Canadian Warplanes: Douglas Dakota, 1943-1945

Douglas Dakota in RCAF service during the Second World War

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4674231)
Douglas Dakota (Serial No. FD946), No. 62 Squadron, RAF.  This aircraft flown by Flying Officer J. Duguid is on its way over Burma to drop supplies to Allied troops who have been surrounded by the Japanese, 21 March 1944.

Development of the Douglas DC-3 started in early 1935 with the prototype flying by the end of the year. The first production aircraft was delivered to American Airlines in July 1936 and soon orders were pouring in from US and overseas airlines. The US Air Corps became interested in the DC-3 and ordered a military version, called the C-47 or Dakota. It had many capabilities, including dropping paratroops and supplies, evacuating the wounded, troop transportation and glider towing. Eventually, about 10,000 C-47s were built for the US military.

During the Second World War, the Royal Air Force received about 1,930 Dakotas and they became the RAF’s main wartime transport aircraft. The RCAF took delivery of its first Dakota in March 1943, and at its peak had 169 on strength. Within Canada, they were operated by four transport squadrons and several ferry squadrons.

Four Marks of Dakota were flown by Commonwealth air forces during the war. Dakota I was the RAF designation for the C-47 and R4D-1. Dakota II was RAF designation for nine C-53 Skytroopers received under the lend lease arrangement. Unlike the majority of RAF Dakotas, these aircraft were dedicated troop transports, lacking the wide cargo doors and reinforced floor of the C-47.  Dakota III was the RAF designation for the C-47A. Dakota IV was the RAF designation for the C-47B.

The Dakota flew with a crew of 4 (pilot,co-pilot, navigator, radio operator), and could carry 28 troops or 6,000 lb(2.72 t) of cargo. it was powered by 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-90C Twin Wasp 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 1,200 hp (890 kW) each, with 3-bladed constant-speed propellers. It had a maximum speed of 224 mph (360km/h, 195 kn) at 10,000 ft (3,000 m), and a range of 1,600 mi (2,600 km, 1,400nmi).

Overseas, Dakotas equipped RCAF No. 437 Squadron in Europe and RCAF No. 435 and 436 Squadrons in South East Asia. No. 437 Squadron was formed in England September 1944, where it supported the British and Canadian Armies fighting in Europe. Its most important actions involved glider towing for the airborne landings at Arnhem and the Rhine crossing at Wesel. No. 435 and 436 Squadrons were formed in India in October 1944. They flew Dakotas in support of the British 14th Army in Burma where they dropped supplies to the British troops fighting the Japanese in the jungle.

At the end of the Second World War, all three squadrons were transferred back to England to provide air transport for the Canadian occupation forces in Germany. Dakotas continued in service with the Canadian Armed Forces until 1989, when No. 402 Squadron, based in Winnipeg, retired the last of them. Of the nearly 13,000 DC-3s built, many are still in service today, over 80 years after the aircraft’s first flight. (CWHM)

During the Second World War, the Royal Air Force received about 1,930 Dakotas and they became the RAF’s main wartime transport aircraft. The RCAF took delivery of its first Dakota in March 1943, and at its peak had 169 on strength. Within Canada, they were operated by four transport squadrons and several ferry squadrons.

Photos of the RCAF Dakotas flown from 1946 to 1989 may be viewed on a separate page on this website.

Douglas Dakota Mk. I (15), RCAF (Serial Nos. 650, 651 (Serial No. 12936), 652, 653 (Serial No. 12937), 654, 655, 656 (Serial No. 12938), 657 (Serial No. 12939), 658, 659 (Serial No. 12940), 660 (Serial No. 12941), 661, 662, 663, 664).

