Dupont Vietnam (Indochine)

Dupont – Foreign Legion 2e REP

S.T. Dupont petrol lighter produced exclusively for Drago Paris, the French manufacturer of military insignia and regimental souvenirs. One side bears a mounted triangular badge of the 2e Régiment étranger de parachutistes (2e REP) of the French Foreign Legion, while the other shows a relief of an Indochinese dragon forming the outline of French Indochina/Vietnam, a motif commonly found on souvenirs from the Indochina War period. The base is marked S.T. DUPONT with the Dupont hallmark and DRAGO PARIS EXCLUSIVE.

The badge represents the 2e Régiment étranger de parachutistes (2e REP), an airborne regiment of the French Foreign Legion, an elite volunteer formation of the French Army widely deployed during the First Indochina War (1946–1954). The regiment was formed in 1948 as part of the Legion’s parachute forces and saw extensive combat in Indochina, including major airborne operations and the Battle of Dien Bien Phu (1954).

Model:
Petrol S.T. Dupont for Drago
Year:
1946 - 54
Status:
in collection

Vorderseite von Dupont – Foreign Legion 2e REP, Modell Petrol S.T. Dupont for Drago, Jahr 1946 - 54, Bild 1

Vorderseite von Dupont – Foreign Legion 2e REP, Modell Petrol S.T. Dupont for Drago, Jahr 1946 - 54, Bild 2

Vorderseite von Dupont – Foreign Legion 2e REP, Modell Petrol S.T. Dupont for Drago, Jahr 1946 - 54, Bild 3

Vorderseite von Dupont – Foreign Legion 2e REP, Modell Petrol S.T. Dupont for Drago, Jahr 1946 - 54, Bild 4

Vorderseite von Dupont – Foreign Legion 2e REP, Modell Petrol S.T. Dupont for Drago, Jahr 1946 - 54, Bild 5

Dupont – Troupes de Marine 21e RIMa

S.T. Dupont petrol lighter produced exclusively for Drago Paris, the French manufacturer of military insignia and regimental souvenirs. One side bears a mounted badge of the 21e Régiment d’Infanterie de Marine (21e RIMa) of the French Troupes de Marine, while the other shows a relief of an Indochinese dragon forming the outline of French Indochina/Vietnam, a motif commonly found on souvenirs from the Indochina War period. The base is marked S.T. DUPONT with the Dupont hallmark and DRAGO PARIS EXCLUSIVE.

The badge represents the 21e Régiment d’Infanterie de Marine (21e RIMa), a regiment of the French Troupes de Marine, historically linked to France’s colonial and overseas forces. The emblem combines the traditional anchor of the Troupes de Marine with a dolphin, a maritime symbol often used by these units. Elements of the regiment served with French expeditionary forces during the First Indochina War (1946–1954), where units of the Troupes de Marine took part in riverine, coastal and ground operations throughout French Indochina.

Model:
Petrol S.T. Dupont for Drago
Year:
1946 - 54
Status:
in collection

Vorderseite von Dupont – Troupes de Marine 21e RIMa, Modell Petrol S.T. Dupont for Drago, Jahr 1946 - 54, Bild 1

Vorderseite von Dupont – Troupes de Marine 21e RIMa, Modell Petrol S.T. Dupont for Drago, Jahr 1946 - 54, Bild 2

Dupont – Foreign Legion 1er BEP

S.T. Dupont petrol lighter produced exclusively for Drago Paris, the French manufacturer of military insignia and regimental souvenirs. One side bears a mounted badge of the 1er Bataillon étranger de parachutistes (1er BEP) of the French Foreign Legion, while the other shows a panel decorated with repeated Legion flaming grenades, the traditional emblem of the French Foreign Legion. The base is marked S.T. DUPONT with the Dupont hallmark and DRAGO PARIS EXCLUSIVE.

The badge represents the 1er Bataillon étranger de parachutistes (1er BEP), the first parachute battalion of the French Foreign Legion. Formed in 1948, the unit was part of the Legion’s airborne forces and played a major role during the First Indochina War (1946–1954). The battalion took part in numerous airborne operations and was heavily engaged in combat during the conflict before being reorganized into later Legion parachute units.

