The year 2019 had a special significance for a historic aircraft, one of the most famous in the whole planet, the legendary "Dakota". Seventy-five years after D-Day, twelve restored C-47s with crews of volunteers and veterans made a trip of historical memory from the US to Europe as part of the "Daks Over Normandy" events.
The spectacular flight of the Dakotas in Normandy on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the landing of the allied forces gave the opportunity to lovers of history and also of historic aircraft to enjoy the simultaneous flight of several carefully preserved or restored aircraft of the type, which they reached the shores of Europe from all over the world.
"For Greece, the moments that traveled those present to France, in history, were of particular importance since the country has one of the most historic aircraft of its type," said Sminarchos Iptamenos (I ) Stavros Sidiropoulos. Thus, during the induction ceremony of the Air Force's new Technam P2002JF training aircraft, the return to airworthy status of the Dakota 622 was announced.
Today, the aircraft with the long history is at the premises of the 113th Fighter Wing in Thessaloniki and after this announcement by the Greek Air Force, which has thus publicly expressed its intention to proceed with actions that will allow the aircraft to be in the air again, it is the wish of those who know and honor the aviation history of Greece that this becomes possible.
"Such a development will have multi-faceted benefits," Flight Commander (I) Stavros Sidiropoulos with around 3000 hours as a pilot explained to the press. "The fact that aircraft 622 was the only surviving aircraft worldwide in flying condition that participated in the Korean War was particularly encouraging," said Mr. Sidiropoulos, explaining that in 2004 there was a "proposal for the creation of an Aviation Heritage Swarm." Since then, as he noted, "all the leaderships had it in their minds, but unfortunately it never materialized".
Recently, however, at the receipt of the new training aircraft of the Icaron School "the Chief announced the intention to fly the 622 again, we can think of the huge impact that for example a flight from Greece to Korea would create on a flight for world peace", he pointed out, citing the recent flights over Normandy as an example.
The Hellenic Air Force began receiving C-47 aircraft from America and England in 1947 and a total of 88 aircraft received the PA badge with the aircraft equipping the 355th and 356th Tactical Transport Squadrons. In November 1950, Greece took part in the Korean War as part of a United Nations mission, while on September 17, 1951, 622 "Poseidon" found itself in the icy waters of the Yellow Sea, but after repairs at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines returned to Hellas. Here, over the Aegean, he continued to fly for decades and "recorded" thousands of hours in the Aegean.
"The use of diplomacy, including perhaps an approach by the Korean government to co-finance the reconstruction, the existence of still active airmen and engineers and technicians with appropriate Civil Aviation Service degrees, the love of the world and more, could easily push in the rapid realization of the dream of flying the 622 again", says the experienced operator of the historic Greek Dakota.
"I remember when due to weather we were forced to land in Skiathos. We were flying an hour and twenty minutes on one engine. None of us had experienced this in a real situation. With care and thanks to reserves of great flying experience we succeeded. It is the safest aircraft in the world, as long as you know it very well...", recounts Mr. Sidiropoulos with emotion.
SOURCE:APE-ME