Indochina: 1/9 Limousin Fighter Group

[No one]

Dear Gentlemen,

 

The insignia of the 1/9 Limousin Fighter Group (Groupe de Chasse 1/9 Limousin G.C. 1/9 Limousin), homologué  A 513 in 1952:

 

 

Groupe de chasse 1/9 Limousin — Wikipédia (wikipedia.org)

 

"The GC (fighter group) 1/9 was created in Oran on 1 November 1939. At the time, it was composed of two squadrons, "Vautour" and "Tête de sarigue", and was equipped with Morane-Saulnier MS.406s. He took part in the France campaign where he was briefly engaged, before being disbanded on 22 August 1940 in Bizerte.

On 1 December 1944, the GC 1/9 reappeared in Meknes under the name "Limousin". Equipped with P-39N Airacobra, then P-63 Kingcobra at Reghaia (Algeria), it was disbanded again on 1 March 1946 at Oran.

The GC 1/9 "Limousin" was reconstituted on 15 June 1950 in Oran, to take part in operations in Indochina. It was then equipped with F6F Hellcats, then was the first to receive Grumman F8F Bearcats. During his stay in Saigon, the "Vautour" became "Aigle" and the "Sarigue" became "Fennec". The group carried out more than 1,600 sorties from the war. It was dissolved again in Tourane on 1 November 1952.

The 1/9 "Limousin" fighter group was twice mentioned in the order of the Air Force, and the right to wear the "Theater of External Operations" (T.O.E) fourragère was granted to it in September 1953. Its traditions were later taken up by the 1/9 Limousin fighter squadron."

 

For post Indochina history see: Escadron d'instruction en vol 3/4 Limousin — Wikipédia (wikipedia.org)

 

Yours sincerely,

No one