Dakota Details Needed.

[Steve Smith]

Hi,

Wonder if someone would kindly check these two Dakota serials for me. Both are shown undertaking parachute exercises with No.620 in Feb 1946.

Dakota Mk.III KG627 and Dakota Mk.IV KJ925

Would like to confirm if they were on squadron strength at this time?

Thank you.

[Zoran Petek]

Hello,

KG627 and KJ925 in 620 Sqn?
If listed in sqn's orb, than yes.
For KG627 I only know that she served in the Middle East.
KJ925 was coded 'L' in 357 (Special Duties) Squadron in 1945 and flew from India and Burma, mostly from Jessore and Mingaladon (Rangoon).
Later was in 62 Sqn, but 62 Sqn used Dakota IVs in three sqn's incarnations:
XI.1945-III.1946 (KJ925 was possibly in the Middle East during that period)
IX.1946-VIII,1947, at Mingaladon, Palam III.1947, Mauripur III-VIII.1947.
XII.1947-VI.1949, Manston (Berlin airlift).
Not mentioned in Your question, but interesting to me, is another 357's Dakota IV, KJ926 coded 'M' that survived until today and is at display at Zemunik (Zadar), Croatia.

Zoran