The "Gooney Bird" is a much loved term for the Douglas Dakota C47. During WWII it served as a troop carrier, cargo plane and glider tower. Little could one guess that some 50 years later one would survive to tow into the city of Brisbane, a 2.5 tonne Grand Concert Dutch Street Organ! The following affectionate history has been kindly provided by Werner Kroll.

VH-DAK
This was one of the 10,000 DC-3's built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in the U.S.A. In 1939 the DC-3 was the one and only airliner in the world fully enclosed, all metal, although it carried only 28 passengers.

This particular one was built as a military version. It left the factory in 1944 to serve with the U.S.A Airforce. They called it a C47. She saw action the same year carrying troops across the English Channel during "D day". 1946 she crossed the equator, heading for Indonesia, to serve with the Netherlands Indies Navy.

In 194 7 during a flight over Australian soil she force landed near Katherine due to an electrical fire. The wreck was shipped to Brisbane and with the wings taken off, she was used as an engine- test-rig by KLM. in Archeifield. After the war KLM moved operations to New Guinea. The rig was gutted and the empty shell awaited scrapping. At that time Bill Chater was running a ships' plumbing business. Having the know-how and machinery to shape metal, and the urge to build his own caravan, this DC-3 fuselage gave him a flying start. In his workshop under the Story Bridge he married half of it to the chassis of an International truck.

In 1950 the DC-3 left his workshop as a motor home. She served him for 10 years, until he was unable to drive it any more and laid it up. I met Bill through work as a machine tool service engineer. Being a restorer and pilot I could not help falling in love with his beloved "Dutch Bomber" as he called it. She was NOT for sale. We got on well and spent many happy hours reminiscing. Bill past away at the age of 88 and it was his wish that I should look after his "Bomber" from then on.

In 1995 after a 3 year restoration period, I drove her over the inspection pit of the Main Road Department. She got the stamp of approval and yet another name. On the registration paper she is known as "Inter Dakota". The number plate is an aircraft designation. All Australian registration starts with "VH" and Dakota "Down UNDER" simply becomes "DAK".

Today's power plant is a 6 cylinder petrol side-valve motor, 4 speed crash box, vacuum boosted brakes, no power steering! She cruises at 80 km/h with a thirst just like that in her flying days when powered by two radials. The rear of the fuselage is still as Bill had it. I use it regularly as a sleeper at air shows. Fate will decide her future duties. As she is available for promotions, advertising etc. her interior could change to suit.

A common question asked is, "What is your every day car?" Well, I am in love with a D Model Citroen, 1971-1975. At the present time I am looking for another one, dead or alive so that I can restore one unit to top condition.

.... Werner