FAMOUS RAF DAKOTAS ADDED TO MAAM-SIM'S
D-DAY C-47 "SKYTRAIN" EXPANSION PACK
The free C-47 expansion pack for owners of MAAM-SIM's R4D / DC-3 CD, scheduled for release on June 6, the 61st Anniversary of the Normandy Invasion, will include both cargo and paratrooper configured USAAF 'Skytrains' as previewed in our previous announcement.
Now we are pleased to announce the addition of two British Dakota Mk III transports, one of which is arguably the most famous RAF Dakota of the war...
Dakota YSDM, serial number KG374 of 271 Squadron, 46 Group RAF was piloted by Flt. Lt. David S. A. Lord, DFC. Here is the official citation for the Victoria Cross, Britain's highest award for valor;
"On 19 September 1944 at Arnhem, Holland, the British 1st Airborne Division were in desperate need of supplies. Flight Lieutenant Lord, flying a Dakota through intense enemy A.A. fire was twice hit, and had one engine burning. He managed to drop his supplies, but at the end of the run found that there were two containers remaining. Although he knew that one of his wings might collapse at any moment he nevertheless made a second run to drop the last supplies, then ordered his crew to bale out. A few seconds later the Dakota crashed in flames with its pilot."
You can read more about this incredible story here, and about the unsung heroes of Lord's crew here.
YS-DM is equipped to drop color-coded air re-supply cargo, as she did on her fateful last flight...
The second Dakota is no slouch, either...
The Douglas Dakota Mk III YS-DJ, KG444, "Pie Eyed Piper of Barnes", was piloted by Flt. Lt. "Professor" Jimmy Edwards, DFC, also of 271 Squadron, 46 Group. Like her Squadron-mate, KG444 was later shot down on Sep 21, 1944 at Arnhem, Holland.
Like the other planes in the package, she sports the new paddle-bladed propellers...
Note the Professor's RAF cap and trademark mustache...
This model shows KG444 in D-Day invasion markings and is configured to drop British Commonwealth paras...
At 0630 on D-Day, having towed a glider to France the night before, KG444 dropped paras of the 3rd Canadians. It returned yet again to Normandy towing a glider later in the day.
Although this expansion pack includes only European Theater of Operations planes, another expansion pack is planned to feature C-47's from all theaters of war, including the Mediterranean, Pacific, China-Burma-India, and perhaps others.
If you don't already own the award-winning, highly acclaimed R4D / DC-3 CD, you may purchase it directly from the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum's On-Line Store. The price is $30 and it will be shipped via airmail anywhere in the world for $4.95. When you buy directly from MAAM. all sale proceeds go directly to the restoration programs of the museum, including the full renovation of the R4D-6 #50819 scheduled for this fall and winter.
RELEASE - D-DAY, JUNE 6, 2005
MAAM-SIM
Bill Rambow,
Jan Visser, Fred Banting, Robert Young, Bill Womack, Howard Sodja, and Mark
Beaumont
May 31, 2005