My Young years in the French Air Force.(12)
My years as a pilot. 3.- B.E.-702 Avord. The return ! Appointments are like the lottery. You either get lucky or not. In my case, I learned during my vacation that I will have to report to Avord on May 9th 1956. Since I'm already a pilot, I can only assume that I will be an instructor at the school from where I graduated 18 months earlier. The base hasn't changed since last time I was there and a lot of personnel has remained on duty there. There are even some classmates who became instructors (among them my old friend Marcel Faubert). Before flying as an instructor there is a 2-month training I have to go through. At the end, I'm appointed to the 1st squadron. My first class is mixed. Half French and half from Cambodia. There was no culture shock for me to find myself among Asians! Classes follow one another without interruption in each of the school's 5 squadrons. Students are either preparing for their pilot license, in which case the class is 6 months long, or are licensed pilots who are in need of a refresher course after a hiatus period. In this case, the class is 2 month long. Regardless, things become routine: Class welcoming, assigning students to an instructor and planning the training depending on the type of class. Each morning starts with a weather brief for all personnel. Then we split the students and instructors among the planes and types of missions. Some missions were really boring like the first flights which consisted of pattern flying and a few touch and go, local flights and no visibility flights. Longer flights requiring navigation were more interesting especially if they included landing at another base. Westbound flights towards Dinard for example gave us the opportunity to bring back seafood...... Group flights although stressful were my favorites despite some scary moments. I also liked night flights. Beside work, I found myself lonely my first year. Most of my colleagues were married and lived off base. Some were as far as Bourges westward and Guerche eastward. My friend Faubert often invited me over. They lived in Baugy where his wife was a teacher. It is in this environment that, during the summer of 1956, I will meet by accident the one who was to become my wife the following year, Annie. I will expand further on that episode later. I can simply note that we were married on March 2nd 1957 in Saint-Die (Vosges). I had obtained a place reserved for military personnel in Guerche-S/l'Aubois and had arranged for the basic necessities before moving in. We stayed there until I was assigned to RCA (Republic of Central Africa). Our first child Jacques was born on our first anniversary, March 2nd 1958. Since moving to La Guerche, I was commuting daily to the base. When I had a night flight, a shuttle would drive me back. The next morning was off in these instances. We usually came home every night as the training missions could be completed during the day. Only once, I was gone for 12 days in October 1958 during a round trip to Dakar (Senegal). Having been promoted to Adjudant in 1957, I decide to take the Plane Captain exam. With this qualification, I'll be able to command the plane and won't need an officer on board. The test takes place in Toulouse. I pass on January 21st 1959. When the fog prevented the missions to be carried out, we used to move south. Istres was our second home. This was the case in November 58. Annie came down with Jacques and stayed with family in Cavaillon. This also allowed me to see them on weekends. In January 1959, I went to Bordeaux to take an exam that would allow me to become an officer. This was reserved to Ajudant and Adjudant Chef. The test consisted of general and military knowledge and took into account the test I had taken in Toulouse. Shortly after the exam, I was transferred to Bangui and didn't know the outcome of it. I thought I had failed until I meet with a friend who had taken the exam with me. He said I had passed. Avord's administration did not forward the results and I was never promoted. When I learned this fact, I had already requested to go into retirement. This promotion did not fit in my plans, as officers must serve for 25 years minimum. I gave up on the idea of getting the results changed. Looking back, I realized that my career would have been very different. At best I would have retired LT-Col or (worst case), I would have gone missing in action... I don't have too many regrets as to the injustice against me.	Two years later, back flying the Flamant, but as instructor.
	Back from a mission.
	Awarding the pilot's wings to one of my students.
	With the "Traction-Avant" (Front wheel drive) Citroen that I brought back from Algeria, in front of the NCO quarters.
	. Winter 1956: engagement time celebration in the Vosges region.
	March 2nd 1957: wedding at Saint-Die (Vosges region)
	March 2nd 1958: birth of our son Jacques at La Guerche; the first of our four children bloodline.
	Now promoted to Adjutant; they always seem so mean…!
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