June 2006 marked the arrival of Polish Air Force Sukhoi Su-22M4 jets at Base Aérienne 112 Reims-Champagne, located approximately 130 kilometres Northeast of Paris, France. They were deployed for approximately three weeks and flew missions with the home-based Reconnaissance-based Dassault Mirage F1CRs from 1/33 Belfort Squadron and 2/33 Savoie. I cannot be certain of the Polish base from which they deployed, as four tactical air squadrons operated the type at the time. They were the 8 ELT (Squadron) from 12 BLOT (Air Base) at Miroslawiec, 40 ELT from 21 BLOT Swidnica Smardzko, and 6 ELT and 7 ELT operating from 33 BLOT at Powidz.
The weather during their last week of deployment was glorious, although taking photographs in these beautiful conditions caused problems with heat haze.
The last week of their deployment coincided with the 2nd of July air show at BA103, Cambrai Base Aérienne, located further north of Reims. A bonus during this final week at Reims was the deployment of Belgian Air Force F-16s and a couple of SIAI 260s transiting from or to BA709 Cognac-Chateauxbernard airbase in the Southwest of France.
All great memories from a super-base in its day, and even more poignant with this year's final withdrawal from service of this great aircraft from the Polish Air Force. They also looked different in their camouflage colours nineteen years ago; they finished their active service in a grey scheme in October 2025.
8309 SU-22M-4 Polish Air Force.
This aircraft flew to the end of the type's operational service with the Polish Air Force in October 2025.
8309 SU-22M-4 Visited the 2023 International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, not in this 2006 camouflage scheme.
8309 awaits clearance to runway 25.
8920 SU-22M-4 Polish Air Force.
Status: It was withdrawn from service in 2014; its fate is unknown.
8920 SU-22M-4 Polish Air Force, cleared to line up for its mission.
3817 SU-22M-4 Polish Air Force, arriving back at Reims.
Status: Withdrawn from use in 2023; again, its fate is unknown.
642 33-NC Mirage F1CR lands after escorting 3817 back to Reims.
640 33-NV Mirage F1CR taking off at BA
8920 SU-22M-4 SU-22M-4 Polish Air Force taxies from runway 07 at Reims Champagne.
8920 SU-22M-4 close up.
606,616, and 662 line up on the last chance.
3817 SU-22M-4 Polish Air Force.
3817 SU-22M-4.
610 33-CI Mirage F1CR 1/33 Belfort 'Red Lion'
Status: 118-CI to an Instructional Airframe at Rochefort St Agnant.
Today, an MQ-9 Drone squadron.
653 33-CV Mirage F1CR 1/33 Belfort 'Petit Prince'
Status: Today, in the civil register, it shows N633AX.
The 'Petit Prince today operates Grob G120A-F aircraft at BA709 Cognac/Châteabernard.
647 33-NF Mirage F1CR.
Status: Another one transferred to an instructional airframe at Base Aérienne 721 Rochefort as 118-CI.
640 33-NV Mirage F1CR.
Status: Stored in the USA.
653 33-CZ Mirage F1CR.
Status: registered with the US Civil register as N645AX.
FA-56 and FB-15 31 Sqn OCU 10 Wing BAF from Kliene Brogel.
ST-12 and ST19 SF-260MB 5 Sqn 1Wing BAF at Beauvechain.
Status: Preserved at the Lyon Corbas Museum, coded 5-OM.
Great Memories.