Douglas Dakota Mk. III (44), (Serial Nos. 960, 961, 962, 963 (Serial No. 12950), 964 (Serial No. 12951), 965, 966, 967, 968 (Serial No. 12952), 969 (Serial No. 12953), 970 (Serial No. 12954), 971 (Serial No. 12955), 972, 973 (Serial No. 12956), 974, 975, 976 (Serial No. 12957), 977 (Serial No. 12958), 978, 979 (Serial No. 12959), 980, 981 (Serial No. 12960), 982, 983, 984, 985, 986, 987, 988 (Serial No. 12961), 989, 990 (Serial No. 12962), 991, 992 (Serial No. 12963), 993 (Serial No. 12964), 994, 10910, 10911 (Serial No. 12966), 10912 (Serial No. 12967), 10913 (Serial No. 12968), 10914, 10915 (Serial No. 12969), 10916, 10917 (Serial No. 12970),10918 (Serial No. 12971), FL595, FL598, FL615, FL616, FL618, FL621, FL636, FL650, FZ557, FZ558, FZ571, FZ575, FZ576, FZ581, FZ583, FZ584, FZ586, FZ634, FZ635, FZ669 (Serial No. 12943), FZ671 (Serial No. 12944), FZ678, FZ692 (Serial No. 12945), FZ694, FZ695, KG312 (Serial No. 12912), KG317, KG320, KG330 (Serial No. 12913), KG337 (Serial No. 12914), KG345, KG350 (Serial No. 12915), KG354 (Serial No. 12916), KG368, KG382, KG389, KG394 (Serial No. 12918), KG395 (Serial No. 12919), KG400, KG403 (Serial No. 12920), KG414, KG416, KG423, KG430, KG441, KG455 (Serial No. 12924), KG479, KG485, KG486, KG526, KG545 (Serial No. 12927), KG557 (Serial No. 12928), KG559, KG562, KG563, KG568, KG577 (Serial No. 12929), KG580 (Serial No. 12930), KG587 (Serial No. 12931), KG600, KG602 (Serial No. 12932),KG623 (Serial No. 12933), KG632 (Serial No. 12934), KG634, KG635, KG641 (Serial No. 12935), KG665, KG668 (Serial No. 12942), KG692, KG693, KG712 (Serial No. 12946), KG713, KG769, KG808 (Serial No. 12947), KG827, KG828 (Serial No. 12948), KG936, TS422, TS425).

Douglas CC-129 Dakota Mk. IV (31), (Serial Nos. 1000 (Serial No. 12965), KJ956 (Serial No. 12949), KK101, KK102 (Serial No. 12901), KK143, KK160, KN200  (Serial No. 12902), KN201 (Serial No. 12903), KN256, KN258 (Serial No. 12907), KN261 (Serial No. 12908), KN270 (Serial No. 12901), KN277, KN278, KN281 (Serial No. 12910), KN291 (Serial No. 12911), KN392 (Serial No. 12917), KN427 (Serial No. 12921), KN436 (Serial No. 12922), KN443 (Serial No. 12923), KN448, KN451, KN485 (Serial No. 12925), KN511 (Serial No. 12926), KN665, KN666, KN676, KP221 (Serial No. 12904), KP224 (Serial No. 12905), KP227 (Serial No. 12906)), for a total of 169 aircraft.

RCAF On Strength (212), RCAF 400 Squadron (6), Canadian Aircraft Losses (99), Canadian Museum(1). Detailed records of all known RCAF and Canadian casualties in the RAF during the Second World War may be viewed online in the Canadian Aircraft Serials Personnel Information Resource (CASPIR). The  CASPIR website is researched, coded, maintained entirely by Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum(CWHM) volunteers with only one staff assisting periodically. This work has taken several years, and is unlikely to be finished as continuing research leads to “new finds” and rediscovered Canadian aviation heritage and history.  The CWHM volunteer team looks forward to continuing to update and correct the record as additional information and photos are received. Check here.

607 civil variants of the Douglas Commercial DC-3; and 10,048 military C-47 Skytrain and C-53 Skytrooper variants were built at Santa Monica, California, Long Beach, California, and Oklahoma City. 4,937 were built under license in the Soviet Union (1939–1950) as the Lisunov Li-2 (NATO reporting name: Cab). 487 Mitsubishi Kinsei-engined aircraft were built by Showa and Nakajima in Japan (1939–1945), as the L2D Type 0 transport (Allied codename Tabby). None were built in Canada, but many have been refurbished at a number of Canadian plants including Winnipeg and Montreal. The RAF and the RCAF designated the aircraft as a Dakota. The Greenwich Aircraft Corp DC-3-TP is a conversion with an extended fuselage and with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65AR or PT6A-67R engines fitted.

Douglas Dakota Mk. I. (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4674232)

Caption: Back in the fuselage of the aircraft members of Flight Lieutenant Alex Blythes' crew are ready to heave out the packages whenever the red light is turned on and the signal bell sounds. They are the navigators.  21 March 1944.

The photo was taken while Blythe was still serving with an RAF transport unit in Burma as none of the three RCAF Dakota squadrons had been formed yet. Winnipeg-born Squadron Leader Alexander Conway Blythe DFC and Bar, was a Canadian serving in Royal Air Force in Burma flying Dakotas. When the RCAF's No. 437 'Husky' (T) Squadron was formed on the 14th of September, 1944 at RAF Station Blakehill Farm, Wiltshire, he was made officer commanding 'A' Flight. Blythe was awarded the DFC for his actions while serving with No. 437 Squadron. He stayed in the RAF and would go on to be promoted to Squadron Leader. Blythe also received a Bar to the DFC while with No. 45 Squadron flying Bristol Beaufighter Mk. X's during 'Operation Firedog'. It was awarded as per London Gazette dated 18 September 1951, "in recognition of distinguished services in Malaya". (Chris Charland)

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 (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4674221)

These are men from Canada, Australia, the United States, England, South Africa and Rhodesia in this group of aircrew of an RAF Dakota Squadron in Troop Carrier Command, 15 May 1944.

