Why IIIO?

When Australia became interested in the Mirage III, the current production model was the Mirage IIIE and this aircraft was to form the basis of the Australian Mirage. Obviously the Australian Mirage could not be designated IIIA as that was already taken, but why did Dassault jump ahead to O? The usual explanation is that O = Ostralia but this is not often documented.

Author, Jack Gee, in his book "Mirage - Warplane for the World" (Macdonald, 1971), attributes the O designation directly to:

Waquet who invented this designation in a characteristic moment of humour.

Bernard Waquet was Dassault's Deputy Export Manager. As a Commander in the Aeronavale, he flew Helldivers and Hellcats in the Indochina War.

The noted British aviation writer, Bill Gunston, mentions it in his book "Early Supersonic Fighters of the West" (Ian Allan, 1976):

Knowing the sense of humour of Bernard Wacquet (sic), Dassault's renowned Mirage salesman, I do not doubt that it was he who suggested the designation Mirage IIIO, the O standing for Orstralia.

Another variation on the theme is attributed to Monsieur Corantan who was the Dassault Tech Rep at Williamtown in 1970. He stated that the company was going to identify the Australian aircraft as Mirage IIIE-AU but because of the French pronunciation of words ending in EAU, the designation was contracted to Mirage IIIO.

Source: Wally Nelowkin, RAAF Flying Officer, Engineer Aeronautical (ENG AERO), OIC Mirage Servicing, 481 Squadron, Williamtown (from Sep 1969 to Jan 1971).