Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra
And surprisingly, there's a Dutch connection!
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According to a 1943 recognition sheet, the Lodestar was first converted to military use in order to convey parachute troops for the Netherlands East Indies government. The Lodestars ordered by the NEI which were not yet delivered when the NEI capitulated, were taken up by the US Government.
At least four of these were transferred to Canada.
Now, this newspaper clipping of the first official paratroop jump in Canada from a Lockheed Lodestar near Shilo, Manitoba (courtesy of
Colin Stevens) most likely shows another Lodestar, but I like to think it was one of those Dutch Lodestar paratroop ships!
H.