ONUC (United Nations Operation in the Congo)

  15 July 1960 to 30 June 1964

  United Nations

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TYPE: UN mission

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: Leopoldville, Congo

FORMER NAME: Nil

FATE: Disbanded

The United Nations Operation in the Congo (ONUC) was a United Nations peacekeeping force in the Republic of the Congo that was established after United Nations Security Council Resolution 143 of 14 July 1960. The mission was launched to help restore stability to the Congo after it fell into conflict and disorder following independence. ONUC was the UN's first peacekeeping mission with a significant military force.

ONUC, operating a large country with very few roads, relied heavily on air transport to carry out its mission. Several private companies were chartered to provide transport aircraft to the UN in Congo. Transair Sweden, Europe's largest charter airline at the time, provided Commandos and DC6s to ONUC until the peacekeeping force was withdrawn in 1964. Seven Seas Airlines was a more short-lived aircraft provider of ONUC, with a fleet of Boeing C-97s, DC4s and Commandos, but its contract was cancelled in mid-1961 when one of its aircraft was caught carrying combat aircraft parts for the Katangese rebels.

1960 to 1966

ONUC operated at least 10 Commandos.

Transair Sweden was asked by the UN to assist with air transportation in the Congo. In 1960, two Super 46C Commandos, SE-CFC and SE-CFE, were chartered by the UN with full crews and technical staff. The number of Commandos wet-leased from Transair reached six at its peak. A full base with a staff of 50 was mounted in Leopoldville to support the operation.

Operations with Transair Commandos continued until late 1963 when the UN handed over management to the Congolese Government. Transair was asked to continue the contract for them.

Seven Seas Airlines assigned two Commandos to ONUC, to carry out domestic supply missions between Leopoldville and Katanga. One of these, N9841F, was also lent to Katangese President Moise Tchombe to be used as a personal aircraft.

• Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando: N9841F (wet-leased from Seven Seas Airlines)
• Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando: N111E (wet-leased from Seven Seas Airlines)
• Smith CW-20T Commando: SE-CFA, SE-CFB, SE-CFC, SE-CFF (all wet-leased from Transair Sweden)
• Smith Super 46C Commando: SE-CFD, SE-CFE, SE-CFG, SE-EDP, SE-EDS (all wet-leased from Transair Sweden)