| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Registration / Serial: | 49-072 |
| Alternate Serial: | 9072 |
| Aircraft Original Type: | Grumman G-64 Albatross |
| Aircraft Generic Type: | Grumman G-64 Albatross (G-111 / U-16) |
| Aircraft Version: | Grumman SA-16A Albatross |
| C/n (msn): | 30 |
| Operator Titles: | USA - Air Force |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| City / Airport: | Tripoli, Wheelus AFB |
| Country: | Libya |
| Airport Codes: | None |
| Photo Date: | 30 July 1952 |
| Photo from: | Bob Garrard Collection |
| Photo ID: | 486426 |
| Photo Comment |
|---|
|
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. This photo was added on 12 August 2022, and has since been viewed 685 times. |