English: Douglas C-47B Dakota

NZ3551 (Manufacturer's no. 16963, ex-USAAF 45-960)

No. 40 Squadron (and later No. 41 Squadron) operated C-47B transport aircraft from 1943 in support of RNZAF operations in the South and South-West Pacific theatres.

The C-47 remained in RNZAF service until 1977. It was replaced in its transport role in 1951-52 by the Bristol Freighters and Handley Page Hastings. The RNZAF retained two C-47s for VIP transport with No. 42 Squadron during the Royal Tour of 1953-54, and subsequently four ex-National Airways Corporation DC-3s (originally RNZAF C-47s) were obtained for general duties including drogue-towing and parachute training.

Manufactured in July 1945, NZ3551 was delivered by the RNZAF Pacific Ferry from California to No. 1 Aircraft Storage Unit, Hamilton and brought on charge on 14 August 1945. It was allocated to No. 40 Squadron on 29 August 1945 and then in October to No. 41 Squadron. With No. 41 Squadron it made many flights to Japan in support of J-Force.

On 17 April 1953 it went into service with No. 42 Squadron. However, this was short-lived as the aircraft was transferred to De Havilland Ltd, Rongotai, for conversion to the flagship of the Royal Flight. On the 13 November 1953 it was returned to No. 42 Squadron at Ohakea as a VIP aircraft. In its VIP role it was well known as it carried Royalty, Governors- General, Prime Ministers, Ministers of the Crown and visiting dignitaries on its various flights around the country. Records show that the aircraft operated with either No. 41 or No. 42 Squadrons for a continuous period in excess of 32 years.

The aircraft was retired from operational flying in late 1977 and flown to Wigram for display in the Museum. NZ3551 is displayed in the Aircraft Hall exactly as it was when it left VIP service in 1977.