Cornu, Pierre/Queurty, Richard Les Beech 18 et leurs dérivés - sous nos cocardes

Between January 15, 1937the date of the Beech 18 prototype's maiden flightand November 26, 1969the date the final three units were deliveredapproximately 8,000 Beech 18s across all variants were produced at the Wichita plant. In France, the "Beech adventure" began in April 1942 with the "18S" (serial no. 266), which Count Jacques-Édouard de Sieyes donated to the Free French Air Force (FAFL). This initial aircraft served with the Artois Group in Pointe-Noire. It was not until September 28, 1944, that the first batch of 15 UC-45Fspart of the American Military Aid Program (PAM)arrived in France to equip the GT 2/15 "Anjou" unit. Further deliveries followed in October and December 1944; in total, 26 aircraft were assigned to the Anjou squadron. Meanwhile, deliveries continued, with the United States supplying a total of 49 aircraft. Four were acquired for civil use between November 1953 and June 1959, four Super 18s were purchased new in May 1955, and in 1962, Canada transferred 29 Expeditor aircraft (versions 3T and 3N) to France. The units were gradually equipped as deliveries arrived: CIET 340 in October 1948, GLAM in September 1948, GAEL in May 1948, ELA 41 in May 1969, ELA 43 in May 1964, ELA 44 in April 1964, ELA 52 in November 1954, ELA 55 in June 1957, GLA 45 in early 1956, EARS 99 in June 1969, CEAM in September 1958, Air Bases 107 in January 1972 and 177 in 1968, and CEV in June 1947, as well as the aircraft assigned to the French Embassys air attaché in Washington during the early 1950s. The Beech aircraft flew under US Air Force markings from April 1942 until May 1972, the date of their final retirement. For their part, Naval Aviation received 20 "SNB-5"s and 25 "JRB-4"s from the United States prior to 1958 and 1959, respectively. These 45 Beech aircraft were operated until 1972 by squadrons 2.S, 10.S, 32.S, 50.S, 55.S, and 56.S, as well as by the ERC, the Algiers Liaison Section, the Morocco Liaison Section, and the Cuers naval base. To ensure the greatest possible accuracy, this book also groups together the aircraft operated by administrative bodiesspecifically, the Saint-Yan flight training service (15 aircraft) and CNET Lannion (two aircraft). The High Commissions squadron in Indochina operated ten aircraft of this type; prior to the delivery of aircraft under the 1954 PAM-EO program, some were detached to ELA 52 at Tan Son Nhut to monitor and locate Viet Minh units. Two aircraft were assigned to the High Commissioner in Cameroon, two to the High Commissioner in French West Africa, one to the Public Works Directorate in Rabat, one to the territory of Ubangi-Shari, one to the territory of Chad, one to the department of Réunion, and four to the Governor of Niger. This faithful servant of the French Air Force, Naval Aviation, and civil administrationhaving served under our national insignia for thirty yearsdeserved a book of its own, for it embodied all the qualities of a perfect aircraft: speed, elegance, and versatility.