Construction was completed at the Douglas Oklahoma City plant - 1945

It was built as a Douglas C-47B-45-DK

Delivered to the United States Army Air Force - July 24, 1945

It was allocated the U. S. serial number '45-964'

Ferried to New Zealand for use by the Royal New Zealand Air Force - August 1945

Taken on charge by R.N.Z.A.F. No. 1 Aircraft Storage Unit at Rukuhia, Hamilton - August 21, 1945

Allocated the Royal New Zealand Air Force Serial Number NZ3556

Allocated to No. 41 Squadron, Whenuapai, Auckland - January 1946

Transferred to No. 40 Squadron, Whenuapai, Auckland - June 1946

Handed over to the Air Secretary, New Zealand Government - February 19, 1947

The civil registration 'ZK-AOK' was not taken up

Returned to service with the R.N.Z.A.F. as NZ3556 - April 11, 1947

Handed back to the Air Secretary, New Zealand Government - May 06, 1947

Ferried Auckland - Melbourne (Essendon) for conversion to civilian standards by Australian National Airways - ?

The conversion to Douglas DC-3D completed - May 29, 1947

Struck-off-charge by the R.N.Z.A.F. at Harewood, Christchurch - May 31, 1947

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-APK - June 20, 1947

Registered to New Zealand National Airways Corporation

The aircraft was named 'Poaka' (white headed gull)

Withdrawn from service and placed in open storage at Christchurch - 1962

The conversion to Douglas DC-3D 'Skyliner' standard was completed at Christchurch - August 28, 1964

This conversion involved a cabin modernisation and the addition of larger passenger windows

The aircraft was renamed 'Skyliner Kaikohe'

Leased to Fiji Airways Limited, Suva, Fiji - May 22, 1967

Entered onto the Fijian Aircraft Register as VQ-FAH - ?

Cancelled from the Fijian Aircraft Register = October 01, 1967

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-APK - October 01, 1967

Returned to National Airways Corporation at the end of the lease - October 02, 1967

Sold to Airland (N.Z.) Limited, Palmerston North

This aircraft was converted to an aerial topdressing configuration

Entered service with Airland (N.Z.) Limited - October 13, 1970

Transferred to Fieldair Limited, Palmerston North - February 20, 1978

Withdrawn from service and placed in open storage at Palmerston North - July 03, 1981

The aircraft had flown 42,764 hours

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - March 30, 1984

Sold to Rangitikei River Adventures, Mangaweka - 1985

Renovated and moved to Mangaweka (north of Palmerston North) - 1986

Preserved and placed on a pole at a local petrol station

Initially painted as 'The Flying Tearooms'

Later acquired the 'Rangitikei River Adventures' livery

Removed from the pole for renovation and repainting into a new livery - 2000

Painted as 'Cookie Air' in bright colors to advertise 'Cookie Time' biscuits

Repainted into the current Mangaweka Adventure Company livery - circa 2013

Current as as cafe at Mangaweka