Crosnier, Alain - Cargos & Pirates au Combat (Print)

Cargos et Pirates au Combat

French Air Force helicopters in Algeria

Alain Crosnier

Editions Skyshelf.eu

Algeria was the first territory where medium and heavy helicopters were systematically used for assault transport and medical evacuation in support of ground forces. The deployment of a few light helicopters within the liaison squadrons stationed in North Africa had been planned as part of the 1954 plan. Faced with the need to adapt to counterinsurgency operations, in March 1955 the Air Force command decided to regroup all these aircraft at the Boufarik air base and, on 1 April 1955, to form a first unit, EHL 57, with ten Bell 47G-2 light helicopters.
With the introduction of the first Sikorsky S-55 medium helicopters, two other squadrons were formed and merged into a mixed helicopter group, GMH 57, created on 1 August 1955 at Boufarik. In June 1956, the entry into service of the Sikorsky S-58 (H-34A) heavy helicopters led to the creation of a fourth squadron; GMH 57 then consisted of EHL 1/57, EHM 2/57 and 3/57, and EHL 1/58.
As the role of helicopters developed very rapidly in areas that were difficult for Army road convoys to access, this new means of transport gave rise to the first helicopter transport missions for commandos, while ensuring great operational flexibility. Small detachments were formed across the country depending on the operations in progress and took the form of DIHs (helicopter intervention detachments) composed of three or four, or even six cargo helicopters (Cargo, Auroch) and, later, the support of an H-34A armed with a cannon and machine guns (Pirate) providing close protection for the DZ during the helicopter transport of commandos.
A more flexible approach was then adopted, consisting of dividing the helicopters into helicopter intervention units (UIH) composed of one armed helicopter and two or three cargo helicopters, then, often acting alone, an H-34 cargo helicopter armed with a cannon (Carcan). The increase in the number of helicopters deployed and the expansion of their area of operation in North Africa led to a major reorganisation. After much deliberation on the form of the future units (there had been talk of three groups) and their date of creation (August, October and then November), GMH 57 was disbanded on 31 October 1956, while the following day helicopter squadrons 2 and 3 were created, with EH 2 stationed at Oran-la-Sénia and EH 3 at Boufarik.
Gradually replacing the Bell 47s of EH 3, the first Alouette IIs were integrated in March 1957. They replaced the Bells during the first half of the year. On 1 April 1961, these same large units were renumbered 22nd and 23rd EH, the former moving to Chambéry in November 1962 and the latter to Saint-Dizier in July of the same year. As the 22nd EH was about to leave, it was decided to temporarily leave a large number of light helicopters in Algeria as part of the air force regrouping manoeuvre. Squadron 1/24, equipped with Alouette II helicopters, was thus formed in October at La Reghaïa. In August 1963, EH 1/24 was integrated into GAM 87, a mixed air group that remained active until the end of April 1964.
195 pages – A4 landscape – in colour – in French