Jamal Awil

← A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962

French forces could airlift two battalions within five minutes. [fact]

By summer 1959 the Challe Plan really got into its stride, with a massive force of two first-class divisions earmarked for the key Réserve Générale. The modern, mechanised equipment backing up this force was impressive. In contrast to the early days when the French had at their behest only a handful of small helicopters, there were now enough big, American-made “Flying Bananas” to lift into action two whole battalions in a matter of five minutes. … (At the same time, the use of so much American military equipment supplied for the benefit of France in N.A.T.O. was the source of increasing embarrassment to the American government, and of alienation between them and the already prickly de Gaulle.)

XREF: Connects to NATO military aid dynamics and de Gaulle's strained relations with the US during the Algerian War.

Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Alge…, loc. 1011