Wartime aircraft on the move from Shropshire as collection goes to a new home

The Dakota was part of the collection of aircraft brought together by the Assault Glider Trust to form a memorial to the exploits of the airborne forces.

It was kept in a hangar at RAF Shawbury. But the air base now needs the space, meaning the Dakota and the other three aircraft in the collection are in the process of being moved out in a series of loads.

Already the huge wings of a replica wooden Horsa glider, which has been built from scratch by a team of dedicated trust volunteers, has gone by road to RAF Cosford, to be stored in a hangar there.

The trust hopes the Horsa will be put on display at the adjoining RAF Museum when exhibition space becomes available.

Martin Locke, of the trust, said the outer wings of the Dakota left on Wednesday at about 5am, and that the fuselage and wing centre section went yesterday at around 6am.

As the various loads began their journey their departure was captured for posterity in photos taken by Gary Wann of the trust.

The Dakota, which served in a number of roles including as a glider tug and paratrooper carrier, is to build a new future at the RAF Transport Command Memorial at North Weald, where the intention is to get it flying again.

Martin, a retired squadron leader who was based at RAF Shawbury, said: "

It all took longer than expected, which is not really a surprise as the engineers don't get that much practice at stripping a Dakota down for a road move."