Jacques Borne Collection

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Jacques Borne

I was a fighter pilot in the French Air Force for 15 years and 15 more years in Gabon. I have 6,850 total hours flying fighters and trainers. I have flown the T-6, T-33, F-84, Mystere 4, Mirage III B/C/E, Fouga , Tucano etc., but the best plane for me was the Skyraider. I have 1,047 hours in the AD-4 Skyraider. I flew several missions in Chad and returned with battle damage, but I always made it back to the field. If you trust the Skyraider, she trusts you!

I was an AD-4 pilot in Chad with 1/22 AIN Squadron* (French Armee de l'air) from 1973 to 1975 and in GAP (Groupment Aerient Presidentiel) in Gabon from January 1976 to 1990. In 1977 the French government gave 8 AD-4N to Gabon. These Skyraiders formerly served with the French Air Force in Madagascar, Djibouti, and Chad. One of these Skyraiders was lost in Lome (Togo) during an escort between France and Gabon. Gabonese Skyraiders have yellow, blue, green, or red paint stripe on both sides which looks like the letter "Z" (when looking at the left side). My aircraft was the one with the red stripe. Skyraiders without these stripes in this collection were French Aircraft in Chad.

JACQUES BORNE (Sarcife)

*Escadrille legere d'appui aerien 1/22 "Ain" (Light Air Support Flight 1/21 named after the French province of Ain). For more information, see Skyraider Squadrons. (use your browser "Back" arrow to return)