Escadron de Chasse 1/4 Gascogne

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Escadron de Chasse 1/4 Gascogne
Mirage IV pic2 at Kleine Brogel Air Base, Belgium 2005.JPG
ActiveApril 1, 1937 present
CountryFrance
Branch French Air and Space Force
TypeNuclear strike
Role Force de dissuasion (Nuclear deterrence)
Part of Strategic Air Forces
4th Escadre de Chasse
Garrison/HQBA 113 Saint-Dizier – Robinson Air Base
Aircraft flown
Fighter Dassault Rafale

Escadron de Chasse 1/4 Gascogne is a squadron of the French Air and Space Force. It houses the Dassault Rafale and was the second unit of the French Air and Space Force to receive the aircraft.

Contents

Mirage IV A, Escadron de Bombardement EB 1/91 "Gascogne", 1986 Mirage IV A, Escadron de bombardement EB 1-91 "Gascogne" (serial 31-BD), Base aerienne 118 Mont-de-Marsan, 1986.jpg
Mirage IV A, Escadron de Bombardement EB 1/91 "Gascogne", 1986
Mirage IV P, Escadron de Bombardement 1/91 Gascogne Mirage IVP - CI.jpg
Mirage IV P, Escadron de Bombardement 1/91 Gascogne

History

3rd Reconstitution and nuclear era

Mirage IV of Escadron de Bombardement 1/91 Gascogne above an oil field in flames, 1991 following the Gulf War Mirage IV Koweit 1991.jpg
Mirage IV of Escadron de Bombardement 1/91 Gascogne above an oil field in flames, 1991 following the Gulf War

On May 10, 1966, a Mirage IVA n°36 of the squadron conducted the first transatlantic flight with a combat aircraft at French reaction under the command of Commandant Dubroca and Captain Caubert in 7 hours and 40 minutes, in which three air supply aircraft reached Boston. [1]

End of the Mirage IV

On June 23, 2005, Mirage IV P n°59 conducted the last flight of Mirage IV of the squadron and the French Air Force, at the command of a commandant, operations chief of Gascogne. This aircraft was at Creil Airbase (BA110) (closed in 2016) but not on public display. [2]

The Escadron de chasse 1/91 Gascogne was credited with dropping 120 bombs and conducted 368 missions in Libya during Opération Harmattan. [3]

Rafale

Rafale B (serial 322) bearing the insignia of the 1/91 Gascogne Rafale B322 113-HU 1-91 Gascogne.jpg
Rafale B (serial 322) bearing the insignia of the 1/91 Gascogne
Rafale B (serial 322) of the 1/91 Gascogne bearing the insignia of SPA 97 Rafale B322 113-HU 1-91 Gascogne-2.jpg
Rafale B (serial 322) of the 1/91 Gascogne bearing the insignia of SPA 97

The squadron was reformed on March 31, 2009, and equipped with Rafale, the unit integrated the Strategic Air Forces. From August 31, 2015, to September 18, 2015, 15 Rafale of the Escadron de chasse 1/7 Provence, Escadron de Chasse 2/30 Normandie-Niemen, and the 1/91 Gascogne were deployed to conduct an air-to-air campaign. [4]

Unit awards

Operation Harmattan, then Unified Protector (2011)

Designations

Equipment

See also

Notes

  1. www.defense.gouv.fr http://www.defense.gouv.fr/air/fil-d-actualite/10-mai-1966-premiere-traversee-transatlantique-d-un-avion-de-combat-a-reaction-francais . Retrieved September 25, 2022.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. "Il y a dix ans : Dernier vol du Mirage IV". Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  3. http://lemamouth.blogspot.fr/2011/11/des-tableaux-de-chasse-eloquents.html Des tableaux de chasse éloquents, Le Mamouth
  4. "Rafale en campagne sur l'île de Beauté". Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  5. "Attribution de Croix de la valeur militaire". Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2018.

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References