Flypast: From heroes to socialites

Nov 11 2009 By Barry Dix

IN THIS week of remembrance ceremonies, it seems appropriate to feature an aircraft that played its part in two of the most significant campaigns of the Second World War.

Only a couple of years before it entered civilian service with British European Airways in 1946 - whisking trilby-wearing businessmen, stern-faced government officials and excitable socialites to various parts of the Continent - Douglas Dakota G-AGYX was entrusted with carrying a very different group of individuals.

There could not have been a greater contrast as the aircraft, then bearing the RAF marking KG347, took to the war-torn skies.

The only thing its later, pampered BEA passengers had to be concerned about was whether they had enough tonic in their gin.

Inside the noisier and more austere cabin in the plane's RAF guise, the occupants had somewhat more important things on their minds.

Droning through anti-aircraft flak above France, KG347 was one of 30 Dakotas laden with highly prepared, heavily-armed members of the 3rd Parachute Brigade.

The paras on board had been given the unenviable task of 'softening up' the enemy in advance of the main D-Day landings.

Three months later, in September 1944, it was back in the thick of the action, being buffeted by gunfire over Holland, this time towing a Horsa glider full of troops bound for the disaster-ridden Operation Market Garden.

Having returned relatively intact from these two batterings, the Dakota was taken out of RAF service at the end of hostilities and transferred to the burgeoning BEA operation, then based at Northolt.

Like all the new airline's fleet, it was painted in the distinctive red and white livery and given a name.

It was christened George Holt-Thomas, after the early 20th-century aviation entrepreneur responsible for launching the career of legendary plane designer Geoffrey de Havilland.

The Dakotas, dubbed Pionairs by BEA, were versatile machines and flew many of the most-important routes.

G-AGYX, along with the rest of the fleet, had a new home when BEA switched its base from Northolt to the rapidly-growing London Airport during the early 1950s and went on to serve the state airline until April 1961.

It later flew with various operators - in Libya, the Netherlands, Nigeria and Malta, before its airborne adventures came to a halt.

In the 1980s, it was transported back to the UK and, minus its nose, wings and engines, ended up at Fleet, Hampshire - converted into a cocktail bar!

About six years ago, many bits and pieces of the old Dakota were rescued by the RAF Museum at Hendon. Beautifully restored, the various components are now safely preserved.

It's a fitting memorial to those brave soldiers the plane carried into battle 65 years ago.

All were apprehensive, nervous and contemplative but stoic, determined and prepared for anything.

And all were heroes - each and every one.