The aircraft, which flew sightseeing tours for tourists with DDA Classic Airlines and was previously part of the D-Day paradrop and Operation Market Garden, was saved from retirement by the famous Dutch aviation museum Aviodrome.
In a historic flight on Dec. 18, 2024, two F-35A Lightning IIs of the RNLAF (Royal Netherlands Air Force) bid a farewell salute to a World War II Douglas DC-3 aircraft, named “Princess Amalia” and with the registration PH-PBA. The DC-3 is part of the Dutch Dakota Association (DDA) Classic Airlines and the F-35s flew alongside the plane in its final flight before the next chapter in its long life.
In fact, the aircraft, which flew sightseeing tours for tourists by DDA Classic Airlines, will now be part of the Aviodrome museum in Lelystad. The plane was about to be permanently retired and sold off abroad, but received a new lease of life after it was acquired by the famous Dutch Aviodrome aviation museum from the volunteer and donor-funded DDA Classic Airlines.
The RNLAF’s Air Combat Command shared pictures of the flight with the illustrious aircraft on X and Instagram. What made the flight even more special was that one of the DC-3’s pilots was the father of one of the F-35 pilots in the formation, RNLAF’s Air Combat Command said. The F-35s are assigned to Volkel Air Base.
Twee F-35’s brachten gisteren een afscheidsgroet naast de historische Douglas DC-3 Dakota PH-PBA ✈️
Het was de laatste keer dat de DC-3 vloog. Het klassieke vliegtuig gaat nu naar het luchtvaartmuseum @Aviodrome. pic.twitter.com/SsVQqO8tPS
— Vliegbasis Volkel (@VlbVolkel) December 19, 2024
Saved from retirement
DDA in October announced ending its leisure flights for tourists and PH-PBA flew its last flight on Oct. 16, 2024. The airline cited high maintenance, hangarage, insurance costs and infrequent availability of volunteer maintenance and technical staff among the reasons.
On Oct. 16, at the end of the presumed final flight under the DDA, PH-PBA was greeted by a crowd of aviation enthusiasts and visitors and even welcomed by a traditional water cannon salute, followed by a farewell ceremony. At Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, the DC-3 PH-PBA (or Princess Amalia) shut down her engines for the last time with a plane full of passengers, flying its final “Market Garden” leisure flights for paying tourist passengers.
Plans changed when the Aviodrome museum stepped in. According to Scramble, the DDA board revealed on Oct. 19,, following a meeting with donors and sponsors, that PH-PBA will remain in the Netherlands, by being passed on to the Aviodrome museum in Lelystad.
Aircraft history
PH-PBA was first rolled out of the Douglas factory on Jan. 11, 1944, as a C-47 and later delivered with the registration 19434 to the U.S. Army Air Forces. On Jun. 6, 1944, it participated in D-Day over Normandy during “Mission Boston” (registration 42-100971) where, five hours before the D-Day invasion, PH-PBA dropped paratroopers from the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment over Sainte-Mère-Église in Normandy, according to details published by the DDA Classic Airlines.
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This was followed by Operation Market Garden in Sep. 1944, when the Allies paradropped troops over Arnhem in the Netherlands, marking the airframe’s first flight over the country. On Sep. 18 and 23, the aircraft towed gliders and ferried troops and equipment over the country, followed by its first touchdown on Dutch soil on Sep. 27, 1944.
De DC-3 ‘PH-PBA’ heeft woensdagmiddag (16 oktober) haar laatste vlucht voor DDA Classic Airlines gevlogen. Met een vlucht van Maastricht naar Schiphol kwam een einde aan een periode van ruim veertig jaar Dakota-vliegen in Nederland. https://t.co/SkUjY8XGpm pic.twitter.com/yo1DPypALN
— Piloot en Vliegtuig (@PilootenVliegtu) October 16, 2024
After its World War II service, PH-PBA has been operated within the Netherlands and overseen by the Dutch Royal Family, after being bought by Prince Bernhard in 1945. The DC-3 served with the Dutch government, the Rijksluchtvaartdienst (National Aviation Service), the KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines), and finally the DDA Classic Airlines Foundation.
Geweldige foto’s!
De piloten van de DC-3 Dakota “Prinses Amalia” zijn druk bezig met hun ‘refresh’ trainingsprogramma.
