Callsign = Damos

1/ HISTORY

Heir of the AR2 squadron, it became R10 in 1922, 7R1 in 1925, 7S1 in 1928 and AB2 in 1938. The latter was involved in the Battle of France between May and June 1940 with Loire-Nieuport 401/ 411s. The AB2 became 2AB after the ceasefire and 6B. Re-equipped with Glenn-Martin 167s, it merged with the 7B in order to create the 4F squadron in December 1940. In June 1941, it lost seven crews during war against British forces. Re-equipped with LeO-451s, the unit kept this aircraft until its dismantling in 1943. In July 1944, the squadron was reborn as 4FB and was equipped with SBD-5 Dauntlesses. It took part in the end of the World War II over the Atlantic ocean. Two crews were lost and the squadron was decorated with the War Cross. After WWII, the unit was engaged in the Indochina War, operating from the CVE Dixmude and the CV Arromanches. Re-equipped with TBM Avengers in 1950, the 4F took part in the Suez Canal War in 1956. In February 1960, the unit based at NAS Hyères received its first Br-1050 Alizés. Then, it moved in 1964 to NAS Lann-Bihoué in Brittany. In June 1964, two Alizés were engaged in Algeria War. From October 1974 to March 1975, five planes of the unit operating from the CV Clemenceau took part in Djibouti crisis (SAPHIR I). A new mission (SAPHIR II) over the area, was carried out with several planes from the CV Clemenceau between June 6th and December 10th 1977. In 1982, several aircraft were sent to Lebanon with the CV Foch (OLIFANT 2 and 4). From November 30th 1983 to January 8th 1984, it was OLIFANT 13 and 18. The last mission over Lebanon was OLIFANT 20, and was carried out by the CV Clemenceau from January 23th to May 4th 1984. In 1987 and 1988, the 4F took part in Operation "Prométhée", off Iran and Irak (Aden Gulf). In 1991, several Alizés were involved in Operation "Salamandre" during Gulf War. The unit also flew over Yugoslavia (Operation "Balbuzard") between 1993 and 1996. The squadron was disbanded in summer 1997. Finally, it was reactivated on March 10th 2000, equipped with two E-2C Hawkeye II group IIs.

Alizé's vertical stabilizater. (JM Guhl)

2/ MISSIONS

The mission of the 4F consists in intercepting enemy planes around the Carrier Group (Charles De Gaulle class CVNs, Horizon FFGs, BIP class LHDs....). The other role of the unit is guiding and radar covering strike aircraft belonging to allied forces (European Naval Group).

E-2C Hawkeye II Group II belonging to the 4F squadron. (Damian Allard)