Musée des Parachutistes. The French Paratrooper Museum

Since their operational debut in World War II, French airborne forces (troupes aéroportées) have played pivotal roles in both national defence and France’s overseas interventions. The Musée Mémorial des Parachutistes (also known as the Musée des Parachutistes) is located within the grounds of the French Parachute Training School (ETAP) in Pau and is dedicated to the legacy of these elite units.

Museum Structure and Layout

The museum is organized into five permanent chronological exhibition spaces, each illustrating a distinct phase in the history of French airborne operations. These sections are introduced by audio-visual displays which give context to artifacts being displayed.

Zone 1. Origins and World War II

This section explores the foundational doctrines of airborne warfare, the formation of France’s first paratrooper units, and their deployment during WWII. Particular attention is also paid to the influence of Soviet and German developments in the interwar period.

Musée Mémorial des Parachutistes — Impression of a WW1 period balloon basket and Constant Duclos, a marine assigned to the Chalais-Meudon workshops, who made the first parachute jump in French military history on 17 November 1915. The parachute that he was testing was approved for mass production and by December 1915 French balloon observers were being issued the safety device. *At the time of its issue, the observers were skeptical of the device and Duclos conducted another 23 jumps in order to convince them of its safety.*

This section of the museum then moves on to document the Free French airborne and special forces units that fought to liberate France during World War II. At the outbreak of the the war, both the 601^e and 602^e GIA had been moved to mainland France, but neither played a major part in the hostilities. Then, on 23 June 1940, one day after France signed the armistice with Germany, both companies were transferred to North Africa and disbanded in August.

These men formed the core of the 1st Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes (1st RCP) and the ‘Shock Battalion’ (Bataillon de Choc), established in 1943. The 1st RCP was trained and integrated into the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division, suffering heavy losses in eastern France during the autumn of 1944. Meanwhile, the Shock Battalion parachuted into southern France in August 1944, serving as the pathfinder force for the Allied Airborne Task Force.

In England on 15 September 1940, the 1st Air Infantry Company — 1ère Compagnie d’Infanterie de l’Air — was officially formed under the Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres. Some of these men were posted to the Middle East whilst others remained in the UK for clandestine warfare training by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and became the first members of the Free French Forces’ Military Intelligence Service known as the Bureau Central des Renseignements et d’Action (BCRA).

On January 2nd 1942, the thirty Free French paratroopers of the 1st Coy who had been sent to the Middle East and now designated 1ère Compagnie de Chasseurs Parachutistes — arrived at RAF Kabrit beside the Suez Canal, where they were integrated into Major David Stirling’s Special Air Service as the Free French Squadron. This unit later expanded to form the 3rd and 4th Regiments of the SAS Brigade, playing a key role in creating diversions during the Normandy invasion and engaging in operations in central and eastern France, as well as in Holland and Belgium in 1944.

*Modified Willys Jeep of the Free French Squadron, Special Air Service, Libya 1942.*

Special Operations Executive (SOE) Display

Map of France featuring the insignia of the various French airborne and special forces units of WWII.

SAS Jeep as used by 3 and 4 SAS in France 1944.

Items related to 1er Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes (1st RCP).

US paratrooper from the 82nd Airborne Division.

American equipped French paratrooper of the 1er Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes (1st RCP).

Embroidered British type parachutist wing worn by French Special Operations Executive (SOE) agents (12), an interesting 1946 pattern French parachutist brevet, numbered 7751 that has been modified to include the Free French Cross of Lorraine (13) and 1944 pattern Special Air Service parachutist badge.

Free French Forces parachute wing, designed by by Georges Bergé, with a shield bearing the Cross of Lorraine on a shield superimposed on the parachute. These wings were worn over the right hand breast pocket.

SAS beret, Polish parachutist badge and award document belonging to Achille Muller of the 4th SAS Regiment.

