8th March 2017 In past years, we have enjoyed the awesome sight and sound of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster over Pre-War Prescott.
We can now announce that this year the Flight has allocated us their iconic 1942 Douglas C-47 Dakota ZA947. ZA947 is currently painted to represent Dakota FZ692 of No 233 Squadron, around the D-Day period in 1944. This aircraft, which was named ‘Kwicherbichen’ by her crews, was involved in para-dropping operations on the eve of D-Day and subsequently in re-supply and casualty evacuation missions into and out of forward airfields in the combat areas. The female nurses who escorted the casualties on these flights became known as ‘The Flying Nightingales’.
By the end of 1944, 1,092 stretcher cases and 467 sitting wounded had been evacuated to England by the 233 Squadron Dakotas. The Dakota will make a stirring sight and sound over the hill on Saturday. To read more about the 233 Squadron operations, Dakota FZ692 ‘Kwicherbichen’ and aeromedical casualty evacuation in 1944, go here.