The French Brown Water Geese of Indochina

In a follow-up to Tuesday’s post on USCG Grumman (G-38) JRF-5G Goose amphibians, how about the rest of the story of the type’s journey in Indochina? Twelve ex-USN JRF-5s were sold to France in 1952 and delivered to Escadrille 8.S based at Cat-Lai (later a big Brown Water Navy base) close to Saigon (Indochina). Viet Minh War, 1954, a French Grumman Goose (JRF-5) aids the gunboats patrolling the inland waters of Indo-China. NH 79370 They were mainly used for medevac, transport, and liaison, but in a pinch were equipped with bombs and gun pods to operate in coastal and riverine interdiction. Five additional ex-USN JRF-5s were delivered in 1954 and fielded at Tan Son Nhut, still under E 8.S. JRF-5 Goose French Navy Aéronautique navale l’Escadrille 8.S Indochina Once the French withdrew, four still-flyable JRF-5s were sent to the South Pacific colony of New Caledonia, while the rest were shipped to African colonies. Goose dets endured at Alger-Maison Blanche (Algeria), where E 8.S was…