Achille Muller was born on 01 January 1925, in Forbach, a town on the Franco-German border. Still a teenager when the Germans took control of the Alsace-Moselle region, he was made a German citizen. In July 1942, close to adulthood and forced conscription into the German army, he fled to join General de Gaulle’s Free French Forces. His escape took several months, crossing five borders before reaching Gibraltar and then the United Kingdom. Once he arrived in England, he was placed under surveillance for 72 days by British intelligence, who believed he was a spy.

On 23 June 1943 he was accepted into the Free French Forces and volunteered to be a paratrooper and as a member of the 4th Air Infantry Battalion (4e BIA) undertook parachute training under the supervision of the 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade at Upper Largo in Scotland, earning the Polish parachutist badge number 3473. In April 1944, 4e BIA became the (French) 4th SAS Regiment and as a member of this unit he participated in Operations DINGSON, SPENSER and AMHERST.

Replica of the Special Air Service Brigade Memorial at Sennecey-le-Grand, site of a major action by soldiers of 3 SAS in 1944. On 3 September 1944 the order was given to block the retreat of a large German column, which was forming up in Sennecey le Grand. At dawn on 4 September 1944, the four jeeps of Captain Guy de Combaud Roquebrune drove up the main street of Sennecey le Grand, where some 3000 Germans in convoy were formed up. With machine guns blazing at point blank range they drove through the town causing great confusion and many casualties (figures suggest 500) in the convoy. By bad luck their only escape route was blocked and they were left with no alternative but to drive back through the town. One by one the jeeps were destroyed by the now alert Germans. Only the fourth jeep, out of control with its crew seriously wounded managed to get through. By a miracle two members (Joseph Tramoni and Alexis Baude) were rescued by the Resistance and were taken to the nearby woods. *After the war a memorial was built just outside the town where the patrol formed up prior to the attack. The memorial recognises all those who died whilst serving with the SAS during WWII*.

Tarbes 02 October 1945. Two junior officers of the French 3rd and 4th SAS Regiments hold the hats of the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon Bonaparte presented to the units on the occasion of the handover to French command by Brigadier Michael Calvert of the French SAS Regiments. 3rd and 4th SAS had been renamed, respectively, 2ème and 3ème Régiments de Chasseurs Parachutistes on August 1st 1945. Both officers wear the Free French parachute wings and the officer on the left in the photo has pulled his beret over to the left as a gesture of respect for their British comrades. They have removed their British parachute wings but still wear the SAS sword of Damocles badge on their berets. Photograph colourised by Julius Jaaskelainen.

After World War II, the decision was made to establish airborne divisions in France and North Africa, and to send an airborne brigade to Indochina. The 1st RCP played a key role in developing airborne units stationed in France and North Africa, while the SAS Battalions were integrated into the French Colonial Marine Corps and promptly deployed to Indochina.

1946 – French Military Parachutist Brevet number 000 001

Officially designated the “Military Qualification for Parachutist” the current French military parachutist wing was instituted on 01 June 1946.

During the Second World War, several types of parachutist qualification badges were adopted by the French forces. British, French, American, and Polish – but without a standardised French pattern.

Beginning in 1945, efforts were made to unify these qualifications. Each certified parachutist was assigned a unique registration number recorded in an official register – a system that remains in use today.

The military parachutist badge that was adopted by the French incorporates the following symbolic meanings: “The wings lift you, the star guides you, the parachute supports you, and the laurels await you” with the oak leaves also representing the strength of the parachutist.

The first batch of wings was made by the Drago company, this badge features their ‘DRAGO 25 R. BERANGER PARIS III DEPOSE’ hallmark which was used in 1946. Since it’s inception there have been numerous manufacturers of the wing and collectors use the hallmarks and (if present) the registration numbers to date the wing.

Since its creation, the badge has been awarded to over 710,000 soldiers and its design has formed the basis for several wings used by former French colonies

French Indochina. Japanese Nambu pistol, hat and insignia of the Corps Léger d’Intervention (CLI). The CLI was a guerilla unit that was modelled on the British Chindits and trained by the SOE with the purpose of reinforcing resistance to the Japanese.

