Vought F-8 Crusader and Dassault Étendard IVP, Landivisiau Air Base 2003.

The Vought F-8 Crusader and Dassault Étendard IV, Legendary jets of the French Navy and Landivisiau Air Base, which I was visiting back in June 2003.

The rain was endless, and the mist made the weather seem tropical. Passing through the aircraft maintenance hangers at the rear of the ramp, I emerged onto a road that I have named the Avenue d'Crusader, perhaps the Avenue of Death. Here, you could find the last of these Iconic Vought F-8P fighter jets, formerly F-8E and the remains of another famed jet, the Dassault Étendard IV and IVPM, all belonging to the French Aéronautique Navale. They had seen combat on ships and land worldwide, but their days were numbered; their fate was sealed to be scrapped, and a lucky few would be stored or preserved at various French air bases.

As you entered the fictitious Avenue d"Crusader, the jets were parked to the right and left, sadly all looking neglected.  

The Vought F.8 Crusader was chosen above the Phantom II  in a defence role for the new Foch and the Clemenceau aircraft carriers. With the Phantom too big for these ships, a test evaluation flight was carried out in March 1962. It was performed on the Clemenceau using two F-8s from VF-32 based on the U.S.S. Saratoga. With the test's success, an order was passed for 46 all-weather interceptor aircraft, a mix of 6 two-seater aircraft and the rest single-seaters. It later transpired that the order changed to single-seaters only.

On July 6, 1965, a Crusader made its first airborne refuelling from an Etendard 1VP. They formed Carrier Air Wing 2, with 12F and 14F officially coming into service on March 1, 1966. Both squadrons moved from their home base at Lann-Bihoué to N.A.S. Landivisiau. 

In September 1984, the F-8 Crusaders embarked on the Foch for the first Olifant IV mission in Lebanon. September 1983, just a year after the first Olifant mission, witnessed them back for Olifant XVII, and then in January 1984, they participated in Olifant XX all in Lebanon. By October of 1984, 12. F  were embarked on the Clemenceau heading to Libya and Operation Mirmillion. 

By 1993, there was trouble in the former Yugoslavia, and both the Foch and Clemenceau deployed to the Adriatic Sea for the Balbuzard missions. The missions ceased in June of 1999 with Operation Trident over Kosovo.

They began their update program in 1993, but their fate was set: They would all be withdrawn from service by the end of December 1999.

In October 1999, three aircraft, Numbers 11, 34, and above 39, participated in their last exercise. They operated from the Foch during exercise PEAN 99 alongside Sea Harriers and AV-8s. 

By their demise, it was estimated that for every hour of flight, they had to undergo sixty-seven hours of maintenance, including major maintenance at the Cuers Military aircraft facility in the French region of Var.

After 140,000 flight hours, 25,000 catapults, and landings, the last F-8s or what was left, retired to the 

 Avenue d'Crusader at N.A.S. Landivisiau in Brittany. 

The Etendard IV was designed post-Korean War, and only the French Aéronautique Navale was interested in procuring the aircraft.

 

On May 21 1958, the first of five pre-serial aircraft took to the skies. It quickly became a fine-working assault fighter aircraft with a secondary role as an interceptor and aerial combat. With its proven performance and external payload capability. The French Aéronautique Navale ordered 90 jets from Dassault. The order was placed for 69 Étendard IV M and 21 Étendard IV P (photo-reconnaissance fitted with five cameras in its sleek nose cone). They, too, were to be deployed on the new Clémenceau class carriers and the Foch. The first production aircraft flew on July 16, 1961, at Mérignac-Bordeaux.

The Étendard IV was Dassault's first naval project, and what an achievement. It served in many campaigns, including most of the ones mentioned for the F.8s. During my visit, the only airframes left were the Étendards IVPMs. These have a long and complete record.

118 Étendard IVPM. 

Painted in unique markings to mark the July 2000 deactivation of Flotilla 16. F at Landivisiau.

115 Étendard IVPM 16.F FN.

As I say, they were in many combat situations. For aircraft 115, April 15, 1994, was a bad day as it was hit by a S.A.M. missile while on a photo run over Gorazde during a Balbazard mission over Bosnia. Riddled with shrapnel holes and no elevators, the 16. The commanding officer and pilot returned the damaged aircraft to the Clemenceau carrier with the help of his wingman flying alongside. 

By June 27 2000, Étendard 115 was back flying from the Foch on its last cruise in the Adriatic Sea on photo reconnaissance missions. They took part in fifty-eight missions on that previous cruise across Kosovo, and when this aircraft made its last launch from the Foch on July 27, it witnessed 16. F stand-down at Landivisiau airbase in Brittany. Its mission marks of 18 films were still evident in 2003.

107 Étendard IVPM 16.F FN.

Clearly seen is the side photography ability of these aircraft.

107 Étendard IVPM 16.F FN. 

It carries 21 mission marks from 16 Flottills' final cruise on the Foch.

109 Étendard IVPM 16.F FN.

Carries 19 mission marks.

 

153 and 163 Étendards IVPM 16.F FN.

153 Étendard close-up of its markings.

101 Étendard and, sadly, the most neglected withdrawn-from-use airframe present in 2003.

Here are some of the above aircraft's better moments.

39 F-8P Crusader 12.F  FN (Aéronautique Navale). 

Cutting short on finals for the 1999 Fairford International Air Tattoo, where three F-8Ps appeared.

 34 F-8P Crusader 12. F F.N.

Following very fast behind 39 above.

A quick update on Monday the 2nd of December 2024. It appears that the Houston (TX) based Vietnam War Museum has acquired F-8P serial 34 seen above. It was one of the F-8E's that became a F-8P  (Prolongé/Prolonged) in 1993. Since being withdrawn from active service it has been stored in a hanger at the Lons le Saulnier aérodrome Southeast of Dijon.

The Vietnam War Museum have registered it as N3512Z on the US register and hope to raise the monies needed to ship it and initial restoration.

What a sight that would make to see it back in the air!

Watch this space.

7 F-8P Crusader 12. F F.N.

Seen preparing to depart I.A.T. on departure day, July 27 1999.

39 F-8P Crusader 12. F F.N.

39 F-8P, having had technical problems during the Sunday Tattoo, was left stranded near the threshold to runway 09. Monday morning saw the arrival of 80/A.W., a Nord 262 from ETE00.041 based at Villacoublay. It had picked up a ground crew from N.A.S. Landivisiau to necessitate the repairs on the stranded Crusader.

40 Vought F-8E Crusader F.12 F.N.

It participated in the flying display at R.A.F. Greenham Common along with F-8E 32 during the 1981 I.A.T. This was the original colour applied to the French Aéronautique Navale F-8E Crusaders, which is, in fact, very similar to the U.S. Navy F-8 colour scheme. They later transitioned to a dark grey before the last and final blue-grey, as seen above.

 

32 F-8E 12. F F.N.

What a superb-looking jet they were.

118 Étendard IVP 16.F FN. (French Aéronautique Navale).

Seen arriving at R.A.F. Greenham Common for the 1981 I.A.T. (International Air Tattoo).

108 Étendard IVP 16.F FN.

Seen arriving at R.A.F. Greenham Common for the 1983 I.A.T. (International Air Tattoo). 

107 Étendard IVP 16.F  FN.

Departing R.A.F. Fairford following the 1985 International Air Tattoo.

153 Étendard IVP 16.F FN.

Departs on runway 06 from R.A.F. Fairford on departures Monday at the 1989 I.A.T.

Thanks for taking the time to look. Comments and updates are always welcome.

Happy Days.