Dates

Event

Constructed as a C-47A-25-DK by Douglas at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.

17 May 1944

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 42-93421.
Completed acceptance tests on this date.

Taken on Strength/Charge with the Royal Air Force with s/n KG600 as a Dakota III.
Martin head comments (2 March 2024): Completed acceptance tests by the USAAF but did not see USAAF service, being transferred via 45 Group, at Dorval, Montreal, Canada to the British Royal Air Force under the lend-lease programme. In British service it became a Douglas Dakota MK111 and received a new number in line with the Air Ministry system KG600.

29 May 1944

Transferred to 105 Transport Operational Training Unit, Bramcote, Lincolnshire.
Delivered to the United Kingdom and allotted to 105.

To 437 Squadron (RCAF), B. akehill From, Wiltshire.
Markings added: DC
The Squadron took part in the Arnhem landings, towing gliders from the 17th September, and when the Allies had secured the territory, the Squadron switched to providing a continental shuttle taking mail, passengers and fuel to the Allied forces. The aircraft wore the letters Z2: DC at this stage.

March 1945

The Squadron took part in Operation Varsity the airborne crossing of the Rhine, towing 24 Airspeed Horsa gliders as part of the invasion force. After the war, Squadron 437 switched to POW flights, detachments being based in Norway. By November 1945 the Squadron had moved to Odiham in the United Kingdom.

16 June 1946

Taken on Strength/Charge with the Royal Canadian Air Force with s/n KG600.
Squadron 437 disbanded and the next day KG600 was transferred to the Canadian Air Force inventory and returned to Canada.

26 August 1953

New serial number assigned: A601B RCAF
The aircraft was withdrawn from use and became a ground instructional airframe with a new number A-601B. Budding technicians learnt and practiced their trade on her and she was even loaned to Trans Canada Airlines for similar tasks.

19 August 1958

To Beldex Corporation with new c/r N96U.

To Freeport Nickel Company keeping c/r N96U.
She was retired from the RCAF service for good and sold to the in the USA. After an overhaul she was registered in March 1959 as N96U with the.

27 May 1959

To Moa Bay Mining Company, Cuba with new c/r CU-P-702.

March 1960

To Freeport Sulphur Company with new c/r N702S.

5 October 1962

To International Telegraph Corporation, United Kingdom with new c/r G-ASDX.

5 October 1962

To International Telephone and Telegraph Corp, Newyork 22, NY with new c/r N702S (DC3, 13331).

16 November 1962

Civil registration, N702S, cancelled.

To STC Standard Telephones and Cables with new c/r G-AJRY {1} (DOUGLAS C47 DAKOTA 3, 13331).
The British ARB noticed that the constructors number for G-AJRY was the same as this new aircraft and assuming that G-AJRY had returned to the UK gave it that registration instead of G-ASDX! Now under an assumed identity (the real truth only became known much later).

16 September 1971

To TD Keegan of Keegan AirFrame with new c/r G-ASDX.

Operated by Transmeridian Air Cargo.

1 April 1974

To Sandriver Safaris, South Africa.
Allocated her to their subsidiary, United Air Services.

9 July 1974

To United Air Services, South Africa with new c/r ZS-PTG.
The directors of the company were Pieterse, Theron, Bouwer and Partners and the registration sequence for the company thus all began with the letters PT. The aircraft was allotted the registration ZS-PTG and was a sister ship to ZS-UAS. The colour scheme was red and blue stripes on a white top and fin with the rest of the aircraft in polished bare metal.

15 October 1975

Markings Applied: Delaney
During a scheduled flight between Sishen and Johannesburg for United Airlines a baby girl was born on board at 17h55. The baby was called Delaney - a name the aircraft sports to this day!

8 February 1980

To Air Services Botswana with new c/r A2-ACG.
In 1980 aircraft were needed for the elections in Zimbabwe and as South African aircraft were not, at that stage politically correct, ZS-PTG was deleted from the South African register and exported to Botswana. She was leased to Air Services Botswana and used in Zimbabwe.

14 March 1980

To Sandrivers Safaris with new c/r ZS-PTG.

By January 1986

Withdrawn from use.
Standing engineless and inactive at Rand Airport near Johannesburg.

19 December 1988

To Avia Air Charter, Wonderboom Airport, Pretoria with new c/r ZS-PTG.
United Air was taken over by Wonder Air and the aircraft was registered into the names of its subsidiary company Avia Air Charter.

From Unknown to 28 December 1988

Restored.
The aircraft underwent an overhaul and was repainted in Avias two-tone grey and white scheme. By 1992 she was based at the short-lived airfield at Freeway, north of Pretoria where she operated until the closure of Avia in 1995.

23 December 1995

To Debon Air keeping c/r ZS-PTG.
Avia sold to Debon.

January 1996

To Debon Air keeping c/r ZS-PTG.

Restored.
The aircraft was refurbished and painted in blue/white/natural metal with a large Delaney painted on the cabin roof.

14 June 2002

To Rovos Air/Rohan Vos with new c/r ZS-CRV.
Purchased by Rohan Vos of Rovos Rail.

Restored.
The aircraft has underwent an extensive overhaul and refurbishment and sports the green and cream trim of Rovos Air. The interior of the aircraft has also been extensively refurbished and upgraded to an all business class configuration with 21 very comfortable green leather seats.

22 September 2008

Photographer: John Tomlinson
Notes: 2008 photo at Lanseria Airport, South Africa

30 September 2008

To NAC Namibian Commercial Aviation keeping c/r ZS-CRV.

5 October 2013

Photographer: Nigel Hitchman
Notes: At Wonderboom Airport, located north of Pretoria, South Africa