Our figure represents one of the French NCO's of this unit during one of the most famous incidents of the battle of Dien Ben Phu (DBP).
On 18th April 1954 Capt. Bizard led the survivors of the 1st Company, 5BPVN and those of 1/2e REI (Legion Infantry) in a desperate breakout attempt down the airstrip from "Huguette 6".
Using hand grenades to suppress the Viet Minh the troops had to jump over the enemy approach trenches.
Witnesses described them wearing pairs of partially filled sandbags worn front and back as improvised flak jackets
By 1953 most para units were being issued the French camouflaged jump uniform, in this case the Tenue de Saut Mle 47/52 and the TAP Mle.50 webbing equipment.
Our NCO is equipped with a MAT49 SMG, the magazines for which are carried in the 5 pocket pouch on his TAP Mle 50 belt. Not visible is the waterbottle from the same set, worn on the right hip, and his TAP pattern holster for his 1911A1 pistol.
His helmet is a US M1 but with a locally fabricated parachutist liner. It is covered with the US WW2 helmet net and elastic band.
On his feet he wears the famous "pataugas". Around his neck is a scarf cut from a US parachute.