File:Douglas C-47B Dakota ‘G-ANAF’ (22897742573).jpg

c/n 33436/16688. Built 1944. Allocated US military serial 44-77104. RAF serial ‘KP220’. Airworthy and operated by Air Atlantique as a radar trails aircraft, it is currently being converted back to a passenger aircraft for possibly charter work and pleasure flights. I have a vivid personal memory of this particular ‘Dak’. We were at Luton Airport back in 1978 and although I lived 10 miles from Duxford I had never (knowingly) seen a Dakota. However, even as an 8-year old there was no mistaking that head-on silhouette as what was clearly a Dakota lined-up on the approach, still miles away. “It’s a Dakota, it’s a Dakota” I called excitedly, to be told something along the lines of “it can’t be” or “don’t be silly”. However, a Dakota it was, and G-ANAF landed and taxied by, in full Air Atlantique markings. This moment was the beginning of the ‘Hawkeye’ nickname which has been proven again and again over the years, and (I like to think) still applies today. Many years later, I am delighted that my first ‘Dak’ is still flying. She is seen here under maintenance in the display hangar at ‘Coventry - Airbase’, Coventry Airport, UK 11-10-2015

The following info is from the Classic Air Force website:-

“G-ANAF (affectionately referred to as ‘Ganaph’ by the Classic Flight team and volunteers) began life in 1944. Built at Douglas Aircraft’s Santa Monica plant in California it was issued the USAAF serial 44-77104 and taken on charge in June 1945, just after the end of the war in Europe. With a diminished need for transport aircraft the aircraft was immediately transferred to the Royal Air Force and became KP220. After six months in Canada, KP220 arrived in the UK where it joined the strength of 435Sqn Royal Canadian Air Force, coded OFM-R, and operated from the old Croydon Airport. After a year of mundane duties KP220 was selected to become the personal aircraft of the Air Officer Commanding 46 Group RAF. She was clearly in good condition as it was later moved to RAF Bassingbourn (the wartime home of the B-17 Memphis Belle) and allocated to 24 (VIP) Sqn. It was coded ODA-H and served with the squadron until it was finally retired in November 1950. Like so many ex-RAF Dakotas KP220 was flown 22 Maintenance Unit (MU) at Silloth in Cumbria where it awaited its eventual fate. Unlike many of its compatriots KP220 was saved from the scrap man and after a period of storage at Silloth she was purchased by a BKS Aerocharter Ltd in June 1953. The same month she appeared on the British< civil register as G-ANAF and was named ‘Jean Batten’ in recognition of the famous aviatrix. The company was later renamed BKS Air Transport Ltd and they operated ‘Alpha Fox’ until November< 1958 when she was sold to Hunting Aero Surveys Ltd (later Hunting Surveys & Consultants Ltd). Hunting operated G-ANAF until April 1973 but it wasn’t until March 1977 that it was finally registered to its subsequent owner - Westcountry Aircraft Servicing Ltd at Exeter. They didn’t hang onto the aeroplane for long though because in October of the same year it was transferred to the up and coming Air Atlantique Ltd! Air Atlantique initially used the aeroplane on ad hoc charter work but it eventually found its niche delivering the mail on a contract from the Post Office. G-ANAF continued in this role under the Air Atlantique banner until June 1985 when the post contract – and G-ANAF – were transferred to subsidiary company Air Luton. It was reportedly operated for a short period by Topflight Aviation Company Ltd but the aircraft was never registered to that company, which in any event ceased trading in 1987. Later in 1987 interest was expressed in G-ANAF by an American company called the Starflite Corporation. The Miami-based company got as far as registering the aircraft as N170GP but the sale subsequently fell through and G-ANAF stayed in Britain. She returned to the British civil register – this time registered to Atlantic Air Transport Ltd (part of the Air Atlantique Group). After many years successfully plying her trade as a freighter G-ANAF was selected to be converted for use in Radar trials. A large radome was designed and fitted beneath her ‘chin’ and a variety of external aerials adorn the fuselage. On board test equipment was fitted within the cabin and the aircraft has been used< successfully to test Radar systems developed by both Racal and Thales. An auxiliary power unit was also fitted to the side of the fuselage when the internal power supply was found to be inadequate to run the increasingly powerful Radar sets.