Section - Airborne Troops

After being incorporated into the Army on July 10, 1945, the French airborne troops faced the challenge of their training centers being scattered across the country. Military authorities decided to consolidate all paratrooper regiments, along with the ground and air resources necessary for their training, in the Southwest—a region whose infrastructure had been spared by the war. In September 1945, the first class of paratroopers received their wings, and the Center for the Organization and Training of Airborne Troops was established in October in Mont-de-Marsan. At the same time, the 1st Parachute Chasseurs Regiment trained in Pau and conducted its jumps at Uzein from Junkers 52s flying in from Le Bourget. The geographical location of the Pau garrison, combined with favorable weather conditions known since the early days of aviation, naturally designated it as the future national paratrooper training center. Beginning in February 1946, the school in Lannion was gradually transferred to the region. The Airborne Troops Training Center (CETAP) was established in Pau and Idron on April 16, 1946. It brought together the Mont-de-Marsan center, the Lannion school, and military personnel of all ranks from the 25th Airborne Division who had remained in metropolitan France. In May 1946, the CETAP incorporated 3,000 recruits intended to reinforce the 25th Parachute Division stationed in North Africa. On June 1, 1946, the military parachutist badge was created. To earn it, one must complete eight automatic-opening jumps under various conditions. On June 1, 1947, the CETAP became the Airborne Troops School (ETAP). To date, more than 713,000 military paratroopers have been certified in Pau, the center of expertise for military parachute training.

Bloc de timbres (taille douce) : création et mise en page Christophe Laborde-Balen Document philatélique et cachet d’oblitération : création et mise en page Christophe Laborde-Balen Texte : Philippe Rozen et Jean-Claude Ferret, Groupe Philatélique Béarnais