The 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment (or 1er RCP) is the oldest and one of the most decorated of the French parachute regiments. It was incorporated in 1943 in Morocco. He distinguished himself during the liberation campaigns of France, Indochina and Algeria.
This elite regiment currently belongs to the 11th Parachute Brigade.
The 1st RCP is the only parachute regiment to retain traces of its origins within the Air Force as evidenced by the "scavengers", which are sparrowhawks, placed on the shoulder sheaths of uniforms and the insignia, which is that of the former 601st GIA, Air Infantry Group.
Creation and different denominations
April 1, 1937 establishment of the 601st and 602nd Air Infantry Groups (GIA) based respectively in Reims and Baraki near Algiers.
August 24, 1940, the two groups are dissolved in Maison-Carrée near Algiers.
In July 1941, the armistice commission authorized the formation of air infantry company no. /P>
February 1, 1943, No. 1 CIA became No. 1 Parachute Fighter Battalion with four companies.
June 1, 1943, the BCP no 1 becomes the 1st RCP which soon includes 10 companies divided into a staff and two battalions.
On July 30, 1947, the unit disappeared as a regiment. The three battalions then intervened individually during the Indochina War.
On September 1, 1955, the 1er RCP was reformed from its first battalion and elements of the 1er RHP (1st parachute hussar regiment).
History of garrisons, campaigns and battles
World War II
In 1939, when the Second World War began, the 601st GIA moved to Pujaut and the 602nd GIA to Montélimar. Together, they form an Air Infantry Group which is placed in general reserve. In March 1940, they formed a marching company which carried out free corps missions for the benefit of the 28th Alpine Division. On June 23, 1940, the group was withdrawn to Algiers at Maison Blanche. It was disbanded on August 24 without having made an operational jump.
Air Company No. 1 was formed in March 1941, bringing together men from the 601st and 602nd GIA (air infantry groups) in Oued-Smar near Algiers. It is commanded by Captain Sauvagnac.
on December 24, 1942, WO Guilhemjouan (patent no 131) and Cpl Vullierme (patent no 270) accompanied the demolition platoon of the 2/509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, commanded by Lt De Leo, during the raid on El Djem, in the Tebessa region. The operation is a fiasco, but the 2 Frenchmen are among the survivors who return after many adventures. These two paratroopers are therefore the first soldiers of the future 1st RCP to have made an operational jump, followed on August 15, 1944 by the 10 other parachute hunters who accompany Cpt Boffy as well as 11 shock commandos, to officially serve as interpreters for the 9 700 airborne from General Frederick's First Airborne Task Force, Rugby Force of the Landing of Provence.
In January 1943, shortly after the Allied landings in North Africa, Company No. 1 embarked for Fez in Morocco. The command transforms it into the 1st BCP (first battalion of parachute hunters) under the orders of Commander Sauvagnac.
On June 1, 1943, the 1st parachute fighter regiment was created under the orders of Commander Sauvagnac. Modeled on the American model, the 1st RCP is attached to the 82nd Airborne Division. He is stationed on the Oujda field alongside the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
October 3, 1944:baptism of fire in Ferdrupt in the Vosges. Integrated into the 1st DB, it is driven to battle sites in trucks.
October 16, 1944:capture of the Col du Ménil, fighting on Hill 1008 (a monument was erected to the regiment)
From December 13 to 21, 1944:fighting around the perimeter of Colmar
January 7, 1945:defense of Strasbourg
From January 25 to 29, 1945:capture of Jebsheim (pocket of Colmar)
February 2, 1945:capture of Colmar
12 officers killed while serving in the 1er RCP between 1943 and 1945.
Indochina War
Elements of the 1st RCP are sent to Indochina:a company in 1946 , then two battalions (the 1st and 3rd from 1947 to 1949) within the paratrooper marching demi-brigade (DBMP).
In October 1948, the 2nd Battalion arrived as reinforcements and remained in Indochina until 1950, to return there in 1952. Led by Commander Bréchignac, it was parachuted into Ðien Biên Phu on November 20, 1953 as part of the operation “Castor” to take the position, then again, between April 1 and 5, 1954, to reinforce the besieged garrison. He fights until the fall of the entrenched camp on May 7, 1954, distinguishing himself in particular in the defense of the "Eliane 1" strongpoint, where he is practically annihilated, like most of the other parachute units engaged in the battle. .
In total, the different battalions of the 1er RCP which succeeded each other carried out 25 airborne operations.
Main battles:
January 1947:Hai Phòng
April-May 1947:Operation “Butterfly”
October 1947:Operation “Léa”
April- May 1954:Dien Biên Phu
War in Algeria
The 1er RCP served in the Algerian War from 1955 to 1961.
He belonged to the 10th D.P from July 1, 1956 to March 31, 1960. Then to the 25th D.P from April 1, 1960 to April 30, 1961. He returned to France in June 1961.
