Free French Flight
Encyclopedia
Free French Flight refers to three specific fledgling units in the Free French Air Force
(FAFL) which were created in the Middle East
on 8 July 1940.
Free French Flight N° 2 was stationed at Haifa and initially consisted of one Potez 63.11 (a second and third arriving on 14 October and 3rd November 1940 respectively) and two MS 406
(a third appearing on 14 February 1941).In addition to these aircraft, a Miles Magister was used as a hack, and was superseded by a Loire 130
on 12 March 1941. The unit diary refers to the arrival of a Potez 29
and a Bloch MB.81
(with a Salmson 9 powerplant) from Heliopolis on 28 September 1940, but neither aircraft appears in the subsequent daily unit statistics forms (RAF Form 765a). A memo dated 4th April 1941 from the RAF's Free French liaison officer to General Spears advises 'in practically every case the aircraft were unserviceable chiefly owing to lack of spares'.
The port of Haifa was bombed on 6th September 1940 by the Regia Aeronautica
. The four bombers were intercepted by Flying Officer Peronne in a Potez 63.11 and Warrant Officer Ballatore in a MS 406. Due to the deteriorating serviceability of the aircraft, flying hours decreased, and the unit diary itself only covers September 1940.
In addition to these units, there were some units formed in the UK:
Independent of the hierarchy of the RAF, there were aviation detachments in Chad
, Cameroon
, and Equatorial Africa
.
Free French Air Force
The Free French Air Force was the air arm of the Free French Forces during the Second World War.-Fighting for Free France — the FAFL in French North Africa :...
(FAFL) which were created in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
on 8 July 1940.
- Free French Flight N° 1 - its designation later changed to Escadrille N° 2 de Bombardement. Subsequently it became the Nancy squadron of GB Lorraine. It was formed around two Martin 167A-3 MarylandA-22 Maryland|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bishop, Chris. The Encyclopedia Of 20th Century Air Warfare. London: Amber Books Ltd, 2004. ISBN 1-90468-726-1....
bombers which flew to Gibraltar on 19 July 1940.
- Free French Flight N° 2 - its designation later changed to Première Escadrille de Chasse (E.F.C. 1), and was commanded by Lieutenant Denis. It was hierarchically a part of 33 Sqn RAFNo. 33 Squadron RAFNo. 33 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Puma HC.1 from RAF Benson, Oxfordshire.-Current role:The squadron is part of the RAF Support Helicopter force, which reports into the Joint Helicopter Command....
, and the unit later had a dual designation of C Flight, 73 Sqn RAFNo. 73 Squadron RAF-World War I:It was initially a unit of the Royal Flying Corps and was formed out of the Central Flying School, based at Upavon, Wiltshire. Eight days after, the new unit moved to Lilbourne, near Rugby....
. Subsequently it became Groupe de Chasse Alsace.
- Free French Communication Flight N° 3 - its designation later changed to French Transport Flight. It consisted of five different French-built aircraft, it was hierarchically a part of 267 Sqn RAFNo. 267 Squadron RAFNo. 267 Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force that served during World War I & World War II. The squadron has been formed a total of four times.The squadron was formed at RAF Kalafrana, Malta on 27 September 1918 from Nos...
.
Free French Flight N° 2 was stationed at Haifa and initially consisted of one Potez 63.11 (a second and third arriving on 14 October and 3rd November 1940 respectively) and two MS 406
Morane-Saulnier M.S.406
The M.S.406 was a French Armée de l'Air fighter aircraft built by Morane-Saulnier starting in 1938. Numerically it was France's most important fighter during the opening stages of World War II....
(a third appearing on 14 February 1941).In addition to these aircraft, a Miles Magister was used as a hack, and was superseded by a Loire 130
Loire 130
-See also:-References:*Green, William . War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Five Flying Boats. Macdonald:London. ISBN 0 356 01449 5.*Morareau, Lucien . Les aéronefs de l'aviation maritime . ARDHAN, ISBN 2-913344-04-6....
on 12 March 1941. The unit diary refers to the arrival of a Potez 29
Potez 29
|-See also:...
and a Bloch MB.81
Bloch MB.81
-See also:...
