1966 - Douglas DC.8-33 - UTA/Union de Transports Aériens

Douala/Cameroon/Equatorial Africa is the setting of this picture dating back to January 1966

The wings and Pratt & Whitney JT-4 pure jet engines belong to a Douglas DC.8-33 operated by UTA/Union de Transports Aériens.

I was on my back to the boarding-school near Paris next to a Xmas school holiday at the parents' place.The Diesel Eight was on her way back from Libreville/Gabon to Paris/Le Bourget with enroute stops at Douala, Lagos-Ikedja/Nigeria and Nice. Flight number was UT 708 and day of opertaion was a Saturday.
I don't remember whether the Mighty Eight was at the early stage of engine spooling with the famed "mating-call" coming along ! But for sure, the distinctive original Palomar seats and their particular side reading lamps had their backs duly set on the upright position.
Afar on the apron, and although only showing its tail unit, an Air Cameroun Curtiss C-46 keeps company to a Boeing B.17 of France's IGN/Institut Géographique National.

UTA was formed in 1963 by the merger of UAT/Union Aéromaritme de Transport, formed in 1949 .

and TAI/Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux set up in 1946

Together with their respective route licenses and some still soldiering trusty DC.6Bs, UAT brought in 2 DC.8s while TAI operated another pair.

All delivered new starting in 1960, the former TAI fleet members were registered F-BIUY and BIUZ, while their UAT counterparts were registered F-BJLA and BJLB. Some were left flying as series 33s,

While others were retrofitted as series 53s