A at Oklahoma City in 1944, manufacturer's serial number 13468. It was delivered to the US Army Air Force on 30th May 1944 as 42-108962 but it was diverted to the Lend-Lease Programme. The aircraft became RAF serial number KG651 at No 45 Group at Montreal Dorval on 3rd June 1944.
KG651 as G-AMHJ at London Gatwick airport in 1968 when operated by Morton Air Services.
The aircraft arrived in UK on 13th June 1944 and was assigned to No 109 OTU at Crosby in Eden, Cumberland on 26th August 1944. On 29th August 1944 it was transferred to No 24 Squadron at Hendon, and then to No 1383 Transport Conversion Unit at Crosby in Eden (this having replaced No 109 OTU). On 23rd July 1946 KG651 was transferred to No 1333 Transport Support Conversion Unit at Leicester East. Surplus to requirements, the aircraft went into storage at No 22 MU at Silloth, Cumberland.
KG651 was sold by the RAF to Air Prospectors on 21st November 1946, then to Pan African Air Charters Ltd of South Africa on 16th May 1947. It was registered as G-AMHJ in the UK on 6th February 1951.
G-AMHJ at London Gatwick airport on 2nd September 1973 operated by British Island Airways as a cargo carrier. Photograph by Paul Robinson via www.airliners.net
A succession of civil operators followed: Iraq Petroleum Company, Hunting Clan Air Services, British United Airways, Morton Air Services, British United Airways, British Island Airways, Macedonian Aviation Ltd, Humber Airways, Intra Airways. Leased to Nile Delta Airways, International Air Cargo, Intra Airways again, Jersey European Airways, Field Aviation, Air Atlantique for the first time in 1982, Air Luton, and to Air Atlantique in 1987. The aircraft was retired from service in June 2000 and is now officially described as a Douglas DC3-3C-S1 C3G by the CAA.
In Air Atlantique colours at Glasgow International (Abbotsinch) airport some time in the late 1970's
This aircraft will now be restored to non-flying condition, rigged for para dropping and glider towing, and painted in its original wartime markings. It is to be dedicated to Flt Lt (Judge) Tommy Grant DSO RAFVR, whose brilliant planning of the Pegasus Bridge operations on D Day allowed the glider pilots to land at night, precisely in the right place, and allowed the Oxf & Bucks LI to perform one of the most successful coupe de main operations of the war.
Two superb pictures of G-AMHJ basking in the sun at Coventry when she was still a working aircraft undertaking marine pollution control duties
Thanks to Alan Wood and Pixelair for permission to use these pictures
G-AMHJ in open air storage at Coventry 2nd August 2003, minus engines and rudder. The aircraft was presented to the Assault Glider Trust some 3 months later.
Not KG651, but the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Dakota wearing the 'new' registration ZA947 after the identity of the aircraft, originally thought to be KG661, was questioned.
This is KG651, minus her outer wing sections, at the Operation Varsity memorial service held in 2005
If you have any pictures of our Dakota, or have flown KG651, G-AMHJ, SU-AZI, ZS-BRW, please contact the Webmaster as we are keen to explore the history of this aircraft.
Detailed History of KG651
Built in Oklahoma City USA, allocated manufacturers serial number 13468 - 30th May 1944.
Delivered to the US Army Air Force on 30th May 1944 as 42-108962
Diverted to the Lend-Lease Programme as RAF Registration KG651 in Montreal - 03 Jun 1944
Arrived in UK - 13 Jun 1944
Delivered to 109 Operational Training Unit (OTU) Crosby in Eden, Cumberland - 26 Aug 1944
24 Sqn Hendon (Now the site of the RAF Museum) - 29 Aug 1945
1383 Transport Conversion Unit (T)CU Crosby in Eden - Mar 1946
1333 Transport Support Conversion Unit (TS)CU Leicester East - 23 Jul 1946
Surplus to requirements, into storage with 22 Maintenance Unit (MU) Silloth, Cumberland - 1 Oct 1946
Sold by the RAF to Air Prospectors - 21 Nov 1946
Pan African Air Charters Ltd of South Africa - Registered ZS-BRW - 16 May 1947
Cyprus Airways, named "Paphos" - Registered G-AMHJ - 06 Feb (year unknown)
Iraq Petroleum Transport Co Ltd - 28 Jun 1956
Hunting Clan Air Transport Ltd - 17 Apr 1957
Hunting Clan Air Services Ltd - 9 Jan 1958
Iraq Petroleum Transport Company Ltd, named "Qa:Petroleum" - 11 Jul 1958
British United Airways Ltd - 15 May 1961
Morton Air Services Ltd - 14 Jul 1962
BUIA L (Dak Mk 6) - 1 Nov 1968
British Island Airways - 20 Jul 1971
Site Aviation Ltd - 08 Jan to 21 Jan 1974
Macedonian Airways Ltd - 15 Mar 1974
Humber Airways Ltd - 30 Dec 1974
Pett Aviation Ltd - 1975
Intra Airways - 30 Jun 1975
International Air Cargo as SU-AZI - 5 Nov 1976
Intra Airways as G-AMHJ again - 26 Aug 1977
Jersey European Airways - 1 Nov 1979
Field Aviation Ltd, East Midlands Airport - 23 Jan 1980
Express Air Freight - Air Atlantique Coventry Airport - 29 Jan 1982
Air Luton - Date unknown
Air Atlantique - 1987
Retired from service and stored at Coventry Airport - Jun 2000
Presented to the Assault Glider Trust by Mr Stuart Powney on behalf of Air Atlantique - 7 Nov 2002
Delivered to RAF Shawbury by road - 4 Dec 2003
Please contact the Webmaster if you can correct or update this history
