A SECOND World War plane has taken pride of place at Yorkshire Air Museum.

The Douglas C47 Dakota is only the second aircraft of its kind on view in the North of England and is expected to attract the crowds to the Elvington-based museum.

The Dakota was transported by road to the museum this week, but it has had a varied working life since it went into service in 1945.

It served with the RAF in Montreal, Canada, from March 3, 1945, and saw action in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

Since then, it has been in service as a civilian aircraft, operating from the UK mainland, Jersey and even Egypt, where it was operated by Nile Delta Air Services. In its final job the aircraft was in service until January 1999 as a sea pollution control and slick spraying aircraft with Air Atlantique, which has given it to the museum.

A museum spokesman said: "Apart from the BBMF Dakota at RAF Coningsby, there is no other Dakota on display in northern England, so this will undoubtedly become one of the 'jewels' in the museum's collection. The longevity and outstanding reliability of the Dakota has earned the type's proud place in aviation history and it will be a major attraction for visitors to the museum."

Updated: 14:37 Thursday, December 20, 2001