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Aviation History
1971
1971 - 1043.PDF
928 Left, French Air Force C.I60F Transall. Right, Dornier Do27 of the German Army. Below, group of LTV F-8E (FN) Crusaders of the French Navy aboard aircraft carrier "Foch" FLIGHT International, 24 June 1971 rons of Vautour UN all-weather inter- cepters, backed up by the more elderly Mystere IVA (two squadrons) and Super Mystere B2 (three squadrons). At present the Air Transport Com mand has three squadrons of Transalls (50 aircraft) and four of Noratlas, while there is a mixed squadron with DC-6s and Br.765 Saharas and six squad rons of H-34 and Alouette II helicopters. Re-equipment plans for L'Armee de PAir comprise the ordering of 105 Mirage F.l intercepter fighters to re place the Mysteres and Super Mysteres, and 130 Jaguars for the strike squad rons. For training 130 Alpha-Jets are on order. The French Air Force deploys two small forces overseas; a squadron of A-1D Skyraiders in Malagasy and a further squadron, together with a trans port squadron, in the Territory of the Afars and Issas in Africa. Aeronautique Navale The French Navy maintains two aircraft carriers, Clemenceau and Foch, for which a force of several squadrons is maintained. ASW patrol is carried out by the Breguet Alize, 60 of which were built; strike is the province of the Etendard, 35 IVMs for pure strike and 30 TVPs for reconnaissance, while the pure fighter role is undertaken by the 38 F-8E (FN) Crusaders bought from LTV. The Etendards are to be replaced by 70 Jaguar Ms in the near future. Forty- six Sikorsky SH-34Js serve both in an ASW squadron and in the assault role for the assault carrier Arromanches. Super Frelons, 17 of which are on order, will take over in the ASW role. Five land-based squadrons maintain mari time reconnaissance with 40 Breguet Atlantic and 25 P-2H Neptune patrol aircraft. In addition there is a consider able number of various types of aircraft in the second-line squadrons. Aviation Legere de l'Armee de Terre The aviation side of the French Army is largely operational in helicopters, the largest of which, the SA.330 Puma, is now in service, 130 being on order. Most flying is carried out on Alouette lis and Ills by the six divisions of the Air Arm. Fixed-wing aircraft, Cessna O-l s and Broussards, are operated by one division and by regional military groups. There still remain various mis cellaneous types in use in small num bers. The SA.341 Gazelle helicopter is expected to replace Alouettes in due course. GABON Force Aerienne Gabonaise This ex- French colony was supplied with a few Broussards but it is not known whether these are still used or have been supple mented. GERMANY (EAST) Luftstreitkrafte mid Luftverteidigung This air force is primarily a fighter and fighter-bomber equipped organisation. Eleven squadrons have MiG-21s and seven have MiG-17s and MiG-19s, all basically in the intercepter role. Along side these there are five rocket regi ments which have approximately 200 SA-2 Guideline SAMs. Sukhoi Su-7s are used in the fighter-bomber role and there is a small transport unit with 20 Il-14Ps and An-2s and approximately 30 helicopters, mostly Mi-Is and Mi-4s. The East German Navy operates a few Mi-4s also. GERMANY (WEST) Luftwaffe The backbone of the Luft waffe remains the Lockheed F-104G Starfighter of which upwards of 600 remain in service despite the rapid attrition which continues to receive publicity. Two Geschwader operate them in the air-defence role as part of a total defence force which also includes 24 batteries of Nike-Hercules SAMs and 36 batteries of Hawk SAMs. Five Geschwader operate the F-104G in WORLD'S AIR FORCES the strike role, together with four Geschwader of Fiat G.91R3 light strike fighters (a total of 310 aircraft). In addi- ion two Geschwader of RF-104Gs pro vide a reconnaissance force which is now being re-equipped with the first of 88 McDonnell Douglas RF-4E Phan toms. Eventually the 426 Panavia MRCAs will take over many of the F-104Gs' tasks although the Luftwaffe is also looking around for a less sophis ticated aircraft to supplement it. The three transport Geschwader continue to replace their Noratlas with the 110 Transall C.160s which have been ordered. For communications there are four Boeing 707-320Cs, two DC-6Bs, 21 C-47s, two Jetstars and six Convair Metropolitans. In addition to its train ing force the Luftwaffe operates 113 Bell TJH-1D helicopters (in two Gesch wader), 130 Dornier Do27s, three Do28s, and 125 Skyservants are on order. Marineflieger The German Navy like wise uses the F-104G as its offensive tool, with approximately 100 serving in two Geschwader; these too will even tually be replaced by MRCAs. Twenty Atlantics serve in the third Gesch wader for maritime reconnaissance. This task is also carried out by 23 Sikorsky HSS-lNs. Twenty-two West- land Sea King Mk 41s are on order for SAR duties with the fifth Geschwader to replace its present Sikorsky CH-34s; this unit also operates five Albatross amphibians and some Pembrokes, Magisters and Do27s on communication duties, to be replaced by the 20 Sky- servants on order. Heeresflieger The German Army is largely helicopter-equipped with 231 Dornier-built Bell UH-lDs and 226 Alouette lis. In addition the Dornier Do27 force (80 strong) continues to provide fixed-wing back-up. For heavy lift the Sikorsky CH-53G is coming into service. Assembled by VFW, 80 are on order. The German Army is also re ceiving 18 North American OV-lOZs for target-towing duties. GHANA Ghana Air Force Purely a transport unit, this air force has three squad rons of fixed-wing aircraft and one of helicopters. One squadron flies 11 Otters, a second flies eight Caribous and three Herons while a third operates in the light communications role with 12 Beavers. The helicopter squadron has a mixed fleet of six Whirlwind 3s, three Wessex Mk 53s, one Mi-4 and four Hughes 269s. Training is carried out on seven Aermacchi MB.326Fs, ten Chipmunks, two Beavers and four HT-2s.
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