© Défense – Armée de l'air – EMA Mirage 2000 N Armée de l'air
Posted on 06/08/2018 10:42:00 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
On April 24, 2018, the Luxeuil air base 116 welcomed several Mirage 2000N aircraft from the fighter squadron 2/4 “La Fayette,” as part of their farewell tour.
After 30 years of service in the French Air Force, the strategic bomber, specialized in nuclear deterrence, will cease to serve the French armed forces in 2018. Squadron 2/4 “La Fayette,” which will now use Rafale aircraft, has organized a farewell tour, which stops at each of the bases where the Mirage 2000N aircraft have served.
During this ceremony, Colonel Jean-Patrice Le Saint, commander of air base 116, also inaugurated the base’s museum, which has been christened the “Espace Maurice Happe” in honor of this pioneer of tactical bombing, known as the “red pirate” during World War I. This museum retraces a century of military aviation history, from the creation of the “La Fayette” Squadron in 1916, to the arrival of the Mirage 2000-5 aircraft of the fighter squadron 1/2 “Cigognes” in 2011.
Guests also discovered a room dedicated to the different Air Force professions, particularly aimed at young people.
© Défense – Armée de l'air – EMA Mirage 2000 N Armée de l'air
I just double checked. THis unit takes it’s history back to WWI and the Lafayette Escadrille.
This consisted of mostly American pilots including Raoul Lufberry, their first Ace.
The Lafayette Escadrille was a tribute to Lafayette and his navy that ensured victory of the colonies over the British in the War of Independence. These were volunteer pilots that went to France to fight the Kaiser. When the United States entered the war they were incorporated into the Army Air Corp.
France and the USA have always had a tempestuous relationship but in the end were always allies. If one goes to Normandy the graves of our soldiers are maintained meticulously by the French. The French can piss you off but they are our friends.
ps My neighbors father was part of the Lafayette Escadrille. She was a very old lady and now sadly gone. I asked her if she had pics of her father standing in front of his aircraft. I assured her if he was in the Escradille there was a pic of him in front of his aircraft. Sure enough she found a photo of him leaning against the front of the aircraft.
Wow, that’s beyond cool to have known a relative of a first generation military aviator.
When you get away from Paris, you will find a lot of French who are grateful for the Americans from WW2.
Tell you what, if you drive through Normandy, you'll see a hell of lot more US flags flying than you will driving most places in the US.
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