Supply Drop Malaya 1950

[pjw4118]

Amongst Arthur Bakers Collection were those of supply drops in Malaya staying out of Kuala Lumpur

Fifteen RNZAF crew were on the detachment earning Arthur an extra 10/- a day











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As a navigator on 75 NZ Squadron Arthur had the briefest tour, flying just one op before collecting flak and bombs from above and then spending 7 weeks as a POW in March 1945

[planewriting]

And all those Dakotas joined NAC NZ3547 became ZK-AZM, NZ3543 became ZK-AWP, NZ3545 became ZK-AZL and NZ3552 became ZK-BBJ. The observant will say, "hang on, ZK-AZL was the James Aviation topdresser". How many of you knew it was with NAC and was to be the last converted to an DC-3 airliner? On 13 October 1953, it was waiting patiently for its turn for conversion at Milson Palmerston North when the NAC conversion hangar burned to the ground. The now redundant aircraft, still in its RNZAF livery then became the baggage aircraft for the 1953/54 British Royal tour following which Ossie James came knocking seeking a DC-3 for conversion to topdressing.

[Dave Homewood]

Great photos Peter!