How many DC-4s were operated by the French Navy, and when were they finally retired? I am having trouble finding any English-language information on this topic. I am aware of the 1982 New Caledonia crash, but that's literally all the information I have on the subject.
Thank you in advance for any tips or guidance for my research.
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- flyingturtle
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Re: French Navy and the DC-4
They had 28 DC-3D from 1946 to 1984, one was destroyed in 1960. I couldn't find anything about DC-4s.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_mar ... que_navale
The English article mentions only two types of Douglas aircraft:
Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless
Douglas C-47D Dakota
David
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_mar ... que_navale
The English article mentions only two types of Douglas aircraft:
Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless
Douglas C-47D Dakota
David
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- FrenchNavyATC
- Posts: 5
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Re: French Navy and the DC-4
Here are a few informations about the DC4 (C54 in the military) used by the French Navy:
-Only 3 aircraft of this type have flown in the "Aéronavale"
-The first one, number 10358, was bought in Norway and has been delivered to the Escadrille 31S (Squadron) on august 1963. When the 31S has been dissolved on the 1st of april 1964, it was assigned to the Escadrille 11S in Dugny Naval Air Station. It was withdrawn from service on july 1973.
-The second one, number 49148, was given by the French Air Force in 1963.It was assigned in New-Caledonia, Escadrille 9S, where it dramaticaly ended its career in the crash on Mount Kokoreta, that killed all of the 7 crew members on board, on 21st of january 1982.
-The third one has been bought in Germany, number 10454, probably in 1964. It's said that it has been sold in 1969, but we can also read that it was used by the French Navy in the late 70s in New-Caledonia.
-Only 3 aircraft of this type have flown in the "Aéronavale"
-The first one, number 10358, was bought in Norway and has been delivered to the Escadrille 31S (Squadron) on august 1963. When the 31S has been dissolved on the 1st of april 1964, it was assigned to the Escadrille 11S in Dugny Naval Air Station. It was withdrawn from service on july 1973.
-The second one, number 49148, was given by the French Air Force in 1963.It was assigned in New-Caledonia, Escadrille 9S, where it dramaticaly ended its career in the crash on Mount Kokoreta, that killed all of the 7 crew members on board, on 21st of january 1982.
-The third one has been bought in Germany, number 10454, probably in 1964. It's said that it has been sold in 1969, but we can also read that it was used by the French Navy in the late 70s in New-Caledonia.
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- SheikhDjibouti
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Re: French Navy and the DC-4
FrenchNavyATC wrote:Only 3 aircraft of this type have flown in the "Aéronavale"
-The first one, number 10358, was bought in Norway and has been delivered to the Escadrille 31S (Squadron) on august 1963. When the 31S has been dissolved on the 1st of april 1964, it was assigned to the Escadrille 11S in Dugny Naval Air Station. It was withdrawn from service on july 1973.
10358 at SOU (Southampton/Eastleigh) in 1973
I absolutely must give credit to Air-Britain for this image.....
From here it supposedly went to Air Fret as F-BXOQ, but probably ntu and wfu/used for spares at FNI (Nimes, France) 1975
FrenchNavyATC wrote:-The third one has been bought in Germany, number 10454, probably in 1964. It's said that it has been sold in 1969, but we can also read that it was used by the French Navy in the late 70s in New-Caledonia.
10454 seen here in 1960 as D-ABEF
Again, full credit to Air-Britain.
I cannot find any evidence of it's use after 1969 when it was allegedly scrapped
This site details Aeronavale aircraft and is written in both French and English.
Here are the three C-54s as listed by them.
http://ffaa.net/aircraft/skymaster/fleet.htm
Regarding the ill-fated "49148"; The only picture I can find shows it as "9148", all the way back in 1965.
Re: French Navy and the DC-4
Thank you very much for the information!