In the 1970's France was transforming in many ways. ”The General” (President Charles de Gaulle) had used his more than ten years in Palais de Élysée to take the country allmost out of NATO (OTAN in french) following a very anti-american foreign policy.
His successor, Georges Pompidou, tried to mend the relation to USA, though France never got the ”special relationsship”, that UK enjoyed, and France never became a part of ”The five Eyes” intelligence cooperation.
The next president in line, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, went a step further. Leading a much more active foreign policy and attempting to draw former french colonies in Africa and southeast Asia closer to la Cinquième République. And as a result of that policy France decided to aid South Vietnam in its strugle with the north. With Dien Bien Phu and the Algerian War in clear memory, troops on the ground were not an popular option, so the french goverment choose to send an air element.
The choice was the most advanced plane in Armée de l'Air: The Dassault MZI.46Q – Better know as ”Belphégor”.
With a maximum speed of mach 4.2, this super plane could easely outrun the SR-71. A detachment of four recce planes from ERS 3/33 ”Moselle” were based on Phan Rang Air Base in South Vienam from the autum of 1978 operating with total immunity over North Vietnam and Southern China.
The model in 1/72 will be based on two 1/48 kits (a F-16 and a Mirage III), which by accident found their way into my stash. And of course the construction will involve lots of plasticcard, putty and swearing.
