The GIGN brought revolvers to an AK-47 gunfight. And won.
Christmas Eve, 1994. On Air France Flight 8969, everything seemed routine, as the passengers watched four men in police uniforms walk through the cabin, checking passports. Until the uniforms suddenly came off, and they pulled out AK-47s, screaming in Arabic. The terrorists grabbed a Vietnamese diplomat and dragged him to the front of the plane and executed him, his body thrown onto the runway for all to see.
For two days, the 229 passengers sat in that cabin not knowing if they’d see Christmas morning. Two more passengers were executed, but this wouldn’t be the end of it: The hijackers had demanded 27 tons of fuel for a flight to Paris, more than double what was needed. French intelligence understood: They were going to crash the aircraft into the Eiffel Tower, turning the famous landmark into an image the world would never forget.
While negotiations dragged on, 30 GIGN operators flew to Marseille aboard an Airbus A300. The plane was identical to the hijacked one, so they could spend every minute rehearsing the rescue. When the hijacked plane landed for refueling, the elite unit was already waiting, planting listening devices to pinpoint the hijackers. But hours into the standoff, the militants suddenly opened fire on the control tower. The French knew they needed to act now, and gave the green light for an immediate assault.
Thierry Prungnaud was first through the door. While AK-47 rounds tore through the cabin around him, he raised his Manurhin MR73, a six-shot .357 Magnum revolver. In seconds, he neutralized three of the four hijackers. He took seven AK-47 rounds but kept fighting, clearing the way for his team mates behind him.
17 minutes later, it was over. All four hijackers neutralized, 173 passengers rescued alive, and nine GIGN operators wounded, none fatally. The assault broadcasted live on TV.
The MR73 revolver that Prungnaud had used was tested with 170,000 full-power rounds before the testers gave up. Every GIGN operator trains with 150 rounds through their revolver, every day. Their philosophy is simple: Six rounds means you don’t miss.
The GIGN didn’t.
Christmas Eve, 1994. On Air France Flight 8969, everything seemed routine, as the passengers watched four men in police uniforms walk through the cabin, checking passports. Until the uniforms suddenly came off, and they pulled out AK-47s, screaming in Arabic. The terrorists grabbed a Vietnamese diplomat and dragged him to the front of the plane and executed him, his body thrown onto the runway for all to see.
For two days, the 229 passengers sat in that cabin not knowing if they’d see Christmas morning. Two more passengers were executed, but this wouldn’t be the end of it: The hijackers had demanded 27 tons of fuel for a flight to Paris, more than double what was needed. French intelligence understood: They were going to crash the aircraft into the Eiffel Tower, turning the famous landmark into an image the world would never forget.
While negotiations dragged on, 30 GIGN operators flew to Marseille aboard an Airbus A300. The plane was identical to the hijacked one, so they could spend every minute rehearsing the rescue. When the hijacked plane landed for refueling, the elite unit was already waiting, planting listening devices to pinpoint the hijackers. But hours into the standoff, the militants suddenly opened fire on the control tower. The French knew they needed to act now, and gave the green light for an immediate assault.
Thierry Prungnaud was first through the door. While AK-47 rounds tore through the cabin around him, he raised his Manurhin MR73, a six-shot .357 Magnum revolver. In seconds, he neutralized three of the four hijackers. He took seven AK-47 rounds but kept fighting, clearing the way for his team mates behind him.
17 minutes later, it was over. All four hijackers neutralized, 173 passengers rescued alive, and nine GIGN operators wounded, none fatally. The assault broadcasted live on TV.
The MR73 revolver that Prungnaud had used was tested with 170,000 full-power rounds before the testers gave up. Every GIGN operator trains with 150 rounds through their revolver, every day. Their philosophy is simple: Six rounds means you don’t miss.
The GIGN didn’t.
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During the 1940s and 50s, the Arctic became a new frontier for military testing. Soldiers faced extreme sub-zero temperatures, requiring really thick & cool balaclavas, with layered canvas gear to prevent frostbite. These bitter outfits were the first real attempt at specialized cold-weather survival for the US. ❄️🪖
#usmilitary #explore #arctic #vintagephoto #history
#usmilitary #explore #arctic #vintagephoto #history