VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

Wed, Jan 07 2004, 0:55:28 [ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, [2] ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 14/03/04 16:47:49
Author: John Cooper
Subject: Christmas Airways

Christmas Airways DC-3 Dakota 1325 Flight

I recall 2 Daks that used to come into RAF Negombo and RAF Gan from RAF Christmas Island

KJ945 Island Paradise
KN424 Polynesian Princess

I'm not sure but I think that Christmas Island was the one off the coast of Indonesia now administered by the Australian Government.

The guys that flew these RAF crates appeared to have an attitude different from the RAF that I was in, the aircraft wre painted up Christmas Airways across the decal flash, anyone with any info on this?

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> Re: Christmas Airways -- John Cooper, 14/03/04 20:41:15

I just came across this DC-3 Hangar site and found thi posted plus a third Dak, so the Christmas Island is the one where the A-Tests were conducted. I know these Daks would make the run up to Ceylon via Butterworth and Car Nicobar:

I served with the RAF in the late 50's during the nuclear tests on Christmas Island (Pacific) we had 3 DC3's with registration numbers KN434, KN598 and KJ945. The flight known as '1325 Flight' was disbanded in Changi (Singapore)May 1960.Does anyone know where these three aircraft went to?
I would love to here from anyone who may have been involved with 1325 flight.


[ Edit | View ]

[> Re: Christmas Airways -- Trevor Morson, 15/03/04 8:21:25

This is all I have and no pics...


c/n#14792/26237 43-48976 D09Oct44 - KJ945 RAF Nassau 13Oct44 - ACSEA 52/253 Sq 05Nov44 - 10 Sq 06Jul49 - 52 Sq 07Jul51 - 22MU/UK 28Sep511325 Flt "C" Island Romance" 30Dec56 - VR-SEI Malayan AfW B01Mar61 - VR-OAI Bomeo A/W R29May63 - 9M-ANE Malaysian AfW R20May64 Malaysia-Sinppore A/L 01Jan67 - XU-HAK Khmer Hansa 1971 - Dam by rocketattack 19Jan75 Phnom Penh - canc.

c/n#16104/32852 44-76520 D10Mar45 - KN424 RAF Montreal 13Mar45 - 187 Sq 23Mar45 - 525 Sq 2GApr45 - 238 Sq - Cat E 09Nov48.
_________________
Regards.. Trev, trev@douglasdc3.com
Visit "The DC-3 Hangar"
http://www.douglasdc3.com
______________________________
Sponsored by "Ozark Silver Swallows"
http://www.silverswallows.com


[ Edit | View ]

[> Re: Christmas Airways -- Ron Bones, 16/03/04 16:29:14


The nuclear tests were held on Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean about 1200 miles south of Hawaii and is now called KIRIMATI.
I think Malcolm was with 1325 flight (Christmas Airways)before I was , I was posted to Christmas Island about mid 1958 for the final tests (Graple Y and Z) these tests ended in October 1958 and 1325 flight was posted to RAF Changi around March 1959. I stayed with 1325 flight until August 1959.
I saw a magazine article about Christmas Airways which had a picture of the 3 Dakotas at the time of 1325 flight being disbanded in 1960.
As I have been trying to find out what happened to the Dakotas it is very interesting to know that they were seen at locations in the Indian Ocean.

I have a few photos of the aircraft which I will scan and forward to you very soon.
The registration numbers I have are :-
KN434 - Polynesian Princess
KN598 - Coral Queen
KJ945 - Island Romance.

1325 flight was apparently formed during late 1956 at RAF Dishforth in Yorkshire.


[ Edit | View ]

[> [> Re: Christmas Airways -- Harry Shepherd, 30/03/04 21:01:10

267 Sqn.at Kuala Lumpur had three daks in the early nineteen fifties.The CO, Percy Burgess, had flown the three Gladiators in Malta.He thought his Daks were the only
ones left in the RAF,so he decided to call them "Faith, Hope and Charity". It turned out that there were a few more Daks left at Dishforth so they were called "Shake,Rattle and Roll" instead.
Is it possible that these Daks found their way to Christmas Island.I did fly in these aircraft,but I didnt record it in my logbook as I was in KL, visiting friends, without getting the necessary pass.


[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> Re: Christmas Airways -- John Cooper, 31/03/04 6:42:05

Yep Harry someone who was stationed on Christmas Island in the late 50's has said that these three Daks were named "Faith, Hope and Charity".


[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> Re: Christmas Airways -- Barrie Searle, 19/04/04 19:36:02

The 2 Daks were from Christmas Island (1325 flt) in the Pacific. I was posted to the island during the British Nuclear Tests (1957/58 to service these aircraft (Air Wireless).

Indeed it was a different RAF - we were fortunate to locate an army signwriter who did the honours regarding 'Christmas Airways' and naming our kites. He also produced a large sign to the same effect that was erected over the entrance to our crew tent. Our local senior people took a very relaxed view regarding rules and regulations provided the 'Daks' were always serviceable and ready to fly.


[ Edit | View ]


[ Contact Forum Admin ]

Forum timezone: GMT+0
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.