Delivered to the USAF as KC-97G 52-2626. Later converted to a C-97G. Registered as HB-ILY for use by the Red Cross in the Biafra Airlift in 1969. Returned to the USAF and stored at Davis-Monthan AFB in 1970. To the museum in 1973. The vertical stabilizer had been replaced with the one from 52-2759. It was later painted white.

Still carrying the red cross as flown on relief between March 1969 and March 1970 by Balair for the International Committee of the Red Cross during the Biafran War. Originally tanker KC-97G 52-2626, later modified by the removal of refuelling gear to C-97G

Previously operated by Balair.

Amazing formation of C-97s during the Biafran Airlift, flying near their base in Coutonou in Dahomey (Benin). Four USAF C-97Gs had been made available to the Red Cross to be operated by Balair and flown by Israeli pilots. Photo by: Marcel Tschudin / International Committee of the Red Cross

Built as a KC-97G and delivered to the USAF around 1952 as 52-2626. Converted to C-97G, marked as 0-22626 and put on display. Registered HB-ILY and listed as owned by the International Red Cross/Belair Air Lines in March 1969. Used for famine relief operation Biafra (Nigeria) between March 1969 and March 1970. Assigned to Davis-Monthan for storage and transferred to the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposal Center (MASDC) with inventory number CH0439. Later to Pima, where it was restored. The vertical stabilizer was replaced with the one from 52-2759.

This aircraft did a lot of humanitarian work in Africa (Biafra) in 1969/1970.

HB-ILY was used on relief flights into Biafra in 1969-70 for the Red Cross. The fin is from another aircraft, 52-2759, scrapped at Davis-Monthan. While this is also sometimes listed as operated by Balair, the Red Crioss contractor, it was not one of the nine C-97s that were allocated Swiss registrations for the Biafra airlift.

What a thrill for any aviation fan to visit the wonderful Pima Air & Space Museum and wander amongst all these magnificent old aeroplanes. This plane served with the USAF as 52-2626.

Former USAF 52-2626. This aircraft flew relief supplies in the Biafran Airlift during 1969 and returned to the US in 1970.