23S

Insignia of the 23S squadron.

 1/ HISTORY

It was the oldest St-Mandrier-based squadron. Created on July 1st 1954 at Saint-Mandrier. First it was equipped with Piasecki HUP-2s. Then, in 1956 it was armed with Alouette IIs and in 1962 with Alouette IIIs. In June 1979, the 23S was equipped with the all-weather version of the Alouette SA-319B. On February 9th 1990, the squadron received two AS-365F Dauphins (No 6313 and 6318) in order to provide rescue missions aboard carriers by night. The third one, was delivered on June 12th 1991. In November 1995, an AS-365SP was commissioned. On December 31th 1997, the last Alouette IIs were scrapped.............after forty-three years of service. On October 1st 1999, the 23S and 33F squadrons have been amalgamated into 35F.

 

2/ MISSIONS

The 23S provided support, rescue, supply missions for Mediterranean zone. Some Alouette IIIs and AS-365F Dauphin were embarked aboard the CV Foch (R 99) and CV Clemenceau (R 98) as "Pedro". Furthermore, one Alouette III was detached aboard AOR Somme (A 631) and FF Vendémiaire (F 734) in 1999.

 

3/ COMMANDING OFFICERS

Rank/ Name

From

Rank/ Name

From

LV Lassere

July 1st 1954

LV Haudiquet

August 31th 1977

LV Loyer

July 2nd 1956

LV Alamercery

June 21th 1979

LV Jaulent

March 14th 1957

LV(S) Lesné

May 21th 1981

LV Fabre

March 14th 1959

LV(S) Le Bivic

June 17th 1983

LV Rouge

March 14th 1961

CC(R) Jezequel

March 22th 1985

LV Liard

December 15th 1962

CC(R) Faven

April 3rd 1987

LV Suquet

July 10th 1964

CC Garraud

September 9th 1988

LV Galloy

February 26th 1966

CC Lauer

June 25th 1990

LV Tourel

December 7th 1967

CC Lugan

July 2nd 1992

LV Domenjod

December 12th 1968

CC Derrien

July 6th 1994

LV Deissard

June 4th 1971

CC Chaignon

February 3rd 1996

O1E Couthures

November 8th 1972

CC Jeanteur

June 23th 1997

O1E Sacksteder

June 7th 1974

CC Babin-Chevaye

June 29th 1999

LV Farlet

December 11th 1975

-

-

 

 4/ SOME DETACHMENTS

Ship(s) (CV-CVS-CVL-CVE)

Type(s) of helicopter(s)

Year(s)

CVE Dixmude

CVL Lafayette (R 95)

CV Arromanches (R 95)

CVL Bois-Belleau (R 96)

HUP-2

1954

CV Arromanches (R 95)

CVL Lafayette (R 95)

CV Clemenceau (R 98)

HUP-2 / Alouette II

1960

CV Arromanches (R 95)

CVS Jeanne d'Arc (R 97)

CV Clemenceau (R 98)

CV Foch (R 99)

HUP-2 / Alouette II / Alouette III

1963

 

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