The Aviation Magazine Volume 7 issue 4 #43 June Special Edition | Page 38
Over the course of the of WWII, the Groupe 2/5 flew in the North African, Italian, French and German
theatres with several types of fighter aircraft.
In April 1944, the P‐47D became the unit’s aircraft which it flew until 1949. In January 1945, the Group 2/5
returned to the Luxeuil Air Base, the field from which the first La Fayette Escadrille had flown in 1916. Dur‐
ing WWII, Escadrille La Fayette flew 8,531 sorties, 1,452 missions and was credited with 103 victories.
In July 1947, the Groupe 2/5 was reorganized as the Groupe de Chasse 2/4 La Fayette. In the following
years, the unit saw combat action in Indochina flying Spitfire Mk IX's former RAF aircraft. GC 2/4 were de‐
ployed in Upper Tonkin in September 1947 for Operation “Leah” against the Viet Minh. They participated in
the "Terminus" operation in May 30, 1948, their Interventions continue north and south: Hanoi, Lang Son,
Phong Nude, Red River, Nha Trang, Saigon, etc. The Spitfires didn’t work well for the French Forces in the
moist and hot climate conditions in Indochina and were replaced by American made aircraft such as the
Kingcobra, Hellcat and Bearcat.
In 1949 Escadron La Fayette entered the jet age with the de Havilland
DH100 “Vampire” in 1949 then in 1953 with the French‐built Ouragan.
From 1954 they began flying the Republic F‐84F “Thunderstreak” which
they flew until 1966 when it was replaced by the Dassault‐Breguet
“Mirage IIIE”.