Flottille 4F

Summary

Flotille 4F (abbreviated to 4F) is a French Aeronavale aircraft squadron based at Base Aéronavale de Lann Bihoué and equipped with three Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye aircraft, these aircraft are operated from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.

Flotille 4F
Active1918-1926
1930-1943
1944-1997
2000-present
Country France
AllegianceFrench navy
BranchFrench Naval Aviation
TypeNaval aviation
RoleAirborne Early Warning
Size90+
Garrison/HQBase Aéronavale Lann Bihoué
Nickname(s)The four (La quatre)
ColorsOrange
EquipmentNorthrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye
EngagementsWorld War II
First Indochina War
Lebanese Civil War
Bosnian War
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Opération Harmattan
DecorationsCroix de Guerre 1939–1945
Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures
Cross for Military Valour
A E-2C Hawkeye in 2004

Post-war history edit

 
A TBM-3E in the 1950s

The squadron was formed in July 1944 to operate the Douglas SBD Dauntless dive-bomber, it converted to the Grumman TBM-3E Avenger in October 1953.[1] In 1959 the squadron re-equipped with the Breguet Alizé carrier-based anti-submarine aircraft, the squadron operated these aircraft until 1997.[1]

Flotille 4F was re-formed on 10 March 2000 to operate three Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye carried-based airborne early warning aircraft.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Jackson 1979, p. 78

Bibliography edit

  • Jackson, Paul A. (1979). French Military Aviation. Leicester, UK: Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0 90459718 0.
  • Morareau, Lucien (February 1990). "Histoire de l'Aéronautique embarquée en France: la 4eme Flotille, à la reconaissance et bombardement (1)" [History of French Carrier Units: The 4th Reconnaissance and Bombardment Squadron, Part 1]. Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French) (243): 14–21. ISSN 0757-4169.
  • Morareau, Lucien (March 1990). "Histoire de l'Aéronautique embarquée en France: la 4eme Flotille, à la reconaissance et bombardement (2)" [History of French Carrier Units: 4th Reconnaissance and Bombardment Squadron, Part 2]. Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French) (244): 42–44. ISSN 0757-4169.
  • Morareau, Lucien (April 1990). "Histoire de l'Aéronautique embarquée en France: la 4eme Flotille, à la reconaissance et bombardement (3)" [History of French Carrier Units: 4th Reconnaissance and Bombardment Squadron, Part 3]. Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French) (245): 21–26. ISSN 0757-4169.
  • Morareau, Lucien (May 1990). "Histoire de l'Aéronautique embarquée en France: la 4eme Flotille, à la reconaissance et bombardement (4)" [History of French Carrier Units: 4th Reconnaissance and Bombardment Squadron, Part 4]. Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French) (246): 36–42. ISSN 0757-4169.
  • Morareau, Lucien (June 1990). "Histoire de l'Aéronautique embarquée en France: la 4eme Flotille, à la reconaissance et bombardement (5)" [History of French Carrier Units: 4th Reconnaissance and Bombardment Squadron, Part 5]. Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French) (247): 26–32. ISSN 0757-4169.
  • Morareau, Lucien (July 1990). "Histoire de l'Aéronautique embarquée en France: la 4eme Flotille, à la reconaissance et bombardement (6)" [History of French Carrier Units: 4th Reconnaissance and Bombardment Squadron, Part 6]. Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French) (248): 12–21. ISSN 0757-4169.