Gabriel Gauthier GCII/7
 

Yet another question or two about this chap.

I have read that he took command of 4e Escadrille (SPA78) GCII/7 in February 1943 but that he was given another command in July 1944 when he was succeeded by Lt Claude Mangin. In the period following July 1944 until his promotion to the command of the groupe in early 1945 he is in another position (excluding his period as an evader September/October 1944).

Can anyone fill in this gap?

regards

Keith

Re: Gabriel Gauthier GCII/7
 

I may have found a possible, and very French solution. Gauthier was on leave. His second child was born in early 1945!

regards

Keith :)

Re: Gabriel Gauthier GCII/7
 

I have since found that Gauthier attended Romilly-sur-Seine fighter school in 1938, presumably after he was assigned to GCII/7. His fellow students included Pierre Villaceque and Jacques Boriaud

Re: Gabriel Gauthier GCII/7
 

Hi,

Slt Georges GAUTHIER posted to GC II/7 on 12 march 1939

Bertrand

Re: Gabriel Gauthier GCII/7
 

Thanks again Bertrand. The spell at Romilly sure Seine fills in a question I had about fighter pilots training where it looked like they joined their first squadron without any instruction on fighters. Romilly-sur-Seine is not mentioned prominently (if at all) in the few books I have. I have to say I have found my knowledge of training as an French pilot was woeful before I began this journey.

best regards

Keith

Re: Gabriel Gauthier GCII/7
 

Hi Keith,

Yes to be studied the French Armée de l'Air is not an easy way....

To undestand what the A/B of Romilly did check a look here on this very good website :

http://www.romilly-aviation.fr/ecole.htm


Georges Gauthier came from Centre Ecole de Romilly like Jack Gauthier, François Pilatre-Jacquin on same day.

Bertrand

Re: Gabriel Gauthier GCII/7
 

Thanks Bertrand, that's the one I found. There's a great picture of Gauthier with Villaceque and others. Can I ask were the student pilots Aspirants until they qualified as pilots? Also I note that a number of pilots are commissioned in October. Does that mean those that went to Romilly had been appointed Sous-Lieutenant at the end of the promotion Astier de la Villatte in October 1938?

regards

Keith