Baptized "Patrouille de France" by Jacques Noetinger, commentator of the meeting of Algiers on May 17, 1953, which proclaimed in front of the public "Ladies, Gentlemen, the Patrouille de France greets you! The Grande Dame had just been born. On September 14 of the same year, the General Staff ratified the name.
These four pilots were congratulated by Mr. René Pleven, Minister of National Defense and Armed Forces, after their demonstration at the Le Bourget air show.
The Patrouille de France was successively entrusted to the 2nd Wing of Dijon on the Ouragan, the first French fighter aircraft in 1954, then to the 12th Wing of Cambrai in 1955 and 1956 on the Ouragan and Mystère IVA, to the 4th Wing of Bremgarten (Germany) in 1956 on the Ouragan, to the 2nd Wing of Dijon from 1957 to 1961 on the Mystère IVA and, finally, to the 7th Wing of Nancy in 1962 and 1963, still on the Mystère IVA. In 1964, the Patrouille de France changed mounts once again and adopted the CM.170 Fouga Magister, which remained the flagship of the PAF for more than 15 years before being replaced in the early 1980s by the less mythical Dassault Alphajet.
Through its collection "Edition HERITAGE" Barnstormer wishes to pay tribute to all the men and all the machines which knew to carry high the colors of France... since 1953
Thank you Patrouille de France, Air Force and Space, Official collection.