DH89A - Kenyan Auxiliary Air Unit, East Africa

DH.89A Dragon Rapide/Dominie

Kenyan Auxiliary Air Unit

The Dragon Rapide was a common short-haul airliner before the War. With the beginning of hostilities they were pressed into service and redesignated the Dominie. Most saw service as transports (including air ambulances) and in training roles.

This particular aircraft (civilian registration VP-KCR) was pressed into service with the Kenyan Auxiliary Air Unit - a unit created in 1940 from pilots from the Aero Club of East Africa, near Nairobi. The unit performed transport, communications and reconnaissance flights, including during the East Africa campaign in 1941.