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  C-47B-15-DK Dakota Serial Number A65-65 (P2-006) 
PNGDF
Former Assignments
RAAF
No. 38 Squadron
No. 10 Squadron

Click For Enlargement
Richard Leahy c1980s

Aircraft History
Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as C-47B-15-DK Skytrain serial number 43-49376. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia.

Wartime History
During December 1944, assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as C-47B Dakota serial number A65-65. Assigned call sign VH-CUV and later VH-JRD. Assigned to No. 38 Squadron. Later, assigned to No. 10 Squadron.

Postwar
This Dakota was placed into storage at East Sale Airfield. During 1981, the last of six ex-RAAF Dakotas donated to Papua New Guinea (PNG) for the Papua New Guinea Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF) as serial number P2-006 (P2006). Nose number 06. Painted with white upper surfaces and gray lower surfaces. The fuselage was painted with a green stripe and "Papua New Guinea Guinea Defense Force". The tail had a green rectangle with a gold bird of paradise motif.

On November 18, 1987 took off from Nadzab Airfield. After take off while climbing, one engine failed causing the Dakota to make a wheels up force landing near Nadzab.

Afterwards, the aircraft was written off and transported to Lae Airfield where all usable parts were salvaged. The wings and tires were removed and the aircraft was behind a rope. Until the early 1990s, the hulk of the Dakota remained at Lae Airfield. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared by the end of the decade.

Richard Leahy adds:
"A [PNGDF] Defense Force C-47 did force land just east of the threshold of RW 27 at Nadzab on about the date you mentioned. It was only slightly damaged. The DF pulled it down, towed the fuse back to Lae and trucked the rest. No attempt was ever made to rebuild the ship. I have a set of photographs of this aircraft at the crash site that I took from a chopper soon after it landed. Disassembly had begun."

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - C-47B-15-DK Skytrain 43-49376
"49376 (MSN 15192/26637) to RAAF as A65-65 (VH-CUV). To PNG Defence Force 1981 as P2-006. Crashed at Nadzab, PNG Nov 18, 1987 after engine lost power on takeoff and while attempting a wheels-up landing a wing was ripped off and aircraft was damaged beyond repair. All occupants survived."
ADF Serials - Dakota A65-65
Thanks to Richard Leahy for additional information

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Last Updated
January 2, 2022

 

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C-47

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