The in depth French Mirage III saga continue this day with the third volume from the French DTU publisher (also famous for the monthly color kit mag REPLIC). After the fighter and trainer versions, here come the recon and fighter/bomber version in the French Armée de l’Air service. The lay-out philosophy of the previous titles is kept here. Seen from side, the chapters have colored index; yellow pages for the recon, green for the bomber, grey for the prototype. Each chapter display the genesis of the type, the trials, the units servicing, scale drawings and color profiles.

The first part deals with the recon version, two versions produced, the IIIR and IIIRD

Based on a Mirage IIIE airframe, the IIIR has a camera nose shaped, and the IIIRD has a big plus upgrading; it include the Doppler radar from the E version (bulb under the nose) which help seriously the pilot in his special task. The first 193 pages (almost 50% of the book) are a remarkable study of the type, the first I ever seen, and I appreciate particularly the manual drawings of the recon bay (all configurations) and the cockpit (with colored areas), which highlight the specifications of the recon bird. You’ll find 269 black/white pictures, 136 color pictures, 31 extracts from technical manual, 8 color profiles, 1/72 scale drawings.

Chapter 1 : The genesis(7 pages), you’ll see there why and how Dassault get a successor to the foreign MAP plan recon aircrafts.

Chapter2 : aircraft descriptions (15 pages), where are concentrate most of the technical drawings from the manual: cockpit, fuselage cross section, nose cone, cameras, very useful for the modellers.

Chapters 3,4,5 : Experimentation; the 33^rd reconnaissance Escadre and first operational missions 1963-1969 (44 pages). A pictorial overview of the activity

Chapters 6,7 : 13 years in full service  1970-1983 (73 pages).Fully illustrated with air-air pictures, ground pictures with mechanics, pilots in daily routine and in international exercises. The escadre “33” is well covered as the CEV, CEAM and 0/002 units.

  Chapter 8 : The end of the area, 1984-1988 (18 pages) cover the last years in activity, the last recon mirage flight occurred with the Centre d’Essai en Vol, while the “33” fly for a long time on the Mirage F1CR

ANNEXE : The last 21 pages give the log of each aircraft (from n°301 to 370).

8 color profiles, 1/72 scale drawings close this first part

The second part deals with the fighter/bomber version, the 5F.

This version accidently integrate the Armée de l’Air in two units; the 3^rd and 13^th  Escadre

Initially the order came from Israel for a lighter version of the mirage IIIC and E, where electronic equipment were reduced, fuel capacity and armament increased. 50 aircrafts were ordered in April 1966, but the consequences of the “6 days war” were an embargo from the French government toward Israel. The contract was finally cancelled and France stayed with unused aircrafts.  You’ll find 101 black/white pictures, 225 color pictures, 5 extracts from technical manual, 6 color profiles, 1/72 scale drawings.

Chapters 1 and 2 : The genesis and description of the aircraft (11 pages), with extracts from technical manual.

Chapters 3,4 : Storage and unstorage of the airframes, creation of the “Auvergne”, “Ardennes”, “Alpes” units (44 pages).

Chapter 5 : Missions from 1978 to 1991(60 pages)

 Chapter 6 : The end of the adventure from 1992 to 1994 (17 pages)

ANNEXE : The last 18 pages give the log of each aircraft (from n°1 to 58).

8 color profiles, 1/72 scale drawings close this second part

The third part is as exciting as the previous ones, as it covers the prototypes with the vertical take off aircrafts

As they were only prototypes, you’ll find in 62 pages 62 black/white pictures, 45 color pictures, 1 profile page and & 1/72 scale drawing

The Milan aircraft which had retractable canard wings in the nose had Switzerland has main target, but the poor performances let the project aside.

The mirage 50(powered with an ATAR 9K50) was developed for the foreign customers owning the Mirage fleet, and the Mirage III NG with fixed canard over intakes was a transition before the Mirage 2000. The Mirage EX was based on a Mirage IIIE with the Swiss accommodations and targeted Venezuelan and Brazilian AF.  The Mirage IIIT had a redesigned fuselage to host a Turbofan engine.

The vertical take off domain also interested Dassault with the Balzac and IIIV aircrafts but horizontal flight market was retain as less hazardous.

In summary this third volume ends magnificently the trilogy of the old generation Mirage in French service.

Recommended as the two previous titles  

Jean Paul Poisseroux

August 2008

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