The Super Mystère Aircraft Collection
38

As introduction to some Mystere IVs to see in Cazaux second part, follow here the four emblems of constituting flights of the 8th Wing with two squadrons. The 8th thoug classed as a Fightering is a Transformation Wing of which primary task is to give weapons training and integrate pilots to the Armée de l'Air squadron life before they reach operational units with modern combat aircraft, which has the particularity to have its first squadron owning traditions of two former Marine fighter flights. First here, theSquadron 1/8 " Saintonge " black and yellow bouncing lion of escadrille 6C-1 created in 1927 with Nieuport-delage NiD 62 fighters. . Under various Squadron designation the lions were arbored by types such as Dewoitine 500 and 510 the first low wing fighters in France, Bloch 152, Dewoitine 520, Spitfire Vb and next Grumman Bearcat in Indochina the latter ending operational life with the famous Dien Bien Phu Battle. Since re-activation during 1954 the lion flew on Mistral (licence built Vampire) and Dassault Mystère IVA which was replaced in the early eighties by the Dassault-Dornier Alpha-Jet.