Description

French/Flemish text and captions. Volume 1 begins by presenting the context: the replacement of the F-84Fs and the move from Florenne to Bierset. After about forty pages of F-84, the first Mirage 5 arrive. The Italian format makes it possible to showcase splendid full-page horizontal photos and even poster-size colour profiles in double pages. The text lists the events year by year, interspersed with staffing tables at the beginning of each year. The chapters are particularly rich in anecdotes and lived testimonies. We go through parties, sports competitions, especially cycling, exercises, operations, meetings, official and unofficial visits, moments of relaxation, jokes between comrades, disguises, football matches, swimming pool days and paella evenings… the whole life of the base personnel around the planes. We also share the most difficult moments, in particular accidents, ceremonies, bad weather, chores… A kind of great walking diary, very complete and particularly richly illustrated. Volume 2 also reviews the commemorations, the special decorations and the period of maturity of these planes, until their retirement, replaced by F-16s. Note the tables closing the book in the form of an individual chronology of the pilots. chores… A kind of great walking diary, very complete and particularly richly illustrated. Everything is bilingual French-Flemish and very lively to discover. Volume 2 also reviews the commemorations, the special decorations and the period of maturity of these planes, until their retirement, replaced by F-16s. Note the tables closing the book in the form of an individual chronology of the pilots. chores… A kind of great walking diary, very complete and particularly richly illustrated. Volume 2 also reviews the commemorations, the special decorations and the period of maturity of these planes, until their retirement, replaced by F-16s. Note the tables closing the book in the form of an individual chronology of the pilots.

Unlike the two previous volumes published by the association of Belgian Mirage 5 enthusiasts, these new books give pride of place above all to the people around the planes rather than to the planes themselves. This monumental work cannot be summarized in a few lines but, once again, these two new volumes constitute a very fine initiative to be encouraged and supported.