General Jean-Patrick Gaviard, Air Defense and Air Operations Commander for the French Air Force, met Putin and Chirac at the entrance to the CDAOA headquarters in Taverny, northwest of Paris. He showed them around the premises, calling their attention to highlights such as French pilots' Hall of Fame. It features, in particular, photographs and memorabilia of the Normandie-Niemen squadron, which fought against the Nazi Germany on Soviet territory during World War II.
Gen. Gaviard then held a closed briefing for Putin and Chirac, revealing the Command's goals and objectives. He also showed them around the monitoring center that exerts permanent control over the airspace of France.
On behalf of the French AF, Putin was offered a stylized replica of an airplane wing, installed on a granite platform. The Russian President thanked the Command leadership and staff for having him and particularly for their remembering the legacy of the Normandie-Niemen squadron. He went on to say that in an effort to uphold the traditions started by the pilot group during WWII, the Air Forces of Russia and France would hold a joint tactical exercise later this year.
President Putin is the first foreign head of state to have been invited to visit the CDAOA headquarters and to have been told about its operations in detail. Today was also the first time the media had been allowed in. As a result of the tough measures taken to ensure security at this secret site, some of the reporters got their camera lenses lost or broken.