Zone 2. The Indochina War (1946–1954)

The next section reconstructs the operational environment in French Indochina, where airborne units were frequently used in vertical envelopment strategies and as a reaction force.

More than 200 airborne operations were carried out during the nine years of war in Indochina. Because the airborne troops constituted “the best infantry of the Expeditionary Corps,” they were used in every conceivable situation, from firefighters dropped onto Viet Minh infernos to units sent to the aid of other formations in difficulty. They were also sometimes misused due to the expeditionary corps’ understaffing and lack of air support. Yet it was in Indochina that the paratrooper spirit was born, characterized by its resourcefulness, audacity, endurance, and courage. Finally, it was in Indochina that air resupply took on considerable momentum and that the ability to deploy airborne artillery and engineering support units proved its full relevance and effectiveness.

In 1946, the SAS half-brigade and the paratrooper marching half-brigade, composed of elements of the 1st Shock Parachute Regiment and the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment (1er RCP), arrived in Indochina. In 1947, the first large-scale operations began, leading to the creation of new units: the Colonial Parachute Commando Half-Brigade and the Foreign Parachute Battalions. Drawn from the 25th Airborne Division (25e DAP) in mainland France, the parachute battalions were formed one after another, and the number of paratroopers involved increased, augmented by the Indochinese parachute companies.

In 1948, the 25th Airborne Division was dissolved in favour of an Airborne Troops Command, a detachment of which was stationed in Indochina to better manage the paratroopers deployed in the Far East. Some battalions, such as the 1st BEP and the 3rd BCCP, disappeared after fierce fighting. The first indigenous parachute battalions were created in 1951. In 1952, the 6th BPC was dropped on Tu Lê to rescue the last Thai garrisons retreating to the fortified camp of Na-San.

Map of French Indochina featuring some of the insignia used by various units (not just airborne) during the conflict.

French Foreign Legion paratrooper at Dien Bien Phu, 1954.

Independence propaganda leaflet. The text translates as "5-6-48
France recognizes an independent and unified Vietnam within the French Union.
It's too late to turn back now after having already gone down this path." — Independence propaganda leaflet. The text translates as “5-6-48 France recognizes an independent and unified Vietnam within the French Union. It’s too late to turn back now after having already gone down this path.”

Beret of Brigadier General Jean Gilles, commander of the French Airborne forces in Indochina from December 1952.

French Indochina. A paratrooper with an American made M20 75mm Recoiless Rifle

French 7.5mm MAC mle 1931 "Reibel" machine gun with vertical side mounted 150 round drum magazine. The lower photograph shows Viet Minh soldiers with a captured Reibel at Dien Bien Phu, March 1954. — French 7.5mm MAC mle 1931 “Reibel” machine gun with vertical side mounted 150 round drum magazine. The lower photograph shows Viet Minh soldiers with a captured Reibel at Dien Bien Phu, March 1954.

Operations Hirondelle and Camargue, conducted in 1953, were followed by Operation Castor in November 1953, the parachute drop to develop the French forward base at Điện Biên Phủ.

However, underestimating the Viet Minh’s capabilities and overconfidence in the effectiveness of the airlift led to the fall of the fortified camp on May 7, 1954. Seven parachute battalions were annihilated in the Battle of Điện Biên Phủ or disappeared in Viet Minh re-education camps. This defeat marked the end of the French presence in South East Asia.

This small pagoda bell was found during the initial work carried out at Dien Bien Phu at the end of November 1953 by a company of the 6th Colonial Parachute Battalion. It was given by this company to Father Chevallier. It was used for a time in the small temporary chapel of the fortified camp and was taken to Hanoi on Christmas Eve. — This small pagoda bell was found during the initial work carried out at Dien Bien Phu at the end of November 1953 by a company of the 6th Colonial Parachute Battalion. It was given by this company to Father Chlier. It was used for a time in the small temporary chapel of the fortified camp and was taken to Hanoi on Christmas Eve.

