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Photographer: Jean-Michel Lefebvre ©
Date: 29
June and early days of August 1972
Size: 135
and 6x6 B&W negatives
Subject: 4th
Fighter Wing
Place: Luxeuil-les-Bains
Country: France
Caption:
Dassault Mirage III E 4-AK, C/n 561, of EC 1/4 'Dauphiné', first
of the two squadrons forming 4th Fighter Wing. I think that now,
all of you interested by French Armée de l'Air know that the
Wing organisation is no more in existence, this leading to
substantial changes with units and relocation for a number of
them. Aircraft is fitted with supersonic tanks and a central beam
to carry a nuke or conventional bomb(s) or air to air missile
such as Matra R 530.
EDITORIAL
It is time for
Number 13, generally a good one in France for all optimistic
people, bad for the other... First, because the two coming months
are time for vacations, publication of API starts again from 1st
Monday of September, on the basis of an issue every three Monday
for reasons already explained. Secondly, you were a few to solve
the parking enigma: it was the artwork of the pro labo done with
Hyposulphit used to fix pictures on neg film after processing it.
About this last part about 'Dauphiné' and 'La Fayette', I think
you are happy to see some aircraft moving faster and higher than
parking and taxiways level... Though installed on the tarmac to
take these pictures I fully enlarged them to give a better
translation of aircraft which are not nice and sympathetic
members of the flying family but rather beasts to fire their guns
in anger and to bomb in bringing over ennemy territories the so
called 'nuclear fire', the most terrific expression in the hands
of men who were so able to maintain peace during decades. Gliders
are gliders, nuclear fighter-bombers are warriors...
JMJ Lefebvre
