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Instructor in 2-FP is watching to
me though working with tele--lens at respectable distance of
aircraft behind the wire-netting of the base. Having just a
Ministry agreement to install at Luxeuil during the coming
afternoon for an official report, I thought that after two or
three other shots it would be a good idea to quit before the
arrival of Dijon Air Base protection men...as so as a very recent
charge occured against me about supposed open intelligence to
benefit of Great Britain !!!
About ECT 2/2 'Côte d'Or', it was in charge, as indicated by the
added T, to transform all French or foreign pilots having to
operate Mirage in a squadron. This OCU disposed also of six
Mirage III C single-seaters to fully complete transformation of
trainees.
'Côte d'Or' Squadron had then 3 escadrilles with traditions: SPA
77 'Mouette' (Seamew), SPA 65 'Chimère' (Dragon) and SPA 94
"La Mort Fauchant" (The Mowing Death), the two first
created in 1915, the last in 1917. Quickly, SPA 65 'Chimère' was
born as N 65 with Nieuport Bébés to fight on the Verdun
battlefield and next over Somme. Went to 13th Combat Group during
1917 after having been fitted with SPAD VIIs. By the Armistice,
SPA 65 totalled 108 official kills. Becoming 5th Escadrille of 2nd
Aviation Fighter Regiment in January 1920, was next 3rd
Escadrille of GC II/2 in 1933. From Tours the unit installed at
Chartres during 1936 and received Morane MS-406 to enter the war
with its sister Escadrille SPA 57. Their common fate with next
picture...
