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Dijon: The Mirage Masters (Superbase 19) By John Blackman

France occupies the largest landmass of any European country, but although an economic and military world power, it no longer boasts the largest air force in the world as it arguably could at the end of World War 1. But make no mistake, today's Armee de 1 'Air packs a mighty punch.

Lying south-east of Paris is the Bourgogne or Burgundy region. Steeped in a tradition of gastronomic excellence, a gazetteer of the area reads like a cross between a fine wines list and good food guide. But Dijon, capital of the area, is more than a stopping off point for lovers of a well stocked table; it is a natural crossroads. To the west, the heartland of France, to the east, a short hop to the borders of Switzerland, Italy and Germany. Dijon was an obvious location for the fledgling Aviation Militaire, as it was then known, to base one of their first aerial observation units in 1912. Two years later an airbase was officially inaugurated in the suburb of Longvic, a couple of miles south of the historic centre of Dijon.

It was there on 13 May 1916 that the famous ace Guynemer was presented with the first flag of the Armee del'Air. A year later Capitaine Guynemer disappeared whilst on a mission over Belgium, having attained 53 confirmed kills and legendary status. Such was his fame that news of his death was delayed for fear of the effect on national morale.

Today both the flag and the Guynemer legend live on at the renamed BA 102 Base Aerienne 'Guynemer', home of the 2nd Escadre de Chasse and linchpin of France's air defence network. Whilst the Armee del'Air, and the personnel of BA 102 in particular, look back with justifiable pride at the example set by Guynemer and his contemporaries, there is no question that they look to the future as far as current operations are concerned.

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