(with a Salmson 9 powerplant) from Heliopolis on 28 September 1940, but neither aircraft appears in the subsequent daily unit statistics forms (RAF Form 765a). A memo dated 4th April 1941 from the RAF's Free French liaison officer to General Spears advises 'in practically every case the aircraft were unserviceable chiefly owing to lack of spares'.
The port of Haifa was bombed on 6th September 1940 by the Regia Aeronautica
Regia Aeronautica
The Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...
. The four bombers were intercepted by Flying Officer Peronne in a Potez 63.11 and Warrant Officer Ballatore in a MS 406. Due to the deteriorating serviceability of the aircraft, flying hours decreased, and the unit diary itself only covers September 1940.
In addition to these units, there were some units formed in the UK:
- Topic - six BlenheimsBristol BlenheimThe Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
. Along with "Jam", there was a redeployment to Fort Lamy. Both units were merged into the "Groupe réservé de bombardement n°1 " (GRB1), with an official inception date of 30 March 1941, which subsequently became the Metz squadron of GB Lorraine.
- Jam - Official designation "Groupe de combat n°1" (GC1). It consisted of four squadrons.
- French Fighter Group - this unit's small complement of Dewoitine D.520Dewoitine D.520The Dewoitine D.520 was a French fighter aircraft that entered service in early 1940, shortly after the opening of World War II. Unlike the Morane-Saulnier M.S.406, which was at that time the Armée de l'Airs most numerous fighter, the Dewoitine D.520 came close to being a match for the latest...
fighters became part of E.F.C. 1 (see above), and its Blenheims became part of GRB1.
Independent of the hierarchy of the RAF, there were aviation detachments in Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
, Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, and Equatorial Africa
French Equatorial Africa
French Equatorial Africa or the AEF was the federation of French colonial possessions in Middle Africa, extending northwards from the Congo River to the Sahara Desert.-History:...
.
See also
- No. 327 Squadron RAF
- No. 340 Squadron RAFNo. 340 Squadron RAF340 Squadron RAF was formed at RAF Turnhouse in Scotland on 7 November 1941 as part of Le Groupe de Chasse IV/2 "Ile de France"...
- No. 341 Squadron RAFNo. 341 Squadron RAFThe No. 341 Squadron also known in French as Groupe de Chasse n° 3/2 "Alsace", was a Free French squadron in the RAF during World War II.-History:No...
- No. 342 Squadron RAFNo. 342 Squadron RAFThe No. 342 Squadron also known in French as Groupe de Bombardement n° 1/20 "Lorraine", was a Free French squadron in the RAF during World War II.-History:No...
- List of RAF squadrons
Aircraft of the Free French Flight
- Potez 63.11
- Dewoitine D.520Dewoitine D.520The Dewoitine D.520 was a French fighter aircraft that entered service in early 1940, shortly after the opening of World War II. Unlike the Morane-Saulnier M.S.406, which was at that time the Armée de l'Airs most numerous fighter, the Dewoitine D.520 came close to being a match for the latest...
- Morane-Saulnier M.S.406Morane-Saulnier M.S.406The M.S.406 was a French Armée de l'Air fighter aircraft built by Morane-Saulnier starting in 1938. Numerically it was France's most important fighter during the opening stages of World War II....
- Martin 167A-3 MarylandA-22 Maryland|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bishop, Chris. The Encyclopedia Of 20th Century Air Warfare. London: Amber Books Ltd, 2004. ISBN 1-90468-726-1....
- Bristol BlenheimBristol BlenheimThe Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
- Westland LysanderWestland LysanderThe Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War...
- Hawker HurricaneHawker HurricaneThe Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
External links
- The (Free) French Air Force in 1940-1945 (Listing attempt)
- Article on the presence in Chad of French Air Forces (in French)
- Two images of the Potez 63.11 in the markings of Free French Flight N° 2
- Table of French allied Air Force units in WW2 (in Czech language)
- An image of a 1/72 model MS-406 in the markings of Free French Flight N° 2
- Models of Free French aircraft, including some Free French Flight aircraft (in French language)
- Serial numbers of Free French aircraft, and RAF aircraft
- Forum thread about Potez 63.11 in Free French service with the RAF
- Markings of Potez 63.11 in French Fighter Flight No.2 for AX673, AX680 & AX691
- Contents of Aéro Journal No.33 which includes the article Les French Flights - 1940, des escadrilles francaises au sein de la RAF
- Biography of the pilot of Potez 63.11 AX673, Albert Zevaco