La B.A.N. La Tontouta et les unités affectées (1957-2011)

This book, drawn up from the documents available within the BAN La Tontouta, the 9S squadron and the 25F detachment in New Caledonia, is intended to be a tribute to all the sailors in the sky who have worked so that the missions entrusted by the Naval Staff can be carried out at any time and in any place in this remote area of ​​the Pacific.

Started in 1956, this adventure put the “Penguins” to the test, who settled on the civilian airfield of La Tontouta in an unhealthy environment and more than rudimentary infrastructure. The constant efforts of the staff, supported by the EMM, will make this platform an effective support base for all air operations carried out by Navy, Air Force or ALAT units. The status of BSVIA (support base with joint vocation) will be granted to it in 1999, confirming the perfect integration of the sailors of the sky in the joint structure of the FANC (Armed Forces of New Caledonia).

The 9S squadron (from 1957) and the 25F Detachment (September 2000) will follow one another on the BAN. It will also accommodate the helicopter detachments of the 35F and 36F flotillas when they are not on board. These units will deploy a wide variety of aircraft, often at the end of their life in mainland France. In view of the environmental conditions, this only makes the investment and tenacity of the flying and technical personnel all the more valuable in giving the FANC the air resources they need.

Condemned by the reorganization of air resources in the Pacific zone, the BAN of La Tontouta closed in 2011 to be transferred to the Air Force. Still based on the BA 186 “Georges Klein”, the adventure continues however with the 25F detachment which should receive Falcon 50s by 2025.
This document, certainly incomplete and perfectible, aims to retrace the great human adventure of the sky sailors in New Caledonia.