Air Mel was jointly owned by Bob Paul and the French and operated in the Condominium of New Hebrides. Bob wanted to call it Air Condom but the French were offended!
Bob had property and trading interests on the island of Tanna. Really great guy, later Chairman of Flight West.
Junior bought out Bob, maybe in the late 70's and eventually bought out the French, represented by UTA from memory.
Heli Tschuchnigg was sent to Vanuatu to manage the company and finally I think, Paula and Cox. I think Trader Booth may have also spent time managing Air Mel? As you would expect, Junior finally closed it down claiming it was going to be nationalised.
That National Geographic photo was taken in Vanuatu, not Papua New Guinea. The pilot looks vaguely familiar but I don't recall his name.