Former Israeli S-58 in Biafra
Jun 8, 2018 20:12:36 GMT
Post by kuntz1952 on Jun 8, 2018 20:12:36 GMT
Hi all,
Via an Israeli friend I received information from an ex-IDFAF S58 pilot (who flew about 1,000 hours on the S-58 before moving to the CH-53/S65).
He says that in 1968 some 4 of the just retired IDFAF S-58 were transferred to IAI, refurbished and sold to the UN. He testifies that he flew at least one white painted S-58 with the UN letters painted on it on a testflight. The helicopters were all flown to Cyprus for onward transport and for use by (or via) the UN in Nigeria/Biafra.
Fact is that late 1968 at least 3 helicopters, supplied by the UNESCO, were in use with the ICRC on food supply flights from Nigerian territory to Biafra. E.g. an improvised strip at Calabar (South Nigeria) was used for this purpose. One of these at least was a S58, carrying the serial ¨UN 23¨, and was photographed at the Calabar strip end 1968
See the following three photos:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Food_aid_Nigeria.png
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Calabar_1968.png
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Makeshift_airport_in_Calabar,_Nigeria_probably_1968.png).
From the text on the aircraft it looks like it was operated by a company called ¨Robards Enterprises Inc¨, but an extensive search for this company came up with absolutely nothing.
A lot has been published on the aviation side of the Biafra relief/supply operation, so is there any mentioning of these helicopters anywhere?
There are a few former IDFAF S-58 with an unknown fate after retirement in 1968, so identities for these UN S-58 would be very welcome.
TIA,
George Kuntz 11299
Via an Israeli friend I received information from an ex-IDFAF S58 pilot (who flew about 1,000 hours on the S-58 before moving to the CH-53/S65).
He says that in 1968 some 4 of the just retired IDFAF S-58 were transferred to IAI, refurbished and sold to the UN. He testifies that he flew at least one white painted S-58 with the UN letters painted on it on a testflight. The helicopters were all flown to Cyprus for onward transport and for use by (or via) the UN in Nigeria/Biafra.
Fact is that late 1968 at least 3 helicopters, supplied by the UNESCO, were in use with the ICRC on food supply flights from Nigerian territory to Biafra. E.g. an improvised strip at Calabar (South Nigeria) was used for this purpose. One of these at least was a S58, carrying the serial ¨UN 23¨, and was photographed at the Calabar strip end 1968
See the following three photos:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Food_aid_Nigeria.png
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Calabar_1968.png
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Makeshift_airport_in_Calabar,_Nigeria_probably_1968.png).
From the text on the aircraft it looks like it was operated by a company called ¨Robards Enterprises Inc¨, but an extensive search for this company came up with absolutely nothing.
A lot has been published on the aviation side of the Biafra relief/supply operation, so is there any mentioning of these helicopters anywhere?
There are a few former IDFAF S-58 with an unknown fate after retirement in 1968, so identities for these UN S-58 would be very welcome.
TIA,
George Kuntz 11299