Soil gathered from the various strongpoints around Dien Bien Phu. In the background is the standard ('fanion) of the Base aéroportée nord (BAPN), the principle airborne base and training facility for the airborne forces in the Tonkin region. — Soil gathered from the various strongpoints around Dien Bien Phu. In the background is the standard (‘fanion) of the Base aéroportée nord (BAPN), the principle airborne base and training facility for the airborne forces in the Tonkin region.

Vietnamese cigarettes commemorating victory of Vo Nguyên Giap’s Viet Minh troops over the French at Điện Biên Phủ in May 1954. The design is taken from a Communist propaganda film still showing Viet Minh soldiers planting their flag over the French HQ.

Zone 3. The Algerian War (1954–1962)

*French Parachute Formation and Unit Insignia 1954-61*

Badge of the Ski scout section of the 18° Bataillon d' Infanterie Parachutiste (18 BIP) and the18e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes (18 RCP). — Badge of the Ski scout section of the 18° Bataillon d’ Infanterie Parachutiste (18 BIP) and the18e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes (18 RCP).

Sud-Ouest SO. 1221 Djinn is a French-manufactured, two-seat, light utility helicopter developed in 1953 and notable for being the first production rotorcraft to use tip-jet propulsion. This unique design eliminated the need for an anti-torque tail rotor, a feature present in most conventional helicopters. The Djinn was used for close reconnaissance, medevac and artillery observation missions in Algeria from 1957.

Vespa 150 TAP. Equipped with a 75mm recoilless rifle and used during the Algerian War. It gave the French paras an ability to bombard fortifications and destroy the armoured vehicles of the National Liberation Front (FLN).

In 1956, following the withdrawal from Indochina, the French Army consolidated its airborne units into two parachute divisions: the 10th and 25th. These divisions were used as the primary strike reserves during the Algerian War (1954-1962) and the Algerian displays showcase the dual role of paratroopers in both high-intensity conflict and counterinsurgency. Unlike the sanitised historical displays of the Foreign Legion Museum, the Musée Mémorial des Parachutistes does not shy away from controversial operations such as the Battle of Algiers and the failed 1961 Putsch des généraux, offering critical insight into the politicization of elite military units during colonial disengagement.

On November 1, 1954, nicknamed “Red All Saints’ Day,” the 41st Parachute Half-Brigade, based in North Africa, was deployed to confront the first rebel groups and conduct pacification and peacekeeping operations. In 1955, the creation of two light airborne divisions was decided: the 25th Airborne Infantry Division, which became the 25th Parachute Division in 1956 by integrating the Colonial Parachute Brigade, and the 10th Parachute Division. The latter distinguished itself particularly in Operation Musketeer, conducted against Egypt on the Suez Canal. Unfortunately, political delays resulted in this operation being too late and too limited, leading to its condemnation by international opinion.

Meanwhile, in Algeria, the rebel groups received weapons and reinforcements from Morocco and Tunisia. In 1957, the Battle of the Frontiers began. Regiments of the 10th and 25th Parachute Divisions were used to intercept rebels in the mountainous areas. Distinguished by their responsiveness and endurance, the paratroopers performed admirably and achieved commendable results.

*Algerian Campaign. Note the marker panel on the machine gunner’s back.*

Also, in 1957, the 10th Parachute Division was sent to the Battle of Algiers and dealt a fatal blow to the terrorist networks. 1958 saw the adoption of the Challe Plan and the establishment of commando units to hunt down rebel groups. The paratroopers distinguished themselves during major operations: Etincelles (Sparks), Couronne (Crown), Jumelle (Twin), and Pierres Précieuses (Precious Stones) in the Oran, Algiers, and Kabylie regions. In 1960, when the rebellion was at its lowest point, the paratroopers were deployed to isolate the barricades, a mission they successfully completed.

