Indochina: 1st Artillery Observation Aviation Group

[No one]

Dear Gentlemen,

 

The insignia of the 1st  Artillery Observation Aviation Group (1er Groupe d'Aviation d'Observation d'Artillerie - 1er G.A.O.A.) 1947~1950, non homologué:

 

 

Les groupes aériens d’observation d’artillerie en Indochine

 

Google translation:

 

"Brief history of the GAOA

 

1 During the summer of 1945, the General Staff decided that the artillery of the Indochina Expeditionary Force would be equipped with a light aviation formed by the organic elements of the9th Colonial Infantry Division, with five sections of Piper L-4, and by two British-type Artillery Observation Air Groups (GAOA) with twelve observation aircraft each. A ministerial decision of August 1945 prescribed that pilots and mechanics must belong exclusively to the Air Force. The 1stGAOA 1, intended to operate in Tonkin, landed in February 1946. It is equipped with Morane 500, more commonly known as "Locust". The 2ndGAOA 2 arrived in Indochina in March 1946. Stationed in Cochinchina, he did an excellent job, but, as in Tonkin, his aircraft, which had arrived in the same state of disrepair, were quickly out of order. In May 1947, the 3rdGAOA was created, it was stationed in Haiphong. But in August 1947, artillery aviation, after an intense but precarious activity, practically ceased to exist.

 

2 It was not until 1948 that the three GAOAs were reorganized: the 1stin Annam, the 2ndin Cochinchina and the3rd in Tonkin. Their Morane fleet was gradually increased to 18 and then 20 aircraft. In 1950, the Commander-in-Chief in Indochina decided that the GAOA, while remaining artillery units, would be placed at the disposal of the Air Force Command in the Far East. The three GAOAs changed their nameson 1 October, to form the 21st, 22nd and23rd GAOA 3. In January 1952, the growing needs of the Morane in Tonkin led to the transfer of the21st GAOA to this territory. The allocations of the21st GAOA (Cat Bi) and23rd GAOA (Gia Lam) are increased to 24 aircraft, the22nd GAOA (Tan Son Nhut), meanwhile, has 14 Morane. The effects of the decree of 3 March 1952, officially creating the light artillery observation aviation (ALOA), were felt in February 1953 with the arrival in Saigon of the first army pilots, followed by a contingent of mechanics. From then on, the succession will continue in accordance with the planned plan. On1 August 1953, the artillery observation air detachment became the 24th GAOA and received 14 aircraft. The GAOAs are all attached for use to the tactical air groups (GATAC) and operated as part of air support. On1 January 1954, the GAOA were fully taken into account by the land forces. The Morane's replacement did not begin until March, with the arrival of American-origin aircraft, the Cessna L-19A. The22nd GAOA was equipped with them during the month of May and the23rd GAOA in July. The ceasefire came into force on 11 August 1954, and the formations regrouped in the south, then were repatriated to mainland France or North Africa."

 

"What is a GAOA

 

10 An artillery observation air group is a mixed unit comprising Air Force personnel: pilots, mechanics, assistant mechanics, i.e. aviation technicians; and the personnel of the artillery arm: observers; as well as the general services of the unit. An artillery observation air group is made up of three platoons of four aircraft. It comprised: 19 officers, 50 non-commissioned officers and 88 enlisted men, i.e. 167 people. The staff needs a fairly long adaptation: "To become operational, a pilot needed a month's training, a mechanic two to three months. For an observing officer, 60 to 80 hours of operational flight time was required for it to be safe and efficient. 8 The flying equipment was supplied and maintained by the Air Force. A complete group must be able to provide three detachments with the possibility of operating alone for a certain period of time with the necessary means of maintenance, liaison, communications and general services."

 

Historique 1e GAOA Indochine Alat - ALAT.FR

 

Yours sincerely,

No one

Edited November 8 by No one