Photographer: Unknown. K25 slide scan. Built August 1953 as N34953 for Flying Tiger Line but converted to passenger configuration as JA6202 for Japan Air Lines November 1953. Reconfigured to freighter as 5N-AFT for Pan African 1965, Air America N1535 1969, Saber Air 9V-BCI 1970, Fragtflug TF-OAE 1972. Struck trees 6 May 1974 during visual turn on night approach to Nuremberg and crashed inverted with loss of the three crew. Investigation findings were poor general technical state, engine and instrument failure, probable exceeding of maximum gross weight, icing and an alcoholized captain.

The date is a guess. Photographer: Unknown photographer.

When Biafra seceded from Nigeria in 1967, a bitter war started leading to a humanitarian crisis that was widely publicized. Responding to this crisis, a number of humanitarian organizations established what is Biafran Airlift. TF-OAA participated in the airlift during most of 1969 in this drab livery it still carried almost a year later.

slide scan from the NK collection.

Still in its olive drab after operating in the Biafran conflict when photographed, this DC-6 served with Western, JAL and Transavia beforehand. Registered as N120AC in 1979, she was impounded in Colombia and joined the Fuerza Aerea Colombiana - see my shot of FAC902