Ze vlogen circuits boven Lelystad Airport.
PH-PBA is het eerste regeringsvliegtuig van NL. Gekocht (niet betaald) door Prins Bernhard.
📸 Paul van den Berg pic.twitter.com/GsIhTsPODX
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— Menno Swart (@MennoSwart) March 23, 2024
According to the RNLAF’s Air Combat Command, Prince Bernhard bought the C-47 from the U.S. Army Air Forces’ surplus stock in 1946, and registered it as PH-PBA in the Dutch Aircraft Register on Feb. 25, 1947. It was subsequently transferred to the state as the first Dutch government aircraft. The designation PH-PBA stands for ‘Prince Bernhard Alpha’, recognizing the royal’s role in acquiring the aircraft and making it a part of Dutch aviation history.
There was also a pre-existing sponsorship agreement with KLM requiring PH-PBA to sport pre-war KLM colours. That agreement was extended in Nov. 2006, with the plane flying with that livery to this date.
Koninklijke legende! DC-3 Dakota PH-PBA “Prinses Amalia” vliegt vandaag van Gilze-Rijen naar @schiphol 👑 Neerlands eerste regeringstoestel – aangekocht voor 50.000 dollar door Prins Bernhard – is vorige week uit de “corona-winterslaap” gehaald.
PBA=Prins Bernhard Alpha pic.twitter.com/UkSDKBby4t
— Menno Swart (@MennoSwart) April 26, 2021
According to Vintage Aviation News, the all-volunteer DDA was founded in 1982 and received their first DC-3 (PH-DDA) from the Finnish Air Force in May 1984. DDA also set up a full-fledged technical team of retired KLM staff, supported by younger enthusiasts, and the volunteer outfit operated like a well-oiled airline, with administrative, ground and cabin personnel. From 1984 DDA flew sightseeing routes over the Netherlands and local and international air shows.
The end of an era.. yesterday, Dutch DC-3 PH-PBA made it’s last ever landing at Schiphol Airport😢 #avgeek pic.twitter.com/2GYfXa2qup
— Aviation Pics | Maurits Vink (@Aviation_Pics) October 17, 2024
Around this time, it was discovered that PH-DDA also had World War II service, flying during D-Day for the USAAF in the 91th Troop Carrier Squadron, with serial 42-100646. This was the very C-47 that carried 1st Lt. Dick Winters of ‘Easy Company’ in the famous Band of Brothers television series. DDA Classic Airlines also has other DC-3s, DC-2s, D-18S aircraft.
Future
In the new ownership of the Aviodrome, the DC-3 will continue to fly, albeit in a lower frequency, still supported by a group of DDA volunteers. Being released from the Air Operating Certificate (AOC) under which the aircraft operated with DDA also frees up many financial constraints. Under the new ownership, flights and access to the DC-3 aircraft will only be allowed for donors and sponsors to the Aviodrome.
Luchtvaartmuseum Aviodrome verwelkomt woensdagmiddag de iconische DC-3 Dakota PH-PBA. Met dank aan de Dutch Dakota Association (DDA) blijft dit historische toestel – als onderdeel van de collectie van Aviodrome – in Nederland. https://t.co/2TsjGH6g7t pic.twitter.com/gVjGAoUdK5
— Piloot en Vliegtuig (@PilootenVliegtu) December 17, 2024
The Aviodrome museum, or ‘Nationaal Luchtvaart-Themapark Aviodrome’ at Lelystad Airport hosts many famous civilian and military aircraft, particularly those relevant to Dutch aviation history. These include a KLM Boeing 747-200, a Fokker 100, two Fokker F27s, and a Lockheed Constellation in the original bare metal livery of KLM.
air-to-air with the @DDAclassicair Dutch Dakota Douglas C-47/DC-3 PH-PBA last Saturday at @luebeckairport on a scenic flight over Travemünde and the Baltic Sea… pic.twitter.com/4GZFy2cv2Y
— Dirk Grothe | Aviation Photography (@digro65) July 24, 2023
According to Piloot en vliegruig, Aviodrome will temporarily exhibit the DC-3 PH-PBA ‘Princess Amalia’ in the T2 hangar. The museum is meanwhile also exploring how it can continue to fly the DC-3 without passengers, during special events like Veterans Day and Liberation Day.
