FRENCH HARVARD
French Harvards in Combat
Left – The picture above shows a french T-6G2 from EALA 2/72 taken in Batna (Algeria) between spring 1958 and 1959. The planes are painted aluminium with no rudder national colours and no fuselage roundels. These type of markings being introduced gradually from the spring of 1958. The French AF roundels can be seen on the wings of both T-6s in the background and the pilot presents the EALA's insignia in front of him. As many T-6 were sold to foreign nations involved in COIN operations in the sixties, it's possible that this one went to Portuguese AF. But unfortunately, no serial number is visible, so this particular T-6 cannot be identified as cannot be his later fate. (Caption by Hervé Barbon)
The T-6G was also used in a light attack or counter insurgency role by France during the Algerian War in special Escadrilles d'Aviation Légère d'Appui (EALA), armed with machine guns, bombs and rockets. At its peak, 38 EALAs were active. The largest unit was the Groupe d'Aviation Légère d'Appui 72, which consisted of up to 21 EALAs.