In the woods near the village of Best (NL) a museum called 'Bevrijdende Vleugels' (= Wings of Liberation) reminds us of the liberation of The Netherlands. The museum had two well-restored Dakotas parked outside in the markings used during the invasion. Both carry a fake serial, "290321" on this one is in fact the birth date of Jan Driessen, the founder of the museum. In real life this aircraft was USAAF 43-2022.

This was an ex-Hungarian aircraft, painted in Russian markings.

Ex Hungarian Air Force, operational from 1974 till its retirement around 2000. It wears a Red Russian Air Force star.

Delivered to the USAAF as 44-76787 then to the French Air Force as 476787 and SGAC as F-BAIF in 1945. To Air France in 1946, Fretair in 1970 and Uni-Air in 1973. Withdrawn from use at Toulouse in 1981. To the Victory Aviation Museum, Arlon, Belgium and preserved with fake markings 2100847. Moved to Best in 2002. Badly damaged when it hit a bridge when being transported by road to Valkenburg in 2010 and scrapped.

G-AMPP operated for Dan Air from 1961 to 1971. After that the Dakota was preserved as G-AMSU at Lasham. At some point it moved to France, where it sat with EuroDisney, awaiting some sort of use but of which came nothing. In 2002, they started to scrap it, "Wings of Liberation" had it moved to the museum in Best, NL, this took place on 29 August 2002. On 26Feb05 this DC-3 was put on transport to Berlin, having been sold to the German film company Teamworx Television. It was painted silver USAF c/s and the set on fire in a crashscene for the TV movie "Die Luftbrucke". Text from Ruud Leeuw.com

Delivered to the USAAF as C-53C 42-2022 in 1942. To NC33315 in 1945, N33315 after 1948, N89SA in 1958, N894A in 1967 and N32MS in 1974. Preserved at Best from 1999.

ex Hungarian Air Force in fake Soviet Markings

Preserved with a fake serial, it is ex F-BAIF, FAF 76787, USAAF 44-76787. Unfortunately this aircraft was completely wrecked on 13 Aug 2010 when, during a road transport to Valkenburg air base, it struck the wall of an overpass.

In the woods near the village of Best (NL) a museum called 'Bevrijdende Vleugels' (= Wings of Liberation) reminds us of D-Day, an important event in our history. The museum had two well-restored Dakotas parked outside in the markings used during the invasion. Both carry a fake serial, "290321" on this one is in fact the birth date of Jan Driessen, the founder of the museum. In real life this aircraft was USAAF 43-2022.

Ex N32MS. The serial as worn is not authentic and merely reflects the owner's date of birth, 29 March 1921.