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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 0625.PDF
French-built D.H. Vampires (French A.F.). FRANCE The French Air Force THE PRESENT French Air Force (Armee de I'Air) must beviewed in the light of its immediate past. Though its traditions and history date back to World War 1, the events of World War 2brought first the dissolution of the Air Force as such, and then the destruction and dispersal of the industry—without which, ofcourse, it could not for long exist. During the occupation of the country many factories were forced to work for Germany, produc-ing a variety of aircraft (mainly transports and liaison types); but these plants were subjected to Allied bombing attacks. By theend of the war, much of what had not been destroyed had been dispersed and hidden to avoid sequestration and bombing. In 1945 the French Air Force counted only those units whichhad been formed and equipped within the air force of one or other of the Allied nations, and the aircraft consisted of P-39s, P-47s,Spitfires and Russian Yak-3s. These last were flown by members of the Normandie-Niemen group, formed as one of the first FreeFrench units in Syria and sent to the Russian front. P-38s and P-51s were supplied for reconnaissance, and bomber squadronswith the R.A.F. flew Halifaxes and Marauders. Some French C-47 transport squadrons, also, were formed. In many areas of the world French units upheld the high tradi-tions of their Service, but after the war the above-mentioned air- craft, together with some German transport and liaison types (pro-duction of which was continued after the German collapse) formed the sole basis for the reconstitution of a completely new nationalair force. Neither could anything be done to remedy this situa- tion until the industry itself could make up five lost years ofintensive development and once again turn out the required material. It has taken ten years to do so, and not till last yeardid the French Air Force achieve once again something of its pre- war stature, both in material and expectations. It must be remembered that whereas we in this country considernew types as replacements for older ones, the French must look to many new aircraft as the wherewithal for the first formation ofcertain types of unit. This is particularly true of bombers. There are at die moment no such machines in die French Air Force, andthe Vautour will probably be the bomber to be ordered. Some equipment, even recently, has had to be imported from abroad,or supplied under M.D.A.P., particular examples being Vampires, Meteor N.F. 11s and F-84Gs, F-84Fs and T-33s.The build-up of design and production has been steady, and the Air Force can now boast a complete range of indigenoustrainers and transports. Those very-high-performance fighters now in the design stage and flying as prototypes bid fair to equal,if not to out-perform, anything at present in a similar stage of development abroad. In the possibly critical field of the lightfighter France has also applied the full measure of her genius for design, and may well gain an unassailable lead in this category ofaircraft. Wisely directed, this potential can give to France an Air Force unequalled in quality and power in Europe. The present Armee de I'Air, then, is a force consisting only oftactical, fighter, transport and training units. It is divided into a series of major commands (Grands Commandements) whose dutiesare at the moment two-fold—tactical (Forces Aeriennes Tactiques) or general operations consisting of transport, fighter defence,artillery or maintenance and engineering. Operating with the air forces engaged in a theatre of operations, and in conjunction withfighter and reconnaissance units, a Tactical Corps (Corps Tac- tique) must attempt to gain air superiority and support troops onthe ground, both by offensive operations and by reconnaissance. Transport Command (Groupement des Moyens Militaires deTransport Aerien) maintains, in peace and war, a network of regular services within the French Union for the benefit of thenational defence organization and the Air Force. Special trans- port operations may also be called for. The G.M.M.T.A. is alsoresponsible for the training of airborne troops and, during opera- tions, for air supply and paratroop dropping.Defence Command (Defense Aerienne du Territoire) has the task of gaining and keeping air superiority over national territoryby either destroying or neutralizing opposition through fully co- ordinated use of the fighter and anti-aircraft arm. Defence Command is divided into sub-commands, the first of 625 Marcel Dassault Ouragan (French A.F.). Republic F-84 Thunderjet (French A.F.). SI. Aquilon (D.H. Sea Venom licence) of the French Navy. Marcel Dassault Mystere IV prototype (French A.F.). Nord 1402 Gerfaut prototype (French A.F.). S.O. 9000 Trident prototype (French A.F.). SI.5000 Baroudeur prototype (French A.F.).
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