picture 181681

The first of French-manufactured transport aircraft of the Armée de l’Air to reach Indochina after the Japanese capitulation, were Junkers Ju-52 captured after the collapse of Nazi Germany. In November 1945, 18 Ju-52s of the CT 1/34 were deployed to Bien Hoa, Nha Trang and Tan Son Nhut, where the unit operated them together with several Japanese types, before being integrated into the GT I/64. The later brought to Indochina the French-manufactured AAC.1 Toucans and was followed by the Bach Mai-deployed GT II/64, which arrived in July 1947, one of whose aircraft is shown here. (Artwork by Jean-Marie Guillou)