THE VAUTOUR PAGES

THE FRENCH AIR POWER 1960

I find this survey relevant to the subject of this site since the IAF and the French Air Arms had used almost identical types of fighters and some other aircraft during the same period (i.e between the late 50's - and the mid. 60's). { Z.K.}

Based on: W. Green, "The Observer's World Aircraft Directory" , 1961,
revised, edited, and adding more info - by the author.


French military aviation consisted of the Air Force ( Armee de L'air), The Naval Air Arm ( Aeronautique Navale, "Aeronavale" in short), and the Army Aviation ( Aviation Legere de L'Armee de Terre).

Armee de L'Air roundel The Armee de L'air

1960 budget reduced the strength of the Armee de L'air to 35 squadrons and 660 a/c (as compared to the original plan for 60 first-line sqn.s decided in the mid 50's).

The Air Force was organized as follows:

1. The Bombers Command ( Commandement de L'aviation de Bombardement) that controlled:
a ) 2 Air Groups ( Groupe de Bombardement) No. I/91 and No. II/91, equipped with the prop-engined Douglas A-26B Invader.
b ) Wing ( Escadre) No. 92, with 2 squadrons ( Escadrons ) of Vautour IIB.

2. The Intercept Layout (Intercept Wings: Escadres de Chasse)
A total of 15 Fighters' Wings, each with an establishment of 2-3 squadrons, 25 fighters in a squadron (Escadron). Each squadron was regrouped 2-3 Escadrilles, depending on role.
This layout was the backbone of the French air-defence, and was divided between the Defense Aerienne (Air Defence) and the Commandement Aerienne Tactique (Tactical Air Command, or C.A.Tac).

a) The Air Defence force covered the skies of France and the North African's territories and controlled the folowing combat wings:-

  • 5th Escadre, Mystere-4A
  • 6th Escadre, Mistral 535
  • 7th Escadre, Mistral 535
  • 8th Escadre, Mystere-4A
  • 10th Escadre, Super Mystere B-2
  • 12th Escadre, Super Mystere B-2
  • 30th Escadre, Vautour IIN
  • the A.A Regiments under command.

b) The Tactical Air Command controlled fighting wings based in eastern France and in Germany, under the 4th A.T.A.F of N.A.T.O.
    This Command included:-
  • 1st Escadre, F-84F Thunderstreak
  • 2nd Escadre, Mystere-4A
  • 3rd Escadre, F-100D Super Sabre
  • 4th Escadre, F-84F Thunderstreak
  • 9th Escadre, F-84F Thunderstreak
  • 11th Escadre, F-100D Super Sabre
  • 13th Escadre, F-86K Sabre
  • 33th Escadre, RF-84F Thunderflash

3. A Close-Support Wing (Escadre) No, 20, equipped with the AD-4 Skyraider and based in Algeria.

4. The Transport Command (Groupement des Moyens Militaires de Transport Aerien), with:
* 3 wings of Nord Noratlas
* 1 mixed wing with Noratlas plus few Breguet Br.761S & Br. 765 Sahara
* 1 cargo / utility wing with various types ( C-47, UC-45, SO-30P, M.D.312 & M.S.760.)

5. 1 Air Group for Obsevation & Combat Liasion, based in North Africa ( Groupe Saharien de Reconnaissance et d'Appui) with C-47 & MH-1521M Broussard.

6. The Helicopters Wings ( Escadres d'Helicopters), with some 250 helo's of the types H-19 (S.55), H-34 (S.58) & Alouette II.

7. Light Aircraft Command (Commandment de l'Aviation Legere) which consisted :
* Squdrons of Counter-Insurgency, based in Algeria, operating armed light a/c: T-28 Fennec & AT-6 Texan-Harvard ( Escadrills d'Aviation legere d'Appui).
* Squadrons of liasion aircraft, inland ( Escadrills de Liasions Aeriennes) and overseas ( Escadrills d'Outre-Mer), equipped with a variety of types.