Since 1962
From September 1983, the unit took part in the Diodon mission in Lebanon. On October 23, 1983, 56 paratroopers from Captain Thomas' 3rd company perished in the Drakkar attack in Beirut.
Military medal of Chief Warrant Officer Mespléde
Exceptionally and by decree, the pennant of the 3rd company, present in Beirut and target of the Drakkar attack, wears the Military Medal.
On July 12, 2009, the fourragère in the colors of the Legion of Honor (red) was given to him in the courtyard of honor of the invalids by the Chief of Staff of the Army, this fourragère replacing the fourragère in the colors of the War Cross of External Theaters of Operations.
Since 2010, the regiment has been called upon to serve as well for its training, in Great Britain, Spain, Germany, Belgium, in Senegal, in Guyana (Mission of surveillance of the border with Surinam, along the Maroni, and control of PPDS camps), in Reunion, New Caledonia, Gabon only under agreements with sovereign States, Chad and the Central African Republic or on overseas missions in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Côte d'Ivoire, Haiti, Mali...
Since its creation in 1943, more than 2,000 men of the 1er RCP have died or been wounded.
On June 1, 2013, the date of the 70th anniversary of the Regiment, a memorial dedicated to all the parachute hunters who died in service or for France since the creation of the regiment was inaugurated.
Successive garrisons
1937:Reims garrison
1939:Pujaut
1941:Oued Smar (Algeria)
January 1943:Fez (Morocco)
October 7, 1943:Oujda (Morocco)
April 7, 1944:Trapani (Sicily, Italy)
July 2, 1944:Rome ( Italy)
September 4, 1944:Valence (France)
May 1945:Avord camp (France) (Certificate of all paratroopers who participated in the campaign of France)
September 1945:Pau (1st battalion), Bayonne (2nd battalion), Idron camp near Pau (3rd battalion)
1946-1954 (Indochina War):the 1st RCP is based in Hanoi
1956-1960 (Algerian War):Fort de l'Eau near Algiers
1960-1961 (Algerian War):Camp Pehaut in Philippevillede
1961-1962:Moulins-lès-Metz
1962:Pau (Idron camp)1
1962-1970 (Ger camp) Training center (ex CI 18e RCP)
1984:Souge camp in Gironde
1999:as part of the professionalization of the army, the 1st RCP moved to Pamiers in Ariège in place of the 9th RCP which was dissolved.
Traditions
Currency
Motto of the parachute regiments:'And by Saint Michael, long live the paratroopers'
Motto of the regiment:'Beware of the raptors that swoop down from the sky'
Mottos of the companies :
Command and Services Company (CCS):"Victory at the point of the sword".
1st Combat Company:"From heaven to combat".
2nd combat company:"Believe and dare" then "No way, average anyway".
3rd combat company:"I want and can" then "I want, I can".
4th combat company:"In cauda venenum".
5th company, reserve company:"Ense et aratro".
Lighting and support company (CEA):"Do not suffer".
11th company:"Vaincre or die".
12th company:"Formare et sustentare pugnam" or "Vaincr e, anywhere or "anytime" or "anyone"?
13th company:"Forward confidence".
Badge
The 1st RCP uses the insignia of the 601st GIA created in 1937 by Captain Sauvagnac and Lieutenant Glaizot. Its approval only took effect in 1972 under the number G.2321. The insignia symbolizes by its wings its original membership in the Air Force and by the parachute the specialty of the unit. The star is that of the commandos.
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Flag
It bears, sewn in gold letters in its folds, the following inscriptions7,8:Vosges 1944 - Colmar 1945 - Indochine 1947-1950 -1953-1954 - AFN 1952-1962
The flag was handed over to the 1st Battalion of the Regiment on April 14, 1944 at Paceco in Sicily.
Singing
Decorations
New fodder of the 1er RCP (with insignia of the 2nd company)
For the fights carried out during the liberation of the territory, the regiment was cited at the order of the army and decorated with the Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with two palms for its behavior in the Vosges and in Colmar.
He also wears seven palms on the three War Crosses of External Theaters of Operations obtained individually by his three battalions.
For its participation in Operation Pamir in Afghanistan, the regiment was decorated on November 11, 2011 with the Cross of Military Valor with palm.
On May 21, 2012, the regiment's flag was decorated with the cross of military valor, along with that of the other units of the 11th Parachute Brigade for the intervention in Afghanistan as part of the ISAF.
On June 1, 2013, the regiment was decorated a second time with the cross of military valor with palm, for its action in Afghanistan. The decoration is presented by the Chief of the Army Staff, General Ract-Madoux, during ceremonies marking the 70th anniversary of its creation.
For the two citations obtained during the Second World War, the regiment is entitled to wear the fourragère in the colors of the ribbon of the Croix de guerre 1914-1918 with olive in the colors of the ribbon of the Croix de guerre 1939-1945.
