Following the inflight breakup of the XFU-7 Corsair prototype in late 1952 and the ensuing program delays the French Aeronavale reevaluated the F4U-7 program and began looking for a replacement. A number of aircraft were evaluated, but the Westland Wyvern which was entering service with the Royal Navy in 1953 was seen as the best option for a platform that was expected to be replaced by more advanced jet aircraft but the end of the decade.
The Aeronavale ordered 58 Wyverns in July 1953, with first deliveries taking place in early 1955. In French service the Wyvern was known as the Vouivre, ironically the French word for a serpentine winged dragon with a stinging tail from which the word Wyvern was derived.
Aeronavale Vouivres deployed alongside Royal Navy Wyverns in October 1956 as part of Operation Musketeer, the joint UK/French/Israeli operation to seize control of the Suez Canal.
Kit is the lovely Trumpeter 1/48 Wyvern S.4. Kit rockets replaced with better looking ones from an Airfix Sea Fury. Decals mostly from a Corsair sheet.
