Like VR-NAA, this aircraft had a brief history with Central African Airways of Rhodesia before going to West African Airways Corporation in 1949. A 1000 m airstrip opened at Maiduguri in 1950. The photographer was on a trip to Khartoum. See photo 635076 for a clear view of the tailfin. WAAC offered cheap passenger flights with its Freighter fleet. VR-NAD crashed on a flight between Enugu and Calabar on 5 February 1955 due to structural failure of the left wing. All 13 on board lost their lives. Photo by: Edward Duckworth / Northwestern University Libraries, Illinois

Delivered to Central African Airways of Rhodesia in October 1948 as VP-YHZ. To West African Airways Corporation in 1949 as VR-NAA, supposedly named Niger. Arrived at Southend on 31 March 1957 to become G-AIFO of Channel Airways, who adopted WAAC's green and gold livery without the elephant logo. Photo by: Edward Duckworth / Northwestern University Libraries, Illinois

Sir Hubert crashed on landing at Port Harcourt on 26 September 1958. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off. Photo by: Edward Duckworth / Northwestern University Libraries, Illinois

We made another crop of the same original photo for the BOAC Hermes 4, G-ALDE, which dates the picture between 1950 and probably 1952, or 1954 at the latest. Dove VR-NIB was delivered in early 1948. To Channel Airways as G-APAG in 1957. Photo by: Edward Duckworth / Northwestern University Libraries, Illinois

Maintenance in a hangar at Ikeja. VR-NIX to VR-NBA at an unknown date. To 5N-AAA after Nigerian independence in 1960. Aircraft still carries the Union Jack here as well as the De Havilland logo. Photo by: Edward Duckworth / Northwestern University Libraries, Illinois

The registration can just be read off. Certificate of airworthiness for VR-NIT issued on 31 March 1948. To Morton Air Services as G-ANVC in September 1954. Photo taken at Calabar. Note: Wikipedia say that DNCA did not open until 1983. It is close to the city's Old Town, however, so the old airport is assumed to be the same place. Photo by: Edward Duckworth / Northwestern University Libraries, Illinois

Certificate of airworthiness for VR-NOB issued on 9 November 1948. To G-AROG in 1961. Withdrawn from use at Biggin Hill in 1964. Photo by: Edward Duckworth / Northwestern University Libraries, Illinois

Registration confirmed by another picture. West African Airways Corporation (WAAC) was originally run by the governments of Nigeria, Gambia, the Gold Coast (Ghana) and Sierra Leone, but was continued by Nigeria alone from 1958, becoming Nigeria Airways. VR-NET to G-AOZW in 1957. Photo by: Edward Duckworth / Northwestern University Libraries, Illinois

Crashed at Kaduna on November 14, 1950. Photo from: Abilene Christian University / University of Southern California