One day in 2002 I
decided I had to go and see those A-4SU and especially those funny looking
two-seaters Skyhawk of the Republic of Singapore Air Force based in Cazaux in
western southern France. Thanks to my friend Jean-Louis, I had some
"sponsoring" at the French military representation in Brussels NATO HQ
and I was soon to have all credentials and authorisations. Patrick, a work
colleague decided to come with me as he wanted to bring back some Bordeaux wine.
Not the same motivation, but nice company for the 2000 kms to go and see some
A-4SU of 150 sqn of the RSAF!
Departure on
Wednesday 6 November 2002, heavy rain, rain... all through France. After 10
hours on the road, we made a night stop at Arcachon (Hotel Les vagues- nice and not to
expensive if you want to go there for a long weekend). The weather forecast was not very
optimistic!
On Thursday 7
November,
7.30: a look through the window: miracle, no rain, even a little blue sky after
a stormy night and a Gendarmerie helicopter is passing by over the bay.
9.30 Arrival at
Cazaux AB. First sight of a A-4SU taking off. Yippee, they fly today!
We are welcomed
by a very nice looking and kind sergeant of the P.R office of the
base, Mademoiselle Meriau, who shepered us all day long.
Meeting with Major
Boyer, the historian of Base Aérienne 120, a very passionate officer who
runs a little Museum at the entrance of the base. Cazaux is a interesting
airfield with history dating from 1913. The base is named after "Commandant
Marzac" who founded the base back as a weapons training area. Two large
shooting ranges are nearby.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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Nice
profile of TA-4SU n°907 |
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150 sqn
A4-SU single seater n°38 above the highest dune of Europe , the Dune de
Pyla near Arcachon |
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Line up
of armed A4-SU of 150 sqn |
10h30 to 12h:
arrival at the 150 sqn premices. The buildings are brand new and
contrast with the "southern old style "buildings of the Armée de
l'Air. Captain Andy Tong , an air traffic controller will be our
guest during our visit.
After
a cup of coffee, Andy begins his briefing. I had been warned by the French PR
that I had to send my questions at least one week before my visit as
the the RSAF is very tight on security. Unfortunately most couldn't be answered
because of security. The special and unique configuration of the
two-seaters could not be explained for example.
After
briefing: flightline! As the squadron was on live firing exercise
cancelled from the day before due to bad weather the armed aircraft on ramp
were not accessible up close. We took some shots with telelens. What a
beautiful sight of the A-4SU line and what a change from European grey stuff!
After that, visit of the maintenance hangar that is so clean one thinks he is in a
hospital! To my astonishment and pleasure we were allowed to take pictures
of a/c in maintenance. Absolute cleanness, no oil on ground, security
warnings everywhere. Unfortunately no COCKPIT pics were allowed and
even having only a look at it was forbidden for unknown reasons. As I was
expecting that interdiction, I had taken with me a picture of a retrofitted
Singaporean Tiger II (to influence). The colonel head of maintenance was
very surprised and even told me it could not be a Singaporean A/C .
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TA-4SU n°
904 of 150 sqn RSAF formatting with Armée de l'Air Alpha Jet from ETO
00.008 above Base Aérienne 120 "Commandant
Marzac" in CAZAUX
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Back to the ramp,
during our tour of the hangar, our guests had pulled a
two-seater TA-4SU out of line for display and close-up picture. I never saw such
a clean a/c (except Swiss AF planes). Incredible, no stains even on wheel
wells. As we say in French "Plus blanc que cela , tu meurs.." (Whiter
than that, you die, relating to a publicity for laundry soap).
A mechanic
joined us who was on my steps every minute to be sure I was not to steal the A/C
:-)) I thought. But in fact very smiling and friendly guys only cautious
about our security. I must admit we were quite excited and crawling under and
around the plane as time was limited and rain menacing again.
Complete walkaround
of the 2-seater during 15 minutes and some A/C were coming back from mission
taxying by, new pictures. Our French lady told us we were very lucky as
it is very rarefor them to allow people so close and even put one on display for
only two guys! She was wondering who we talked with to have our accreditation in
Brussels.
Just before heavy
rain, back to dispersal to meet some very young and open pilots. It was my first
contact ever with Asian pilots and again the same enthusiasm you find with
western or eastern pilots: all squadron bars are the same...it's a universal
community.
They were also
astonished and very pleased to learn we had made such a long way only to see
their aircraft. They also had much interest in my picture models and I
showed them some more on ARC on the computer.
Feeling their
interest, I must admit shamely that I tried again with the RSAF Detachment
Commander to have a glance at those cockpits but with no luck either :-)))).
As
they suddenly all began to talk in Chinese (or the local language)
I said to myself: Oh! Oh sensible matter! The French liaison officer, a FAF
captain pilot, told me no one was ever allowed to take pictures of those
cockpits. So I didn't insist anymore as I have a rule when visiting air
bases (always do what the authority wants you to do as respect for the facility
they give you as a civilian ).
After 1h30
visit we departed after thanking our guest and offered them some Belgian
Chocolates, the best in the world as you know.
Noon, lunch
with some young ladies of public relations at the officers mess near the Cazaux
lake .
14h: Visit to
Escadron de Transition Operationnelle with 25 Alfa jets on line.
Shoot,
shoot between rainshowers and bad light. Some talk with traditions officer who
presented us some badges.
After that,
visit to the fire dump at the CFTSAA (Centre de Formation des Techniciens de Sécurité
de l'Armée de l'Air) a renowned school of airfield fire and rescue. Lots of disposed aircraft.
A museum in itself. I had started a walkaround of the Mirage IV but we had to leave because of the beginning of a
fire exercise (the smoke you see on some of the walkaround picture comes from
those exercises).
Back to H.Q
and end of visit after a long chat with the PR officers. Thanks to sgt Meriau,
the photo unit of the base brought us some nice air-air of the Singapore A/C as
a gift. We thanked all those people again with Belgian chocolates, much
appreciated.
Day
was not over yet, as we decided to go to the local civil airstrip at Arcachon
on our way back to the hotel. Much to our delight, there was a stranded
Catalina, who had made a belly landing some months ago and was waitng for his
journey back to Australia. Again some pictures as the sun was back. We
had a very nice evening in Arcachon and a very good
meal. Night was again stormy.
Next
day, rain , rain , and again rain... departure at 9H arrival Brussels at 20H.
It
was worth it, although I was a little disappointed not having been allowed to
picture those cockpits.
Since
2005, the Belgian Air force has transfered his Alpha Jet fleet in Cazaux where
Belgium has pooled his training with the A.A so maybe one day I will go
back there...we forgot Patrick's wine!
Our thanks go to
Jean-Louis for arranging this trip, to the NATO French Representation in
Brussels HQ, to the PR office in Cazaux and the RSAF Detachment Commander and
especially to sgt. Emmanuelle Meriau and Capt. Andy Tong for their warm
hospitality and kindness during our visit.
Bob
Click on
images below to see larger images
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In the
hangar, a dismantled TA-4SU |
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A
TA-4SU waiting for a new paint
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Mirage
IV in fire dump of CFTSAA |
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Catalina |
Bob
Verhegghen (Chastre-Belgium)
All
in-flight pictures are copyrighted CAZAUX AB PR Office
All on
groundpictures are copyrighted R.Verhegghen
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