Douglas, c/n 16064 / 32812, C-47B-25-DK

The aircraft, c/n 32812/16064, USAF serial 44-76480, initially served with the Royal Air Force with serial number KN391. It ended up in Southeast Asia, first with the 353th squadron, then with the 215th squadron. In October 1947 it returned to Great Britain to be entrusted successively to 32th and 12th maintenance unit. In January 1950 it then joined the Belgian Air Force as K-31 with radio call-sign OT-CNR. Within the Belgian Air Force the Dakota was assigned to the 15th Transport Wing at Melsbroek. The aircraft was used for aerial photography and spent some years in the Belgian Congo. By 1971 it had become redundant and on 19 October 1971 it arrived at Koksijde for storage with 6765 flying hours. In January 1972, it was transferred to the ministry of finance's domains service. The service's mission is to sell and monetize all surplus government property. Finally, on July 17, 1972, it was sold to the British firm A.J. Walter Aviation Ltd. Probably this company was only interested in those parts of the aircraft that could still serve as spare parts such as engines and instruments. The empty carcass remained at Koksijde. At the end of the seventies the fuselage of K-31 came into the hands of Geert Gesquiere who stored it in his yard. And there the plane still lies, although no longer in good condition.

• Source: "Douglas C-47 K-31/OT-CNR" at www.hangarflying.eu.
• Information at aerialvisuals.ca