(DND Archives Photo, PL-144827)

Douglas C-47 Dakota Mk. III (Serial No. FL618), coded DM, 1940s.

(RCAF Photo via Don Dygert)

Douglas Dakota Mk. IV (Serial No. KN665) coded W, No. 435 (Transport) Squadron in European Theatre of Operations (ETO) markings with a C1 roundel on the fuselage.  The photo may have been taken on 1 Apr 1946 during the squadron disbandment ceremonies.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583024)

Douglas Dakota Mk. 1 (Serial No. 652) from No. 164 (T) Squadron in RCAF service as a medevac aircraft.  This Dakota had a long post-war service with the RCAF and later Canadian Armed Forces.  It became CAF (Serial No. 12936) in 1970.  It last served with No. 429 Squadron in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583025)

Douglas Dakota in RCAF service as a medevac aircraft.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583026)

Douglas Dakota in RCAF service as a medevac aircraft.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583027)

Douglas Dakota in RCAF service as a medevac aircraft.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3390228)

Douglas Dakota Mk. III Serial No. KG545), RAF, with casualties evacuated from France being unloaded and transferred to an ambulance at Down Ampney, England, 8 August 1944. KG545 was subsequently transferred to the RCAF and later re-serialed as 12927 on 26 June, 1970.

(City of Vancouver Archives Photo, AM640-S1-: CVA 260-1532)

Douglas Dakota, RCAF, Richmond, British Columbia, Aug 1945.

(RCAF Photo courtesy of the Canadian Aviation Preservation Association)

Douglas Dakota wartime groundcrew, RCAF, ca 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3397094)

Douglas Dakota, evacuation of wounded, France, 16 June 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4233648)

Wounded being evacuated by Douglas Dakota, from the Royal Air Force's No. 1680 Transport Flight, Normandy 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3589670)

Collision between a Douglas Dakota and a Fairchild Cornell at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 8 July 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583068)

Bofors 40-mm AA Gun being prepared for loading into a Douglas Dakota Mk III, RCAF (Serial No. 653), No. 12 (Communications) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 27 Oct 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583070)

Bofors 40-mm AA Gun being loaded into a Douglas Dakota Mk III, RCAF (Serial No. 653), No. 12 (Communications) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 28 Oct 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583409)

Douglas CC-129 Dakota with a Canadian Military Pattern (CMP) F8 or C8A or 8-cwt 1/2-ton truck being loaded, 14 Aug 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583408)

Douglas CC-129 Dakota with Canadian Military Pattern (CMP) C8A or C15A truck being loaded, 14 Aug 1944. This is Right Hand Drive, has Canadian Chevron directional tires, has the pintle hook (for towing) removed and a fuel tank is sitting across the chassis as on the early 4X2 F8 and C8 8-CWT (1/2 Ton) trucks.

(DND Photo via Colin MacGregor Stevens)

Douglas C-47 Dakota with a Dodge D3/4APT 4X4 being loaded. The cargo box has been removed for this loading.  The APT stood for "Air Portable". “Airportable” referred to vehicles that could be transported whole or knocked down (i.e. partially dismantled) to fit in an aircraft. This was a useful pioneer concept to fly vehicles into remote locations. A slight distinction is that “Airborne” vehicles were carried intact and ready for combat as soon as they had landed. These could be driven straight out of the glider or motorized transport aircraft (after such a/c had been developed), dropped by parachute or lifted in by helicopter. Canada has continued to use aircraft to transport vehicles, sometimes to overseas locations. Ferret Scout Cars and M series jeeps and 1/4 Ton trailers for example in the 1950s-1960s. The jeeps and trailers could be fitted with hold-down “D” rings on the underside of the chassis. Now with large transport aircraft with “roll on, roll off” capability (to use a shipping term) can carry large tanks, helicopters etc. (Colin MacGregor Stevens)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583495)

Douglas Dakota Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 664), serving with No. 165 (T) Squadron at RCAF Station Sea Island, British Columbia, 18 Sep 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583496)

Douglas Dakota Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 664), serving with No. 165 (T) Squadron at RCAF Station Sea Island, 18 Sep 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3650727)

Douglas Dakota Mk III, RCAF (Serial No. 661), Moncton, New Brunswick, Jan 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3650728)

Douglas Dakota Mk III, RCAF (Serial No. 661), Moncton, New Brunswick, Jan 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4002569)

Douglas C-47 Skytrain, USAAF (Serial No. 223934), delivering RCAF fighter squadron groundcrew in Normandy, 16 June 1944.  There is a story that this Dakota was a USAAF used by Field Marshal Montgomery around the time of D-Day.  He apparently won it and its crew in a card game!  Note the Union Flag, small fin flash and appropriate star rank markings, although it retained USAAF national insignia.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3209020)

Dakotas leaving airport loaded with Canadian and British casualties, 16 June 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3199602)

Wounded soldier being transferred from army truck to Douglas Dakota Aircraft during casualty evacuation operation, 16 June 1944.

