Support our fundraising campaign to repaint and preserve this C-47
The Douglas C-47 Dakota, a powerful symbol of history, stands outside 47 Air Despatch Squadron at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire as a poignant tribute to the heroic role Air Despatchers played during WWII.
With the marking of the 80th anniversaries of D-Day and Operation Market Garden in 2024, the restoration of the “Gate Guardian” Dakota is more than just preservation—it’s a duty to honour its legacy.
However, maintaining this vital piece of history comes at a cost. To help fund the necessary upkeep, we are reaching out to ask for your support.
We need your help
Since she became a gate guardian, twelve years of weather has taken its toll on the exterior of the Dakota. With the help of a dedicated team of volunteers - including former dispatchers, local businesses and members of the public - we need to act now to prevent the aircraft from succumbing to further deterioration by giving her a deep clean and re-spray to restore her Air Despatch paint work to full glory!
A rich history...
47 Air Despatch Squadron RLC (Royal Logistic Corps) has a rich history that dates back to its origins during World War II.
Today, the Squadron is based at RAF Brize Norton and its role remains to support military operations by providing critical air despatch services.
Little is officially known about the specific Dakota that now stands at the gate of the Brize Norton gate. However, we can see tantalising glimpses of her past roles and owners by tracking her through the years via plane dossier records on the Internet...
Thank you to our supporters
Thank you to our supporters and sponsors who have got this project off the ground (no pun intended!) to make this important restoration job a reality.
Our volunteer work crew:
Brian Hall
Ray Stephens
Steve Potter
Ron McCaffery
Major A M Thompson RLC, Officer Commanding 47 Air Despatch Squadron
Tom Prior, Air Safety Officer, 47 Air Despatch Sqn and 13 Air Assault Support Regiment RLC
Reuben Digital Ltd for building and hosting this website
