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The French realised that most of the ethnic minorities (Bahnar, Bru, Cham, Halang, Hre, Jarai, Jehs, Katus, Koho, Hmong, Raglai, Rengao, Rhade, Sedang, Steng, Meo and Nungs) of Vietnam Laos and Cambodia were prepared to fight the Vietnamese Communist in exchange of protection and civic aids.

The "Groupement des Commandos Mixtes Aeroportes" was created in 1951 by French Special Forces and had a short existence as the program was terminated in 1954 after the fall of Dien Bien Phu and the withdrawal of the French Forces of Indochina. The GCMA’s mission in the French Indochina territory was the formation amongst the ethnic minorities of guerrilla units (maquis) in enemy controlled area (mission similar to the USSF A-teams) , the gathering of intelligence, the destruction of Viet Minh installation and forces, prisoner snatches, radio relays (mission similar to SOG) and the organization of escape routes for possible evacuation of isolated French posts/camps.

In 1953 the GCMA was renamed the GMI Groupement Mixtes D'intervention and would be controlling 15 000 irregulars by the end of 1954. The official reason behind the GCMA new name was supposedly for security and secrecy but the real reason behind was the usual financial one and the desire by the French high command to have to GCMA severed from the TAPI (Troupe Aeroportee d'Indochine) (Airborne). In effect the GMI officers and NCO will no longer receive jump pay and it will no longer be recruited amongst General Gilles paras (Gilles was opposed to the GCMA concept). During its life the GCMA suffered from a lack of human and material resources. It is interesting to note that despite the high success of the GCMA program it suffered from a lack of support and hostile incomprehension of the French Military High command as well as of the local government. The CIDG program and USSF in Vietnam suffered similar problems during the Vietnam war.
It is interesting to note that after the cease fire of 1954, the two US Army officers attached to the GMI were offered to take over the various maquis in North Vietnam, but refusal came from higher US authorities.

FOLLOWING MESSAGE CAME FROM THE VIET MINH HIGH COMMAND IN 1953:
"We need to exterminate at all cost the pirates (GCMA/GMI and commandos), their works can be considered as the biggest machination destined to undermined the Viet Minh movement. Their work will necessitate our reeducation of affected populations and the reconstruction of our bases."

NOTES:
By March 1953 most maquis (like Aiglon, Colibri, Calamar in North Vietnam ) will be strong of 1000 men each, only commanded by one or two GCMA NCO. Once more, the Chinese involvement was demonstrated when the 302nd Chinese Division (with artillery, mortars and heavy machine guns) crossed the border to help the Viet Minh with the annihilation the Maquis Chocolat. This is course was not reported by any sides in fear of a total Chinese involvement in the war.

(I and II CTZ during the Vietnam War)
The low populated central highlands and most of the costal area of Annam were under the controlled of two regular Viet Minh regiments: the 108 and 803 regiment. The few French troops where either in the main towns like Tourane (Da Nang), Kontum or in very isolated outpost only controlling the immediate surrounds. In the spring of 1951, Captain Hentic took over the central highland GCMA section (Kontum and Quang Ngai province) and started at Ban Me Thuot “l’action Hre” providing civic action, organizing village defenses and anti guerrilla units. By the summer of 1952, the Hre movement gained strength and 1500 Hre were fighting the Viet-Minh in the central highlands. During one of their operation between Bat To in the Quang Ngai province and Attopeu in Laos, they discovered a complex of vehicle trails and road depots, what is known as the Ho Chi Minh trail during the Vietnam war. In 1953, the central highlands sections were dissolved and the personnel were transferred to the Tourane section (Da-Nang). In late1954, the program was turned back to the South Vietnamese as the French pullout started.

It is interesting to note that due to very deep routed distrust between the Montagnards and Vietnamese, the program lost its effectiveness, as it will do 15 years later when the CIDG program was turned back to the Vietnamese.

Enlarged photo below

The "Group de Commandos Mixtes Aeroportes" soldiers like most of the French army during the French Indochina war were ill equipped and did wear a mixture of French, American and English uniform and equipment.

This GCMA "Lieutenant" from the "Tourane" (DaNang) section depict a typical French Officer uniform, dressed for a short local patrol in the Quang Ngai province of South Vietnam (Annam) in 1953/54. The red beret often worn to denote their Paratroopers origin will be soon replaced in the field by the French bush hat which is hanging of his water bottle on the baxk of his belt. He is wearing a 1948 shirt with his rank on the left chest pocket. His trousers are the French M47 pattern worn with French jungle boots called “pataugas”. He is armed with a French “PA” on a US WWII pistol belt with 2 MI ammo pouches, one with a US field dressing pouch hanging from , a USM3 fighting knife and a French OF37 grenade and US WWII pinaple grenade. A French Mle 1861 haversack "musette" is slung on his shoulder, which contains ammo as well as food. On his left wrist is his French army dog tag. Around his neck are a scarf made of parachute silk (camouflaged ones were also used), a pair of 8x30 1951 French binoculars in leather case and a whistle which was often used with indigenous troops. Also note WWII German compass hanging from his belt by the grenade, oviously a souvenir from WWII.

FOLLOWS INFORMATION THAT I HAVE ON FRENCH ACTIVITIES IN THE VICINITY OF GIA VUC / BA TO:

CREATION OF AN "HRE" "MAQUIS" IN THE QUANG NGAI PROVINCE BY THE GCMA IN 1952 DURING THE "LATERITE" OPERATION.

2ND MAI 1952, CAPTAIN HENRIC WITH 300 HRE REACHED" BA-TO" (probably coming from KONTUM), BY THE 5TH MAI ON THEIR WAY BACK DURING THE CROSSING OF THE "SONG RE" RIVER THEY RECEIVED HEAVY CASUALTY FROM THE "VIETMINH" REGIMENT 108

If you wish to see more photos of Soldats D'Indochine, please visit the Rolling-Thunder website
where a page is dedicated to their exhibition at Beltring 2004