(RAF Photo)

Douglas Dakota Mk. III (Serial No. KG425), coded Z2-M, "Fort Rae", diamond OM, No. 437 Squadron, RCAF, No. 120 Transport Wing, RCAF at RAF Odiham, UK, Oct 1945.  It was later coded *DM and finally ODO*M.  This Dakota experienced an engine failure which led to a crash landing near Anzio on 1 March, 1946.  (Chris Charland)

From the history of RAF Odiham: No. 110 Squadron, RCAF, arrived in 1940. Following the formation of the Army Co-operation Command in December 1940, it was decided to replace the aging Westland Lysander with fighter aircraft capable of completing photo reconnaissance missions. The American Curtiss Tomahawk was chosen and in April 1941 No. 110 Squadron was renumbered No. 400 Squadron, RCAF, at Odiham, and began to re-equip. Transport Command came in 1945 with No. 233 and No. 271 Squadrons of Dakota aircraft and the Canadian Transport Wing was formed.

(Tony O'Toole Photo)

Front view of the same Skytrain/Dakota, wearing the markings of the 21st Army Group and 8th Army (FM Montgomery's old command) insignia.

21st Army Group and 8th Army badges.

(Gordon Franklin Snider Photo, via the BCAM)

USAAF Douglas C-47 Skytrain, about to tow a WACO glider at Rockcliffe, Ontario, 1947.  From a photo album given to the British Columbia Air Museum, that belonged to Gordon Franklin Snider, who was posted at Patricia Bay, BC.  He also was posted to the Experimental Proving Establishment at Rockcliffe, Ontario, in 1947, where he took this photo.

(DND Photo via Benoit Thibault)

The roundel is a c-1 type in use by RAF/RCAF during the war.  This Dakota is fitted with Eureka/Rebecca aerials on the nose.   There are additional antennae on the bottom of the rear fuselage.  The Rebecca antenna was used by aircraft used to drop paratroopers and Special Operations Executive (SOE) personnel.  The holes in the windows are gunports that could be closed off by rubber grommeted plugs.  All the cargo area windows appear to be blanked, likely to keep light from escaping during night operations.  The photo was likely taken using orthochromatic film which makes the pre 1946 RAF/RCAF roundel red, white, blue, yellow colours appear to be inverted.  The tail fin flash has the blue aft red forward.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583788)

Douglas Dakota Mk. I, (Serial No. 663), 25 July 1945. Note maple leaf decal.

The roundel on the nose appears to be one of the officially produced 8" decals that displayed the RCAF “distinguishing emblem”. These were initially intended for use on operational aircraft overseas, but then their use was expanded to the operational aircraft on the Home War Establishment. (The photo in this post is from a photo of an actual decal that is held in the John Griffin collection at Winnipeg). (Steve Sauvé)

(IWM Photo, CE 145)

Operation MARKET III: air re-supply of British airborne forces in the Arnhem area, 19 September 1944. Burnt-out Douglas Dakota Mk. III (Serial No. KG401), of No. 48 Squadron, RAF, based at Down Ampney, Gloucestershire, which crash-landed in a field near Kessel, Holland, after parachuting supplies over Arnhem.  The aircraft had just dropped its supplies from 700 feet when it was met with intense anti-aircraft fire.  The tail unit, rudder, port aileron and engine, the starboard auxiliary fuel tank and all the gyro instruments were either damaged or put out of action, and one of the Army despatchers was mortally wounded. The captain, Flying Officer L.R. Pattee, RCAF, and his co-pilot, Flying Officer A.C. Kent, RAF, flew the crippled aircraft back to the British lines, through three more areas of enemy flak, where they sustained further serious damage, including a five foot hole in the starboard wing which caught fire, and complete electrical and communications failure.  Once over the British lines, Pattee gave the crew and despatchers the opportunity to bale out, but they refused and the pilots then made a successful belly-landing in the field.  No sooner had they all quit the Dakota, than it was engulfed by flames.  The unfortunate despatcher died soon after the landing, while the others were taken to Brussels and the crew returned to Down Ampney.  Sixteen aircraft of No. 48 Squadron participated in MARKET III, flying through intense flak with no fighter escort.  Many aircraft were hit and two, (KG401 and KG428), failed to return.  Over the following four days the Squadron lost another six Dakotas on re-supply missions to Arnhem.

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