Dassault Mystère IV
| Industry | Aerospace, Defense |
|---|---|
| Founded | April 22, 1929 in France |
| Founder | Marcel Bloch |
| Headquarters | Saint-Cloud , France |
| Products | Military aircraft, including Dassault MD.454 Mystère IV |
| Website | www |
The Dassault MD.454 Mystère IV is a French fighter-bomber from the 1950s and holds the distinction of being the first transonic aircraft to be officially adopted by the French Air Force. It gained prominence through its deployment by the Israeli Air Force during the 1967 Six-Day War.
Design and development
Derived from the Mystère II, the Mystère IV incorporated aerodynamic refinements aimed at achieving supersonic capabilities, despite retaining a similar external design. Its maiden flight occurred on 28 September 1952, with operational introduction following in April 1953. The initial batch of 50 Mystère IVA models were equipped with British Rolls-Royce Tay turbojet engines, while subsequent versions featured the French Hispano-Suiza Verdon 350 powerplant.
France
France served as the main operator, deploying six squadrons at peak strength. A significant number of these aircraft were procured through a United States Offshore Procurement agreement, with many returned to US control after retirement. In April 1953, the US government and Air Force placed an order for 223 units designated for French use. The Mystère IV participated in combat during the 1956 Suez Crisis and continued in service into the 1980s.
Israel
Israeli-operated Mystère IVs played an active role in various Arab–Israeli conflicts, complementing French forces during the Suez Crisis.
The Mystère IV marked Israel’s first adoption of a swept-wing fighter when an existing order for Mystère IIs was revised to include 24 Mystère IVs in 1955. Deliveries spanned from April to June 1956 to outfit 101 Squadron, followed by an additional 36 aircraft in August and a final reconnaissance variant in September.
During the Suez Crisis of 1956, Israeli Mystères conducted both air-to-air engagements and ground attack sorties. On 30 October, eight Mystères confronted sixteen Egyptian MiG-15s, downing one and inflicting damage on others. The subsequent day, two Mystères claimed four Egyptian De Havilland Vampires along with additional MiG-15 and MiG-17 kills. Across the conflict, Israeli Mystères flew 147 missions, sustaining only a single loss due to ground fire.
In December 1956, 109 Squadron received Mystère IVs, while in November 1961, 101 Squadron transferred its aircraft to 116 Squadron. Although plans existed to replace them with Douglas A-4 Skyhawks, both 109 and 116 Squadrons continued operating Mystères during the Six-Day War. Primarily assigned to ground attack roles, these aircraft flew 610 sorties and claimed three enemy planes—two MiG-17s and one Jordanian Hawker Hunter—while losing seven aircraft: five to ground fire and two in aerial combat. The Mystère was officially withdrawn from Israeli service on 18 March 1971.
India
India acquired a total of 104 Mystère IVs in 1957 and utilized them extensively throughout the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.
On 16 September 1965, an Indian Mystère IVA successfully downed a Pakistani L-19 reconnaissance plane. Earlier that month, on 7 September, an Indian Mystère was struck by a Pakistani F-104 Starfighter over Sargodha; due to an accidental acceleration into the Mystère’s flight path, the Starfighter was shot down. The Pakistani pilot survived by ejecting safely; however, Indian pilot Devayya was killed and subsequently honored posthumously with the Maha Vir Chakra.
During this conflict, a Pakistani F-104 achieved a milestone by recording the first kill using a Mach 2-capable aircraft when it destroyed an Indian Mystère IV employing an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. Indian Mystères also targeted Pakistani assets on the ground, destroying four F-86F Sabres, three F-104 Starfighters, and two C-130 Hercules transport planes.
Following the war of 1965, India began phasing out the Mystère IV; nevertheless, it remained active during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 before being fully retired from Indian Air Force service by 1973.
Variants
- Mystère IV
- This prototype was powered by a Rolls-Royce Tay 250 engine.
- Mystère IVA
- The production model designed as a fighter-bomber, with a total of 421 units manufactured. The initial 50 were equipped with the Rolls-Royce Tay 250, while the subsequent 371 utilized the French Hispano-Suiza Verdon engine variant.
- Mystère IVB
- The enhanced Mystère IVB was fitted with either Rolls-Royce Avon engines (in the first two prototypes) or SNECMA Atar 101 afterburning engines, along with a radar ranging gunsight. Six pre-production aircraft were constructed before the program was discontinued in favor of the Super Mystère. In 1954, pilot Constantin Rozanoff tragically lost his life during a low-altitude demonstration flight of this version.
- Mystère IVN
- Dassault developed a two-seat, all-weather interceptor variant called the Mystère IVN. It featured an AN/APG-33 radar system, was powered by a Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet, and carried 55×68 mm Matra rockets housed in a retractable ventral tray. The prototype’s maiden flight occurred on 19 July 1954. Although the French Air Force ultimately selected the Sud Aviation Vautour and F-86K Sabre for interception roles, the IVN prototype remained in use as a radar test platform for several years.
Operators
- French Air Force, received 241 aircraft
- Indian Air Force, acquired 110 units
- Israeli Air Force, operated 61 aircraft
Israel
- Serial number 60 – Dassault Mystère exhibited at the Israeli Air Force Museum.
United Kingdom
- Serial number 70 – Dassault Mystère displayed at the Midland Air Museum, Coventry.
- Serial number 79 – Dassault Mystère preserved at the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum, Flixton.
- Serial number 83 – Dassault Mystère showcased at the Newark Air Museum, Winthorpe, Nottinghamshire.
- Serial number 121 – Dassault Mystère located at the City of Norwich Aviation Museum, Horsham St Faith, Norfolk.
- Serial number 318 – Dassault Mystère exhibited at the Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum, Dumfries, Scotland.
United States
- Serial number 57 – Dassault Mystère IVA on display at the Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona.
Poland
- Serial number 146 – Dassault Mystère IVa presented at the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków.
India
- IA1007 – Dassault Mystère IVA shown at Jahaz Chowk, Gurdaspur.
See also
Record-breaking aviators