For the seven citations obtained in Indochina by the various battalions, between 1947 and 1954, the regiment obtained in 2009 the right to wear the red fourragère, in the color of the ribbon of the Legion of Honor, with olive in the colors of the ribbon of the War Cross for External Theaters of Operations (TOE). This was officially handed over on Sunday, July 12, 2009, at the end of the afternoon, in the main courtyard of the Invalides by the highest authorities of the army. It replaced the blue and red fodder, in the colors of the TOE War Cross.
The two citations obtained in Afghanistan give the regiment the right to wear a third fourragère, created by circular of November 28, 2011, in the colors of the ribbon of the cross of military valor.
Fourragère in the colors of the Legion of Honor ribbon.
Fourragère in the colors of the 1914 1918 War Cross ribbon with olive in the colors of the 1939 1945 War Cross ribbon.
Sponsorship
Since January 31, 2015, the town of Jebsheim has been sponsored by the 1er RCP in memory of the glorious battles that took place during the Battle of Colmar in January 1945.
Leaders
601st GIA
1937 - 1941:captain Sauvagnac
602nd GIA
1937 - 1941:captain Loizeau
CIA no 1
1941 - 1943:captain Sauvagnac
BCP no 1
1943 - 1943:captain Sauvagnac
1st RCP12
1943 - 1943:commander Hartemann
1943 - 1943:battalion commander Sauvagnac
1943 - 1944:Colonel Geille
1944 - 1945:Lieutenant-Colonel Faure
1945 - 1947:Lieutenant-Colonel Sauvagnac
The battalions d'Indochine
I/1er RCP
1946 - 1948:Vismes Battalion Commander
1948 - 1949:Captain Bastouil
1954 - 1954:chief of staff taillon Dangoumau
II/1er RCP
1948 - 1948:battalion commander Fossey-François
1948 - 1949:captain Mollat
1949 - 1950:captain Broizat
1952 - 1954:battalion commander Bréchignac
1954 - 1954:captain Peaudecerf
III/1er RCP
1946 - 1948:battalion commander Fossey-François
1954 - 1954:battalion commander Ducruc
1st RCP reconstituted
1955 - 1958:lieutenant-colonel Mayer
1958 - 1959:lieutenant-colonel Coustaux
1959 - 1960:Colonel Broizat
1960 - 1961:Lieutenant-Colonel Plassard
1961 - 1961:Lieutenant-Colonel Genestout
1961 - 1962:Lieutenant-Colonel Lafontaine
1962 - 1964:Lieutenant-Colonel Varennes
1964 - 1966:Lieutenant-Colonel Vernet
1966 - 1968:colonel Aussaresses
1968 - 1970:lieutenant-colonel Rouquette
1970 - 1972:colonel Brenac
1972 - 1974:colonel de Biré
1974 - 1976:colonel Fayette
1976 - 1978:colonel Chazarain
1978 - 1980:colonel Sengeisen
1980 - 1982:colonel Aumonier
1982 - 1984:colonel Cardinal
1984 - 1986:colonel Rioufol
1986 - 1988:Colonel Vola
1988 - 1990:Colonel de Loustal
1990 - 1992:Colonel Maupoume
1992 - 1994:column l Leroy
1994 - 1996:colonel Damay
1996 - 1998:colonel Lechevallier
1998 - 1999:lieutenant-colonel Leclere
1999 - 1999:colonel Servera
1999 - 2001:colonel Baillaud
2001 - 2003:colonel Thuet
2003 - 2005:colonel Salaün
2005 - 2007:colonel Collet
2007 - 2009:colonel Blachon13
2009 - 2011:Colonel Sénétaire
2011 - 2013:Colonel de Loustal
2013 -:Colonel Helluy
Achievements of particular honor to the regiment
On the evening of January 25, 1945, the 2nd Battalion was given the task of seizing the Bois du Moulin de Jebsheim, which would be the starting point for all the action on Jebsheim. Indeed, the village is an ulcer on the access to the Rhône-Rhine canal and on that of the Colmar canal (see Pocket of Colmar). At the forefront of the Allied system, the 1st RCP allowed a significant advance on Colmar to the east of the city. Enemy resistance west of the Rhine is practically annihilated
Personalities who served in the regiment
Patrick Mosconi, novelist and painter.
Philippe de Dieuleveult completed his military service with the 1er RCP in 1973.
Alain Gomez, former Chairman and CEO of Thomson-CSF (today Thalès) and Facom.
Claude Pinoteau, filmmaker.
Guy Teissier (1966/1967), MP for Bouches-du- Rhône, President of the Commission for National Defense and the Armed Forces of the National Assembly.
Thomas Gauvin, first Saint-Cyrian to fall in Afghanistan.
Antoine Dejean de la Bâtie,
Jean-Claude Bouillon, actor