RNZAF Museum Dakota

[Dave Homewood]

The C-47 Dakota in the Wigram museum is in VIP kit, alledgedly as it was when the Queen visited and used that aircrfat in 1953.

My question is, was that 1953 configuration how it stayed right through till it's retirement to the museum in the 1970's?

Or was it upgraded in those 25 odd years, and then retro-rstored to the present state?

[phil82]

I can personally guarantee that that VIP DC3 was in VIP fit long before it was finally retired to the museum, because I flew in it a couple of times! It belonged to 42 Sqn and was used for all sorts of flights when not carrying ViPs. I took rides in it sometimes, though not as a VIP, a fine sympatico chap indeed, but not a VIP!

The fit was actually for the then Queen Mother's visit, and the pilot was one Wg Cmdr Larry Seigart, who later became CAS and was my boss for a while. He's a lovely guy and now lives in a retirement village in Lower Hutt.

There's a very famous painting of a Stirling being chased by an F190 after dropping supplies after D-day, and the Stirling ducked and dived so much it escaped. The original oil painting hangs in the RAF Club in Piccadilly in London. The pilot was a 20-year-old name of Larry Siegart!

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Colin.