One day in Cazaux...

with Singapore's Skyhawks

by Robert "glidingbob" Verhegghen

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A nice TA-4SU n° 907 above the bay of Arcachon

 

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

  

  

Nice profile of TA-4SU n°907

  

150 sqn A4-SU single seater n°38 above the highest dune of Europe , the Dune de Pyla near Arcachon

  

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 .

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

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

  

  

  

In the hangar, a dismantled TA-4SU

  

A TA-4SU waiting for a new paint

  

Mirage IV in fire dump of CFTSAA

  

Catalina

Bob Verhegghen (Chastre-Belgium)

All in-flight pictures are copyrighted CAZAUX AB PR Office

All on groundpictures are copyrighted R.Verhegghen

Photos and text © by Bob Verhegghen