When Biafra seceded from Nigeria in 1967, a bitter war started leading to a humanitarian crisis. Responding to this crisis, the Biafran Airlift came to be. The Nordic protestant churches chartered suitable transport aircraft and established a joint operation called Scan Church Aid. Later this was expanded to include the German churches and Caritas' relief operation in Joint Church Aid, JCA. JCA was colloquially known as Jesus Christ Airlines by the crews. Sterling supplied several DC-6s and OY-EAR is seen here being scrapped at CPH after serving in Biafra. Photographer unknown

the DC-7 in front is former Spantax EC-BSQ, at the time WFU and later broken-up in 2008

Recently acquired at this time from TAT and soon re-registered OY-SBT. Later with Aalborg Air Taxi and North Flying AS, dismantled in 2005 and sold to USA for non-flying purposes

Yet another Caravelle that found its way to Colombia for its final days of service, sold to Aerogolfo in August 1993 as HK-3957X. It had first been delivered to Sterling in June 1970 and was leased to Air Toulouse International for summer 1992 as F-GHKP. The ultimate fate of the aircraft is uncertain but was likely given false identity HK-3869 for a drug run to Mexico in mid-1994 and is said to have been buried there. The genuine HK-3869X was c/n 232 which has been preserved by the Fuerza Aérea Mexicana.

Lovely scene at Gatwick from the old roof terraces, including an Austrian Caravelle and BUA VC10. OY-STI joined Sterling new in May 1969 and on 15th January 1992 flew their last Caravelle commercial flight CPH-LUX-CPH. Leased to Air Toulouse International as F-GHKN in February 1992, it returned in September for storage at Kastrup. In August 1993 it was sold to SEC Colombia as HK-3855X but was written off on 15th March 1994 on take-off from Bogotá carrying explosives when a tyre burst. It returned after burning off fuel but overran the runway, the pilot retracting the landing gear to halt it.

First operator was UTA from August 1966 as F-BOEE, then Sterling from March 1967. Leased to TAE in March 1976 for two months as EC-CUM and sold in August 1993 for operation by Aerogolfo as HK-3858X. Scrapped late 1997

Registered N1020U to United Air Lines in February 1962 and OY-SBZ to Sterling in March 1972. Sold in January 1976 to UTA for the République Gabonaise becoming TR-LWD and leased to Air Gabon in June 1977. Ferried to Venice in September 1978 and sold to EAS for spares in May 1979. Airframe moved off airport and displayed for a time before being broken up in 2006

Joined Sterling's fleet in April 1968 as they modernised from DC-6s to Caravelles. Sold in January 1975 to the Central African Republic Government as TL-ABB and operated by Centrafrican Airlines from June 1979. To EAS as F-GCJT in April 1980 and Air Toulouse International in January 1992 as F-GHMU (my pic #738992), ending up preserved with Ailes Anciennes at Toulouse (my pic #739092)

ex N60436, N700AZ, VT-SIG, N497TF. Became N4971F, VQ-BDI, C-FKEJ, OY-JTR, wfu in 2020 and broken up

ex N5573K. Became N280AG, VQ-BER, N674AC, N278EA

Later F-GHKM, HK-3806X. Broken up at Barranquilla 2000

Ex-EI-PAK, N26762, N569PE, N443PS, N444BN. Later EI-PAK, 9L-LFD, YA-FAN. Permanently WFU at Kabul

First flight June 28th 1982, delivered to USAir March 15th 1983 as N776AL. May 18th 1987 OY-SBO Sterling Airways. October 30th leased to LACSA, until returned April 5th 1990 (returned). November 8th leased to LACSA again until returned March 31st 1991. March 1st 1994 OY-SBO Sterling European Airlines transferred. June 30th 1998 N891DB Riverhouse and October 1998 Allegro Airlines (leased) until May 1999. May 6th 1999 Sun Country Airlines (leased) November 1999 N291SC rr. September 2001 stored at Rutherford County airport, USA. 2003 broken up there. Seen taxing for a rwy 24 departure to Spain.

Scrapped in 1970

Caravelles F-GHKN and F-GHKP parked behind after lease return from Air Toulouse. Sterling would cease operations shortly after