1. ECTT-30 , all-weather interceptor wing, was established as such with the acquisition of 32 Meteors N.F.11 in 1953. {later six N.F.14 were also purchased, these were used for trials at CEV}.

2. The wing was based in Tours AFB, Loire valley.

3. The wing operated 3 squadrons: 1/30 "Loire", 2/30 "Camargue" and the 3/30, famous WWII, "Lorraine". Sqn. 2/30 was disbanded in 1957, towards the entrance of the Vautours.

4. Starting May 1957 the wing received the Vautour IIN (and several Vautour A) that were first assigned to 3/30 squadron. Most of the Meteors N.F.11 remained as crew-trainers.

5. "Lorraine" became the squadron for conversion to Vautour, in which the French and the Israeli crews trained together.



[Vautour No. 313 30-GI of the "Lorraine" sqnuadron ]

6. The Vautours were tested and studied, and with cooperation with the Israeli crews implemented several changes and fittings to overcome flight difficulties, as well as armament and equipment malfunctions.

7. After the hand over of 7 IIN aircraft to Israel, the wing's strength was set to some 45 aircraft in both squadrons. Besides those two the wing controlled a training sqn. (EETT 12/30), equipped with the MD.315R Flamant and the Meteor N.F.11 both for crews conversion and training. This squadron was already active since 1954 and was finally disbanded in 1972.

8. In 1960 a third sqn. EC2/6 "Normandie Niemen" (of interceptor wing no. 2) was converted to Vautours IIN. The 2/6 sqn. conversion took place at Tours.

9. The 30th wing was reorganized in 1961-2 :

e) In 1962 the wing had its 3 squadrons in three different bases: HQ & 3/30 at Reims; 2/30 at Orange; 1/30 at Creil.

10. In April 1965 sqn. 1/30 "Loire" was disbanded, and one year later sqn. 2/30 moved from Orange to Reims.

11. Several Vautours IIN reinforced the 92nd wing (Vautours IIB) in 1970, six of which were still in service in 1978.

12. The wing began to receive the "Mirage" F.1 end of 1973, and the Vautours were withdrawn from operational service in 1974. Sqn. 2/30 was re-equipped with the F.1C (from end of 1973) and sqn. 3/30 received the F.1B (during 1974).

The Meteor N.F.11 was the main night/all-weather fighter during 1953-1957. As the Vautours IIN entered service it became an advanced/proficiency crew trainer, used till 1972.	The versatile utility aircraft, M.D. 315 Flamant, served in the 30th wing between 1954 and 1972, as crew-trainer and navigation/communications trainer.

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this page was revised: May 2002