One of my first Cognac 'Meeting National' was the airshow of 2004, and how fortunate for me to be just an hour down the road, hidden away in this corner of Southwest France, amongst the rows of "Cognac" and "Pineau" vines, just like Base aérienne BA709, Cognac-Châteaubernard itself. So, it was time to venture out, enjoy fabulous aircraft, and catch up with good friends.
The Armée de l'Air always put on a good display of aircraft types at their airshows, and no less at this 2004 Air display.
909 TA-4SU 150 Sqn RSiAF.
Sadly, these and all the RSiAF A-4 Skyhawks have been withdrawn today.
933 TA-4SU 150 Sqn RSiAF.
220/30-QK Mirage F1CT EC01. 030 'Normandie Niémen' special marks.
Status: It was retired to the Châteaudun storage facility before being transferred to active service in Excenevex.
Status: This aircraft was sold to the Brazilian Air Force as 4945.
89/AZ N.262D 00. 065 'GAEL' arrived from Villacoublay. It was withdrawn from use in 2004. And today, it can be seen in the Châteaudun Museum.
Status: This aircraft is in storage.
Status: Wfu.
The 32/315VE TB-30 Epsilon is wearing the grey paint scheme that was relatively new at the time.
Status: This aircraft is today stored at Alenco/Valframbert.
Status: Stored at Antwerp for the Stampe and Vertongen Museum.
Status: Passed to the Chilean Air Force as 735.
Status: Still active!
313/4-CR Mirage 2000N EC03. 004 'Limousin.'
Status: Wfu.
Status: "Active"
Status: This aircraft was stored at Châteaudun on the "German runway".
61/CH Mirage 1VP 01. 091 'Gascogne' up from Mont-de-Marsan.
Status: I believe this aircraft is located at Saint-Dizier Air Base.
The aircraft is active.
In 1942, De Gaulle ordered the"Normandie-Niemen", led by a group of its pilots and mechanics, to the USSR. Upon arrival at the Soviet airfield in Ivanovo, they were offered either La-5s or Yak-1 aircraft; they chose the Yak-1M and departed for the Western Front.
They flew 5300 combat missions in Russia, engaged in 869 dogfights and shot down 273 enemy aircraft. In early 1944, they were involved in the liberation of Lithuania, and later that same year, they upgraded to the Yak-3.
Four pilots received the title of "Hero of the Soviet Union", with a total of 76 pilots being decorated with both Soviet and French decorations. The "Normandie-Niemen" air regiment was awarded the Red Banner and the Alexander Nevsky order for performance in battle.
In 1945, the Soviet government presented the pilots with their Yak-3 aircraft, and on June 20, 1945, they witnessed the incredible sight of 40 Yak-3s landing at Le Bourget airfield in France.
The "Normandie-Niemen" were home.
Today, they operate the Rafale B/C from their base at Mont-de-Marsan.
A Yak-3 can be seen in the museum at Le Bourget.
What a story!
What a story!
Happy days!
