VF-53 Algerian War, Phase 2 The civil war in Algeria erupted in 1954 with attacks by guerillas of the Front de Liberation Nationale (FLN) against the military and French colonists. Initially, the French air Force was able to use airfields in the French colonies of Morocco and Tunisia, until both territories gained independence later in the war. T-6 Texan Mistral (Dehavilland Vampire) Suggested Aircraft Lockheed P2V Neptune F-4U Corsair Mistral (De Havilland Vampire) T-6G Texan P-47 Thunderbolt Martin Marauder B-26 (Any appropriate aircraft) Mission Legs 1. Anti-arms smuggling Maritime patrol - Lockheed P2V aircraft. Fly coastal patrol from Rabah Bitat (DABB) via Ferhat Abbas (DAAV), Houari Boumediene-Algiers (DAAG), Mostaganem (FS9 – DAØE/FSX - DA14), Bou Sfer (DAOE). Land at Es Senia-Oran (DAOO) - 438nm. 2. Napalm attack - T6 Texan aircraft. Fly from Oran (DAOO). Low level napalm attack against FLN forces at Saida (FS9 – DAØF/FSX - DA15). Return to Oran - 118nm. 3. Low level strafing of FLN - F-4 Corsair aircraft. Fly from Algiers (DAAG). Attack FLN forces at Ain Oussera (DAAQ). Return to Algiers - 144nm. 4. Bombing of FLN forces - Martin B-26 aircraft. Fly from Algiers (DAAG). Low level bombing of FLN camp at Mostepha Ben Boulaid (DABT). Return to Algiers - 322nm. 5. Morice Line Patrol – Mistral/P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft. Post-independence for Tunisia and Morocco, Algerian forces were denied bases in those countries. The FLN used both territories to ship arms into Algeria. The French response was the construction of the Morice Line on the Algeria-Tunisia border. The line was an electrified fence, 2.5m high protected by minefields and patrolled by air running from the Mediterranean coast to the Sahara. From Mohamed Boudiaf-Constantine (DABC) overfly 7th November-Tabarka (DTKA), Cheikh Larbi Tebessi (DABS) and Nefta (DTTZ). Land at Biskra (DAUB) - 437nm. NOTAMS: Total mission distance 1,4710nm. 5 flights required for ribbon credit .