Del'd: 9 - 1952 to 1959

Westland dragonfly
in
france Armée de l'Air

French Air Force




First delivered in Apr 1952 for CASEVAC, Combat rescue and prisoner recovery in French Indo-China (later to become Viet Nam). Operated by ELA 52 from Hôa Good and ELA 53 from Hanoi. It underperformed in the hot, damp climate being unable to provide enough lift and was plagued with rotor head needle bearing problems, despite a Westland technical team in-theatre to improve serviceability. (H-19 replacements were obtained from USA via MAP programme by Oct 1953). Dragonfly were collected at Air Base 482 and 483 to be returned to Metropolitan France between Oct 1953 and Mar 1954. From 1 Nov 1954 they were operated from Rochefort (BE721, LFDN) as trainers. On 27 Jan 1956, the remaining 5 Dragonfly transferred to Chambéry (BE725, LFLB), where crews were trained for the Algerian conflict until 1957/58 by ELA 56. Withdrawn during 1959.



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List of Aircraft


C/NModBuiltID     In this OrgIn other Org
wa/h/111 1952 111 Dragonfly 1A, f/f 24 Mar 1952, d/d 4 Apr 1952. ex G-17-4, returned from service ...
wa/h/112 1952 112 Dragonfly 1A, f/f 4 Apr 1952, d/d 17 Apr 1952. ex G-17-5, wfu May 1959.
wa/h/113 w/o 1952 1952 113 Dragonfly 1A f/f 9 Apr 1952, d/d 18 Apr 1952. ex G-17-6. In flight vibrations le...
wa/h/114 1952 114 Dragonfly 1A f/f 19 Apr 1952, d/d 23 Jun 1952. ex G-17-7. Returned from service ...
wa/h/115 1952 115 Dragonfly 1A f/f 19 Apr 1952, d/d 23 Jun 1952. ex G-17-8. Returned from service ...
wa/h/116 w/o 1955 1952 116 Dragonfly 1A f/f 27 May 1952, d/d 23 Jun 1952. ex G-17-9. Returned from service ...
wa/h/117 1952 117 Dragonfly 1A f/f 22 Sep 1952, d/d 29 Sep 1952. ex G-17-10. Returned from service...
wa/h/118 1952 118 Dragonfly 1A f/f 22 Sep 1952, d/d 29 Sep 1952. ex G-17-11. Returned from service...
wa/h/119 w/o 1954 1952 119 Dragonfly 1A f/f 25 Sep 1952, d/d 30 Sep 1952. ex G-17-12. Engine failure while ...




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