Flottille 4F
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= Flotille 4F
|image= Blason de la flottille 4F.jpg
|caption=
|dates= 1918–1926
1930–1943
1944–1997
2000–present
|country= {{flag|France}}
|allegiance= French navy
|branch= French Naval Aviation
|type= Naval aviation
|role= Airborne Early Warning
|size= 90+
|command_structure=
|garrison= Base Aéronavale Lann Bihoué
|garrison_label=
|nickname= The four (La quatre)
|patron=
|motto=
|colors= Orange
|colors_label=
|march=
|mascot=
|equipment=Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye
|equipment_label=
|battles= World War II
First Indochina War
Lebanese Civil War
Bosnian War
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Opération Harmattan
|anniversaries=
|decorations= Croix de Guerre 1939–1945
Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures
Cross for Military Valour
|battle_honours=
|commander1=
|commander1_label=
|commander2=
|commander2_label=
|commander3=
|commander3_label=
|notable_commanders=
|identification_symbol=
|identification_symbol_label= A white bird, black torquise, light blue sky and dark blue sea
|identification_symbol_2=
|identification_symbol_2_label= Squadron code
}}
Flotille 4F (abbreviated to 4F) is a French Aeronavale aircraft squadron based at Base Aéronavale de Lann Bihoué and equipped with three Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye aircraft, these aircraft are operated from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.
Post-war history
File:French TBM-3E of Flotille 4F in flight 1950s.jpg
The squadron was formed in July 1944 to operate the Douglas SBD Dauntless dive-bomber, it converted to the Grumman TBM-3E Avenger in October 1953. In 1959 the squadron re-equipped with the Breguet Alizé carrier-based anti-submarine aircraft, the squadron operated these aircraft until 1997.
Flotille 4F was re-formed on 10 March 2000 to operate three Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye carried-based airborne early warning aircraft.
References
Bibliography
- {{cite book|title=French Military Aviation|last=Jackson|first=Paul A.|publisher=Midland Counties Publications |year=1979 |location=Leicester, UK|ISBN=0 90459718 0}}
- {{cite journal |last1=Morareau|first1=Lucien|title=Histoire de l'Aéronautique embarquée en France: la 4eme Flotille, à la reconaissance et bombardement (1)|journal=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=February 1990 |issue=243 |pages=14–21 |issn=0757-4169 |language=fr|trans-title=History of French Carrier Units: The 4th Reconnaissance and Bombardment Squadron, Part 1}}
- {{cite journal |last1=Morareau|first1=Lucien|title=Histoire de l'Aéronautique embarquée en France: la 4eme Flotille, à la reconaissance et bombardement (2)|journal=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=March 1990 |issue=244 |pages=42–44 |issn=0757-4169 |language=fr|trans-title=History of French Carrier Units: 4th Reconnaissance and Bombardment Squadron, Part 2}}
- {{cite journal |last1=Morareau|first1=Lucien|title=Histoire de l'Aéronautique embarquée en France: la 4eme Flotille, à la reconaissance et bombardement (3)|journal=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=April 1990 |issue=245 |pages=21–26 |issn=0757-4169 |language=fr|trans-title=History of French Carrier Units: 4th Reconnaissance and Bombardment Squadron, Part 3}}
- {{cite journal |last1=Morareau|first1=Lucien|title=Histoire de l'Aéronautique embarquée en France: la 4eme Flotille, à la reconaissance et bombardement (4)|journal=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=May 1990 |issue=246 |pages=36–42 |issn=0757-4169 |language=fr|trans-title=History of French Carrier Units: 4th Reconnaissance and Bombardment Squadron, Part 4}}
- {{cite journal |last1=Morareau|first1=Lucien|title=Histoire de l'Aéronautique embarquée en France: la 4eme Flotille, à la reconaissance et bombardement (5)|journal=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=June 1990 |issue=247 |pages=26–32 |issn=0757-4169 |language=fr|trans-title=History of French Carrier Units: 4th Reconnaissance and Bombardment Squadron, Part 5}}
- {{cite journal |last1=Morareau|first1=Lucien|title=Histoire de l'Aéronautique embarquée en France: la 4eme Flotille, à la reconaissance et bombardement (6)|journal=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=July 1990 |issue=248 |pages=12–21 |issn=0757-4169 |language=fr|trans-title=History of French Carrier Units: 4th Reconnaissance and Bombardment Squadron, Part 6}}