Dassault Mystère IV-A

A picture of the Dassault Mystère IV-A

Design work on the Mystère IV began in 1951 as a technology research aircraft based on the Mystère II and intended to study transonic flight.  The aircraft began flying in late 1952 and after only a few flights proved to be greatly superior in performance to the earlier fighter.  In October of that year a U.S. Air Force commission visited France to study the state of the French aircraft industry.  They were greatly impressed with the Mystère IV and the following year the United States government ordered 225 aircraft through an economic development program designed to encourage the development of the European aviation industry.  The aircraft were given as a gift to the French Air Force and went into service beginning in 1954.  The Mystère IV was also exported to both Israel, and India.  In all just over 400 aircraft were built.

Service History

Built by Dassault at Merignac, France and delivered to the Armée de l’Air on October 25, 1955.

October 1955              To Escadron de Chasse 1/12, “Parisis,” Airbase 103 Cambrai-Épinoy, France.

December 1958           To Escadron de Chasse 2/10, “Seine,” Airbase 110 Creil, France.

January 1959               To Escadron de Chasse 1/5, “Vendee,” Airbase 115 Orange-Caritat, France.

Wingspan

36 ft 6 in.

Length

42 ft 3.5 in.

Height

15 ft 1 in.

Weight

18,100 lbs (loaded)

Maximum Speed

690 MPH

Service Ceiling

49,200 ft

Range

570 miles

Engine

One Rolls-Royce Tey turbojet with 7,710 pounds of thrust

Crew

1

Manufacturer
Dassault

Markings
Armée de l’Air, Escadron de Chasse 1/12, “Parisis,” Airbase 103 Cambrai- Épinoy, France

Designation
Mystère IV-A

Serial Number
57

January 1961               To Escadron de Chasse 1/8, “Saintonge,” Airbase 120 Cazaux, France.

January 1962               To Escadron de Chasse 1/7, “Saintonge,” Airbase 113, Nancy-Ochey, France

March 1962                 To École de Chasse, “Charles Martell,” Airbase 705, Tours, France.

June 1966                    To École de l’Air, Airbase 701, Salon-de-Provence, France.

June 1967                    To Entrepot de l’Armee de l’Air 601, Airbase 279, Châteaudun, France for storage.

September 1969          To Escadron de Chasse 1/8, “Saintonge,” Airbase 120 Cazaux, France.

September 1976          To Entrepot de l’Armee de l’Air 601, Airbase 279, Châteaudun, France for storage.

May 1978                    To RAF Sculthorpe, Fakenham, England for return to the U.S. Air Force. 

1978                            To Imperial War Museum Duxford for display.  On loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

Circa 2008                  To National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio for storage.

November 2011          To Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona for restoration and display.  On loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

Pima Air & Space Museum

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