Westland dragonfly
in Armée de l'Air

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 Withdrawn during 1959.