The Douglas DC-3 (DC – Douglas Commrcial) is considered by many as the aircraft that revolutionized commercial air travel in the 20th Century. The maiden flight of the DC-3 took place on December 17, 1935, the 32nd anniversary of the Wright Brother’s historic flight at Kitty Hawk. Now airlines were able to be profitable without depending on U.S. Mail subsidies and passengers could now fly transcontinental with just one re-fueling stop. There are many DC-3s still flying 75 years after their maiden flights.
Built in 1942 as Douglas Skytrain C-47A-10-DK s/n 42-92668 the aircraft was transferred to the RAF as a Dakota III. This Dakota III spent time with the Balkan Air Force before being sent to the RAF No. 194 Squadron, Imphal Garrison, Burma between March and June 1944. The aircraft is painted in the RAF South East Asia Command colors and wears serial KG459. This is one of the aircraft used to keep ground troops re-supplied throughout the region as the Japanese Army advanced on Burma toward India.