A small but very interesting photo. Oil was struck at Hassi Messaoud, in the Sahara, in 1956 and this picture makes us suspect that Air Algérie acquired its Noratlas freighters specifically for the construction works here. The first was this regular N.2501, F-OBDX. Later there were three N.2502Bs with auxiliary Marboré turbojets on the wingtips: F-OBDX again, F-OBDY and F-OBDZ, with construction numbers given as B1 tot B3. DGAC still lists N.2502B F-OBDX as c/n 148, so this airframe will have been converted. Photo by: Gérard Daudu /ECPAD

Arrival of the Expédition Glaciologique Internationale au Groenland (EGIG) 59. Behind the Noratlas is a USAF C-124C Globemaster II, 52-1056. Photo by: Fritz Brandenberger / ETH-Bibliothek Zürich

Refuelling stop on the way to Greenland for the Expédition Glaciologique Internationale au Groenland (EGIG). The full shot shows 125 / 61-YE on the left. Photo by: Fritz Brandenberger / ETH-Bibliothek Zürich

This is ex French Air Force N° 148, withdrawn from use on 4 June 1985. It was acquired by Association Support Air, and registration F-EURO reserved on 25 May 1988. Rolled-out in these European colours at Paris-Orly on 8 Jun 1988, and flown to Paris-Le Bourget that same month and parked. In Oct 1989 it received a permit to fly for film work at Tavaux-Dole, but it didn't fly much there, if at all. In early 1993 the Noratlas was loaned to Association Air Memorial, and later that year it stranded here at Courlaoux airport, reportedly after engine trouble. It has a "Marriott" sticker on the main gear door and "Decoré par Air France" in small print on the left fin. The Noratlas would never leave again and was eventually broken up in June 2013.