The MD.450 Ouragan was the first post-World War II French jet fighter to enter service. Its performance was average at best and iit was rapidly replaced by better designs but it remains the symbol of France’s catching up in aerospace technology after four years of German occupation.

NB: I recently improved the Ouragan template for an article about the Patrouille de France. The new drawings, although much better than the original, are still lacking in precision and quality. When I find some free time, I will start over from scratch. Watch this space!

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1. Pilots of the 1954 Patrouille de France (PAF) were from the 2e Escadre de Chasse, based in Dijon.

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2. The following year, the 12e Escadre de Chasse based in Cambrai formed the PAF.

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3. The most colourful Ouragan were those of the 1956 PAF, from the 4e Escadre de Chasse in Bremgarten.

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Older profiles

1. MD.450 Ouragan of the IDF/AF, 113 Squadron, 1956. During the Suez crisis of 1956, several Ouragan wore a “sharkmouth” decoration as seen here.

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2. MD.450 Ouragan n°154 preserved in the Air & Space Museum in Le Bourget near Paris. The old paint marks can still be seen on the aircraft, underneath the current markings.

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3. MD.450 Ouragan preserved at the Chateaudun AB and bearing the colours of the Alsace fighter group. Early and improved versions of the illustration.

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4. Salvador was another Ouragan operator, having bought several ex-Israeli machines in the 1970s. Most FAS MD. 450 bore an USAF SEA-style camouflage and little or no markings.