8. Flight Schools and conversion units.

9. Test Centers

[ beginning of Armee deL'Air section ]

Developments then in progress or in planning:

For the mid-sixties the following changes were envisaged:
a) The Mirage III (built in 3 variants: C, B, & R) replacing the existing interceptors (Mystere, F-86K and Vautour IIN).
b) Later variants of the Mirage (IIID\E) were to replace most of the fighter-bombers (Mistral, F-84F, Super Sabre).
c) The Mirage-4 - to replace the Vautour IIB as the main bomber.
d) Production of heavy assault helicopters - the Super Frelon, as the Frelon prototypes had been proven succesful. These were to replace the American-built Sikorsky helicopters.
e) Early designs of the "mirage" F.1 and Jaguar were in stage of planning.
f) Development of modern engines was in process: Atar-9 and its variants, for the Mirage III and Mirage-4 , the Atar-8 production for the marine Etendard 4M/4P.

Operational Aircraft in the Armee de L'Air - 1960

Role Type Strength / Remarks
Day Interceptor Super Mystere B.2 2 Wings
-"- -"- Mystere 4A 2 Wings
A.W Interceptor Vautour IIN 1 Wing, ca. 50 a/c
-"- -"- -"- F-86K Sabre 1 Wing
Fighter-Bomber F-100D Super Sabre 2 Wings
-"- -"- F-84F Thunderstreak 2 Wings
-"- -"- Mistral 535 2 Wings
Bomber Vautour IIB 1 Wing, ca. 35 a/c
-"- A-26B Invader IIB 2 Sqns.
Recee. Fighter RF-84F Thunderflash 1 Wing
Close Support AD-4 Skyraider 1 Wing
-"- T-28 Fennec 100+ a/c
-"- & Trainer AT-6 Texan n.a
Transport Breguet 761S 3 a/c
-"- Breguet 765 Sahara 4 a/c
-"- C-54 Skymaster 4 a/c
-"- Noratlas 2501 4 wings, 150+ a/c
-"- & Observation C-47 Dakota 1 ? Sqn.
Utility Beech UC-45 n.a
-"- Centre (Nord) N.C 701/702 n.a
Utility & Communication M.H. 1521M Broussard n.a
Utility & Training M.D. 312/315 Flamant n.a -
Utility & Observation Nord 3400 n.a
Liasion & Observation M.S. 760 Paris ca. 30 a/c
Liasion & Communication Nord 1101 Noralpha n.a
-"- -"- Nord 1002 Pingouin n.a
Search L.749 Constellation few a/c
Jet Trainer C.M.170 Magister 50+ a/c
Jet Trainer Lockheed T-33A n.a
Jet Trainer/Conversion D.H Vampire F.B.5 n.a
Primary Trainer Nord 3202 n.a
Basic Trainer M.S 733 Alycon 100+ a/c
-"- -"- SIPA S.121 n.a
Observation & Trainer Nord N.C. 856A Norvigie n.a
Light Helicopter Bell 47G {H-13} n.a
-" - -"- S.E 3130 Alouette II { 50 ?}
-"- -"- & Trainer S.O 1221 Djinn n.a
Assault & Utility Heli. Sikorsky H-19 {S.55} n.a {ca. 100 ? }
-"- -"- -"- Sikorsky H-34 {S.58} n.a {ca. 100? }

* Personnel strength: approx. 108,000.


[ top of table ]______ [ beginning of Armee de L'Air section ]



Aeronavale roundel The Aeronautique Navale, "Aeronavale"

1. The French Naval Arm (Aeronavale) operated in 1960 3 elderly light attack aircraft carriers: the La Fayette (ex. USA carrier) and the Aromanche (ex. UK carrier). The 3rd { Dixmude } had been converted to naval transport & support duties).

2. The two aircraft carriers total inventory, in 1960, was 2 squadrons of the Aquilon (French-built Sea Venom) all-weather fighter, 4 squadrons of the prop.-engined F4U-6/7 Corsair fighter-bomber and 3 squadrons of the Alize .

3. Two modern aircraft carriers were to enter service: the Clemeceau (in 1961) and the Foch , (in 1963). The former had alredy begun sea trials.

