Tiger Mate,
My apologies if I appear to doubt one comment you make above.
I have compiled a record of transport and special duties aircraft, including those in the Far East. However, I have no record of seven Dakotas being lost in a single day, for my own interest do you have a source for that info? I have, however, made an assumption that you are referring to British Commonwealth aircraft by using the word 'Dakota', rather than - say - C47, to embrace our US friends.
O-D