She was born Élisabeth Catez in the Avord military camp in Cher, the first-born child of Captain Joseph Catez and his wife, Marie Rolland.
Much of the infrastructure of Avord Air Base is contained within the southern part of the commune.
United States Air Force | Royal Air Force | United States Army Air Forces | Royal Canadian Air Force | Indian Air Force | United States Air Force Academy | Special Air Service | Fleet Air Arm | National Air and Space Museum | Royal Australian Air Force | Strategic Air Command | Delta Air Lines | Air Canada | Israeli Air Force | International Air Transport Association | Air Training Command | United States Army Air Corps | French Air Force | Air National Guard | Edwards Air Force Base | Air Education and Training Command | Air France | Royal Naval Air Service | First Air Force | South African Air Force | Wright-Patterson Air Force Base | Air Ministry | Wacken Open Air | Civil Air Patrol | Argentine Air Force |
He learned to pilot an aircraft in the French Air Force in Salon-de-Provence and in Avord Air Base, near Bourges.