US 1949-0186 C-119C to FrenchAF MartinBestColl.jpg

[joet5[_2_]]

[Savageduck[_3_]]

On 2019-07-08 10:17:18 +0000, DAN > said:

> Hi Joe,
>
> Those C-119C were never transferred to the French Air Force.
> They were painted in French markings, but were flow by US pilots in a
> CIA secret
> operation, under the cover of the CAT company (the future Air America). They
> remained US property. The Armee de l'Air never had C-199s in its inventory.
>
>
> They flew resupply missions during the siege at Dien Bien Phu. One was
> shot down
> in June 1954 with the loss of pilots James B. McGovern, Jr. and Wallace A.
> Buford, along with a French crew member. RIP to the brave men.
>
> <image>

Yup! James McGovern AKA *Earthquake McGoon*
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_B._McGovern_Jr.>
--
Regards,

Savageduck

[joet5[_2_]]

Thanks, Joe.

On Mon, 08 Jul 2019 12:17:18 +0200, DAN > wrote:

>Hi Joe,
>
>Those C-119C were never transferred to the French Air Force.
>They were painted in French markings, but were flow by US pilots in a CIA secret
>operation, under the cover of the CAT company (the future Air America). They
>remained US property. The Armee de l'Air never had C-199s in its inventory.
>
>
>They flew resupply missions during the siege at Dien Bien Phu. One was shot down
>in June 1954 with the loss of pilots James B. McGovern, Jr. and Wallace A.
>Buford, along with a French crew member. RIP to the brave men.