4. Each new carrier could embark some 60 aircraft. Two main types of fighters were to serve on deck of the new carriers: The Etendard 4M/4P (fighter-bomber and photo-recce) and the Alize (Anti-Submarine warfare).

5) Each carrier was planned to operate a Marine Air-Wing comprising 2 squadrons of the Etendard 4M , 1 flight of Etendard 4P , 2 squadrons of Alize , ( 1 squadron of CP-121 Tracker, see below) and 2-3 light helicopters.

6) Each carrier could also move an Air-Mobile Task Force (size of a reinforced infantry battalion), lifted by S.58 / S.55 assault helicopters.

Notes:
(i) a carrier-based fighter squadron had a strength of 12-14 aircraft.
(ii) A naval squadron was named Flotille, identical to term used for a warships' unit.

7) The Aeronavale had already received 75 Alize , which all the planned production quota.

8) An initial batch of 50 Etendard was planned to 1961-1962, to be followed by 50 more during the later years.

9) In 1960 Canada withdrew its aircraft carrier "Magnificent", and sold some surplus aircraft and equipment. Amongst them 17 CP-121 Tracker (for AEW, Air-Ship bombing & Utility) were sold to France for low price. These planes were transferred during 1961-1962.

10) For training and conversion the Zephyr, a navalised variant of the Potez-Air Fouga Magister was used.

12) The land-based forces of the Aeronavale included :
a) Assault helicopters: 3 squadrons with the HSS-1 (S.58).
b) Maritime patrol, four-engined aircraft: 7 sqns: 2 of P2V-6 Neptune, 4 of the newer P2V-7 Neptune and 1 of P5M-2 Marlin.
c) Coastal patrol: Grumman Goose - 1 squadron & Avro Lancaster - 1 squadron.
d) Training aircraft: C.M 175 Zephyr jet and several types of prop.-driven light planes.


And see the French Aircraft Carriers page

Aircraft Of the Aeronavale - 1960
Role Type Strength / Remarks
Fighter Bomber F4U-7 Corsair 4 sqns. , ca. 60 a/c
A.W. Fighter S.E 20/202/203 Aquilon 2 sqns. ca. 30 a/c
Anti-Subnarine B.1050 Alize 3 sqns. 75 a/c received.
Maritime Patrol P2V-6/7 Neptune 6 sqns.
-"- -"- P5M-2 Marlin 1 sqn.
Coastal Patrol Avro Lancaster 1 sqn.
-"- -"- Grumman Goose 1 sqn.
Transport C-47 Dakota n.a
-"- Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon n.a
Utility M.D. 312 Flamant n.a
-"- Centre (Nord) NC-701/702 n.a
Utility & Training S.O 94 Corse II n.a
liasion & Communication MH-1521M Broussard n.a
-"- -"- Nord 1002 Pingouin n.a
Liasion & Observation PBY-5 Catalina n.a
Jet Training C.M. 175 Zephyr 30 a/c
Jet Training/Conversion D.H Vampire F.B.5 n.a
Crew Training S.E. 161 Languedoc few
-"- -"- Short Sunderland few
Training M.S. 733 Alycon n.a
Training North American SNJ-5 (AT-6) n.a
Training Beech SNB-5 (C-45T) --
Light Helicopter Bell 47G (H-13) n.a
-" - -"- S.A. 3130 Alouette II n.a
Assault Helicopter HRS-1 (S.55) n.a
-"- -"- HSS-1 (S.58) 3 sqns.
Rescue Helicopter Vertol HUP-2 n.a


[ to beginning of Aeronavale section ]

[ top of page ]



Army Aviation The Aviation Legere d'Armee de Terre

The Army Aviation ( Aviation Legere d'Armee de Terre, A.L.A.T) was equipped with light aircraft & helicopters for observation, recce., close-support and supply duties.

Light planes: Nord 3400, Cessna L-19, Piper Super Cubs L-18 & L-21, Broussard, Nord NC-856, Nord 3202
Helicopters: Djinn, Bell-47G, Alouette II, H-19 (S.55), Vertol H-21C ("Work Horse").


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This page was last updated: March 12, 2000