In 1961, following the generals’ putsch in which paratroopers were involved, the three reserve divisions—the 11th Infantry Division, the 10th Parachute Division, and the 25th Parachute Division—were dissolved to form the 11th Light Intervention Division on May 1st. After the brief interlude at Bizerte in July 1961, the era of major interventions and a period of incessant fighting came to an end with Algeria’s independence in 1962.

In Algeria, the French paras confirmed their status as elite troops through both their remarkable conduct under fire and their innovative tactics. Alternating with equal effectiveness between peacekeeping missions, airborne encirclement operations, and pursuit in the mountains, they transformed the use of helicopters by combining them with close air support and flying command posts, making them both highly manoeuvrable and capable of conducting brutal assaults.

During my visit I was fortunate to meet one of the museum’s volunteers, Arnand Farrugia who initially qualified as a paratrooper before becoming a pilot and flying helicopters during the Algerian War. He eventually retired after a long career including as a flying instructor and holding command positions in French Army Aviation units. A number of his items are displayed in the Algerian Campaign section of the museum.

Zone 4. Post-Colonial Interventions

From Lebanon to the Balkans and the Sahel region in Africa, this section tracks the transformation of airborne forces into rapid deployment troops in service of international peacekeeping and French overseas operations (OPEX). These displays illustrate the evolution of the airborne regiments during this era through the modernization of equipment and doctrine.

*Sharpshooters of the French Foreign Legion’s 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) in Kolwezi, Zaire during Operation “Léopard”. 19 May 1978.*

*Ceremony at Les Invalides in Paris, for the 58 paratroopers who were killed in a suicide bomb attack on the Drakkar building in Beirut, Lebanon on 23 October 1983.*

*Members of the 2 Foreign Parachute Regiment (2 REP), Somalia 1994*

Opération Amaryllis – 1994, French paras of 3e RPIMa immediately after deploying from the Central African Republic to Rwanda to rescue expatriates in a non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) mission during the first few days of the genocide.

Souvenir of Operation Barracuda, the intervention by French troops to help overthrow the oppressive and corrupt regime of President Jean-Bédel Bokassa in the Central African Republic (CAR) in 1979. Presented by Colonel Daubas to the Airborne Group.

Zone 5. Contemporary Operations

This section addresses the current configuration of airborne forces, including their roles in Operation Barkhane in the Sahel, and global rapid reaction forces. It also underscores their integration with joint and multinational task forces under NATO and UN mandates.

The Temporary Exhibition Space

In addition to its permanent galleries, the Musée des Parachutistes features exhibitions tied to military anniversaries and current research.

My visit coincided with the 60th anniversary of the first High Altitude Operational Parachute Course, so the exhibition, titled “High Altitude, High Precision: The Air Warriors” focus was on the Groupements de Commandos Parachutistes (GCP), Chuteurs Opérationnels (Chutops) and French High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) / Military Free-Fall (MFF) operations.

The exhibition presented a historical overview of the development of the Free-Fall capability within the French Army, equipment, selection, training and operational deployments of these specialised operators.

Right: An overview of the Chuteurs Opérationnels exhibition from the Musée des Parachutistes Instagram page

Free-Fall Parachutist (Chuteur Opérationnel) brevet. Introduced on 8 July 1970 (Homologation / Approval Number S 30). The badge shown here was made by the manufacturer Coinderoux and is numbered 1262. It was awarded to Captain Sonzogni of the *35^th*Parachute Artillery Regiment. Captain Sonzogni was an experienced commando team leader who had completed 19 operational deployments before he was killed in action in Afghanistan on 11 February. Free-Fall Parachutist (Chuteur Opérationnel) brevet. Introduced on 8 July 1970 (Homologation / Approval Number S 30). The badge shown here was made by the manufacturer Coinderoux and is numbered 1262. It was awarded to Captain Sonzogni of the *35^th* Parachute Artillery Regiment. Captain Sonzogni was an experienced commando team leader who had completed 19 operational deployments before he was killed in action in Afghanistan on 11 February. Since 2009, the Parachute Commando Group (GCP) of the 35^th Parachute Artillery Regiment in Tarbes has been named Commando Sonzogni

*Free-Fall Parachutist (Chuteur Opérationnel) brevet number 004 and accompanying certificate awarded to l’Adjudant-Chef Bernard Coqueublin of 9e RCP on 16 Oct. 1969.*

Military Free-Fall /Chuteur Opérationnel parachutist Instructor certificate accompanying brevet number 62 awarded in 1978.

