RAFALE SPECIAL PAINT FOR 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF NORMANDIE-NIEMEN
Photo: Régiment de Chasse 2/30 Normandie Niémen via Facebook
The French Air & Space Force has released some beautiful photos of the Rafale C (30-GD) in the stunning new paint job to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Normandie-Niemen.
Escadron de Chasse 2/30 Normandie-Niemen or (Fighter Squadron 2/30 Normandie-Niemen) is a French Air and Space Force (Armée de l'air et de l'espace) Fighter Squadron which flies the Dassault Rafale C from BA 118 Mont-de-Marsan Air Base.
During its dormant phase in 2009, the Escadron was equipped with Dassault Mirage F1CT fighters and stationed at BA 132 Colmar-Meyenheim Air Base.
The Normandie-Niemen Fighter Regiment has adopted different formations and designations since 1942. Originally formed as Groupe de Chasse Normandie 3 in 1942, then redesignated as a regiment (with and without the "Niemen" designation in the same year) in 1944, then given four different squadron numbers (1953, 1962, 1993, and 1995), and later two regiment designations (2008 and 2011).
The unit served on the Eastern Front of the European Theatre of World War II with the 1st Air Army. The regiment is notable for being one of only three units from Western Allied countries to see combat on the Eastern Front during World War II, and Normandie-Niemen was the only Western Allied unit that fought with the Soviet forces until the end of the war in Europe.
Initially, the Groupe de Chasse 3 (GC 3) (3rd Fighter Group) in the Free French Air Force comprised a group of French fighter pilots sent to aid Soviet forces on the Eastern Front at the suggestion of Charles de Gaulle, leader of the Free French Forces, who felt it important that French servicemen serve on all fronts in the war. The groupe, first commanded by Jean Tulasne, fought in three campaigns on behalf of the Soviet Union between 22 March 1943, and 9 May 1945, during which time it destroyed 273 enemy aircraft and received numerous orders, citations and decorations from both the Free French and Soviet governments, including the French Légion d'Honneur and the Soviet Order of the Red Banner. Joseph Stalin awarded the unit the name Niemen for its participation in the Battle of the Niemen River.
In 2005 the unit, known as Escadron de chasse 1/30 Normandie-Niemen, flew Dassault Mirage F1CT aircraft. The squadron was briefly disbanded in June 2010 and re-activated in 2011 as a Dassault Rafale unit, with formal reactivation on 25 June 2012 as Escadron de Chasse 2/30 Normandie-Niemen at BA 118 Mont-de-Marsan Air Base.
Since 3 September 2015, the Normandie-Niemen was again attached to the 30e Escadre de Chasse reformed the same day on BA 118 Mont-de-Marsan Air Base.
