Charity gift brings aircraft into sight for aviation fans

Ross Leventhal, the owner of the Darley Mill Centre and managing director of The Yorkshire Linen Co, made a large charitable donation at a dinner in aid of the Yorkshire Cancer Centre for an hour's flight in a Douglas C-47 Dakota.

The aeroplane – which saw action in the Second World War – will, weather permitting, fly over the Grade II listed mill in Nidderdale at 11.30am on Saturday.

The aircraft, named Drag-'em-oot, was delivered to the USAF in December 1943. It was stationed at Greenham Common and served with the lead squadron on D-Day, flying two missions that day.

In September 1944, the aircraft was transferred to the RAF where it was involved in Operation Market Garden to seize bridges in Holland, including the failed attempt to capture the crossing at Arnhem.

The plane remained in the UK before joining 435 Squadron on its return from Burma. The Dakota then flew to Canada with RCAF before being pensioned off from military service in 1966 to became a civilian DC3.

Mr Leventhal said: "As soon as I saw this flight was to be auctioned, I knew I wanted to be on board. Thankfully, I was the highest bidder and talking to the plane's owner he had no objection in flying us over the Darley Mill Centre. Saturday will be the first time I get a bird's eye view of the mill and I'm very much looking forward to it."

Take off will be at Elvington airfield, near York, at 11am on Saturday and the Dakota is due to fly over The Darley Mill Centre at about 11.30am.