Insignia of the Parachute Commando Group (GCP) of the 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment.

Military Free-Fall /Chuteur Opérationnel parachutist certificate awarded in 1976.

In Memoriam: The Crypt

At the center of the Musée des Parachutistes lies a crypt dedicated to the disbanded units and those who gave their lives in combat. Established alongside the Hall of Honor of the Airborne Troops School (ETAP), this crypt became the foundation around which the museum was built. It serves as a space of collective remembrance, offering both civilians and military personnel a place to honor the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The crypt is divided into several spaces. On the left and right are the pennants of disbanded parachute units, in the center is part of the ‘prayer of the paratrooper’ engraved on marble. Above the flags are two symbolic relics; a box containing earth from Điện Biên Phủ and a stone from the Drakkar building in Beirut where 58 paratroopers of the 1st and 9th RCP perished in a suicide bomb attack on 23 October 1983. Finally, at the entrance to the crypt is the book of the dead, where the names of all the paratroopers who died in combat since the creation of the first French parachute units during the Second World War are inscribed.

Other Areas

*Musée Mémorial des Parachutistes gift shop.*

Visitors complete their tour of the Musée des Parachutistes by passing through the gift shop area which in addition to a range of airborne related souvenirs also include some generic displays including an interesting map featuring para wings from countries around the world. Outside one can find a Panhard VPS Special Forces vehicle along with other vehicle and aircraft displays.

French Para Museum Pau - Musee Memorial des Parachutistes

*Parachutist insignia from various countries on display in the gift shop of the museum.*

Panhard VPS 1 Special Forces 4 x 4 Light Patrol Vehicle on display in the courtyard of the museum. The VPS *(Véhicule Patrouille SAS)* is a light 4×4 patrol vehicle especially designed for Special Forces. The contract was awarded to Panhard in 2005 to supply vehicles to the Special Operations Command. 51 VPSs have been ordered by the French Ministry of Defence. Air transportable in C-160 Transall or C-130 Hercules aircraft, the Panhard VPS had been selected by French Army to meet a requirement for a rapidly deployable vehicle capable of long-duration missions in extremes of climate. The VPS features longer range, a payload capacity of 1200kg and compatibility with extreme climatic conditions. An armored floor provides anti-landmine protection to the crew.

*Nord 2501 Noratlas, Transall C160 and SA. 330 Puma Helicopter on the grounds of the Musée Mémorial des Parachutistes. Photo courtesy École des troupes aéroportées.*

Reflections

The Musée Mémorial Parachutistes was one of the museums that I wanted to see for a long time and unlike the French Foreign Legion Museum which I visited during this same trip, it did not disappoint. This museum is filled with artifacts related to the periods represented and it does not ignore or gloss over the aspects of French military history that may be less than glorious. If you are a collector or somebody interested in France’s airborne history and post 1945 conflicts then the Musée des Parachutistes is a must visit. Highly recommended.

Visitor Information

Musée Mémorial des Parachutistes
Chemin d’ Astra
64140 Lons, Pau
France

Contact
Phone: +33 0559 404 919
Email: musee.parachutistes@gmail.com

Website: museedesparachutistes.com

Opening times
Monday – Thursday: 14:00 – 17:00 / Group visits can be booked in the mornings, 9 am to 12 noon. Closed Friday

The Musée Mémorial des Parachutistes is at the entrance to the École des Troupes Aéroportées (ETAP), on Chemin d’Astra, just off the main Bordeaux road (N134). Follow the arrows from the A64 exit “Pau-Centre”.