Model:
Petrol S.T. Dupont for Drago
Year:
1946 - 54
Status:
in collection

Vorderseite von Dupont – Foreign Legion 1er BEP, Modell Petrol S.T. Dupont for Drago, Jahr 1946 - 54, Bild 1

Vorderseite von Dupont – Foreign Legion 1er BEP, Modell Petrol S.T. Dupont for Drago, Jahr 1946 - 54, Bild 2

Dupont – French Army 54e RA

S.T. Dupont petrol lighter produced exclusively for Drago Paris, the French manufacturer of military insignia and regimental souvenirs. One side bears a mounted badge associated with the 54e Régiment d’Artillerie Nord-Africaine (54e RA), featuring crossed cannons, a crescent and star and the number 54, while the other shows an engraved map of Laos with regions such as Xieng Khouang, Tonkin and Phong Saly, referring to the Indochina theatre of operations. The base is marked S.T. DUPONT with the Dupont hallmark and DRAGO PARIS EXCLUSIVE.

The 54e Régiment d’Artillerie Nord-Africaine (54e RA) was a unit of the French Army composed largely of North African troops. Its insignia incorporates traditional artillery symbols such as crossed cannons, together with the crescent and chérifian star, reflecting its North African origins. Elements of the regiment served with French forces during the First Indochina War (1946–1954), where artillery units supported infantry operations across Vietnam and Laos. The map of Laos on the lighter reflects the operational theatre of French forces during the final phase of the conflict.

Model:
Petrol S.T. Dupont for Drago
Year:
1946 - 54
Status:
in collection

Vorderseite von Dupont – French Army 54e RA, Modell Petrol S.T. Dupont for Drago, Jahr 1946 - 54, Bild 1

Vorderseite von Dupont – French Army 54e RA, Modell Petrol S.T. Dupont for Drago, Jahr 1946 - 54, Bild 2

Dupont – French Army BF/ONU

S.T. Dupont petrol lighter produced exclusively for Drago Paris. One side bears a mounted badge of the Bataillon français de l’ONU, featuring a soldier with bayonet before the French tricolour and the inscription «BATAILLON FRANÇAIS». The other side shows an engraved map of Korea marked with «Corée» and Seoul, referring to the theatre of operations during the Korean War. The base is marked S.T. DUPONT with the Dupont hallmark and DRAGO PARIS EXCLUSIVE.

The badge represents the French Battalion of the United Nations Command (Bataillon français de l’ONU), a volunteer infantry battalion of the French Army formed in 1950 to fight under United Nations command during the Korean War (1950–1953). The battalion served alongside the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division and participated in several major engagements including Wonju, Chipyong-ni and Heartbreak Ridge, earning a distinguished combat reputation. Decorated items such as this lighter were often acquired by officers as souvenirs commemorating service in Korea.

Model:
Petrol S.T. Dupont for Drago
Year:
1950 - 53
Status:
in collection

Vorderseite von Dupont – French Army BF/ONU, Modell Petrol S.T. Dupont for Drago, Jahr 1950 - 53, Bild 1

Vorderseite von Dupont – French Army BF/ONU, Modell Petrol S.T. Dupont for Drago, Jahr 1950 - 53, Bild 2

Drago – French Army CMILLAT

Petrol lighter produced by Drago Paris, the French manufacturer of military insignia and regimental souvenirs. The front is decorated with a large relief of an Indochinese dragon forming the outline of French Indochina/Vietnam, a motif commonly found on souvenirs from the Indochina War period. The reverse bears a mounted badge of the Corps Militaire d’Interprétation des Langues Locales de l’Armée de Terre (CMILLAT), featuring three elephant heads above figures before a monument, symbols associated with service in Laos and the Indochina theatre. The base is marked DRAGO – 43 Rue Olivier Métra – Paris – Type Spécial.

The badge represents the Corps Militaire d’Interprétation des Langues Locales de l’Armée de Terre (CMILLAT), a corps of military interpreters and language specialists of the French Army. Members of this unit served with French expeditionary forces during the First Indochina War (1946–1954), assisting with translation, liaison and intelligence duties between French forces and local populations in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Souvenir items such as decorated lighters were often acquired by officers and specialists serving in the Indochina theatre.

Model:
Petrol DRAGO Type Spécial
Year:
1946 - 54
Status:
in collection