Douglas C-47 Dakota A65-78
Built in California, the RAAF Museum's Douglas Dakota is one of 124 previously operated by the RAAF. This aircraft, A65-78, was first received by the RAAF in 1945 and shortly after began making supply runs to New Guinea. In 1946, the aircraft was used to deploy No 81 Wing to Japan. In 1956, the aircraft spent three months with the RAAF Transport Flight in Japan where it flew freight to Korean airfields five days a week.
This aircraft was the first Allied aircraft to fly into Hiroshima after the atomic bombing, transporting journalists into the devastated area and bringing out the wounded. The aircraft flew mercy missions as well as VIP flights and supported the movement of squadrons on deployment throughout Australia from July 1949, before being given to the Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU) at East Sale.
The aircraft's last flight from ARDU at RAAF Base Edinburgh, South Australia, to the RAAF Museum at Point Cook on 19 November 1999 bring its total airframe hours to 16454.1 hours.
