Acquired during my slide trading days in the 1970s and 1980s.

On July 27, 1952 this aircraft was dispatched from Wheelus AFB in an attempt to rescue 32 survivors of a Tropic Airways DC-3, ZS-DFB, which had ditched in the Mediterranean Sea due to engine failure. Despite heavy seas it made a successful water landing and took all 32 survivors aboard from their life rafts and waited for surface vessels to arrive. the SA-16 was damaged by metal lifeboats transferring survivors to the ship to the extent that it couldn't fly back to base. it was further damaged being towed back and is seen here being pulled from the water after arriving. Scrapped April 1953.

Now registered to the DVB Bank, the recent travels of the aircraft have been curious. After being stored at TUS since the 20 Jan 2022 it flew up to ANC on June 17th where is sat until June 29th when it flew back to TUS. it then did TUS-TUS (test? ) flight on July 1st, and flew back to ANC on July 2nd, refueled, and departed(as shown in this photo) for PNH, with a overnight stop at CIS, arriving on July 4th.

Seen departing ANC on it's delivery flight after arriving from BFI for a fuel stop.

Now in full NAC colors, seen taxiing to the ramp after landing back at its home base.

Seen departing ANC.

Owned by DVB Bank and seen arriving at ANC on a ferry flight from TUS.

Seen after arriving back at its Lynden's base in ANC.

Seen about to land at ANC, it has been making frequent trips between ANC and YXY.

Seen on it's delivery flight about to land on runway 15 at ANC.

Seen arriving at ANC in ex-Sriwijaya Air colors. It continued to DHN the following morning.

Seen at ANC during an RON on it's delivery flight

Seen with further aft fuselage detail applied.

According to the text on the main gear door this aircraft was assigned to the 1732nd A.T.S. at McGuire AFB, New Jersey. The MC-131A was redesignated to C-131A on 18 Sep 1962.

Displayed at the National Air Show in Philadelphia in September, 1955. (From my collection and not my shot)