French Recce over Czechoslovakia 1939/1940
 

Hello,

I have got an information that sometimes during Sept - Dec 1939 or January - April 1940 some French plane made succesfully recce and/or dropping leaflets mission over occupated Czechoslovakia. I would like to know if it was only one mission and if is known which GR or ER carried this mission. And, of course, which kind of plane could make such mission.

Thanks for help

Michal

Re: French Recce over Czechoslovakia 1939/1940
 

Michal,

French recce units were equipped with the Potez 637 or 63.11 at that time.
Units were GR 1/33, II/33, I/52 and II/52.
If flown from E. France they could have flown to Prague, and back.

Found nothing on google.fr so far to support the story you're looking for...

Regards,

Leendert

Re: French Recce over Czechoslovakia 1939/1940
 

Sorry, I can't put a hand on my archives at the time being.
However, I'm pretty sure these were Farman 222s of GT I/15 and II/15. Not only both units were "specialized" in leaflet droppings during the Phoney War, but Farmans were the only French a/c having the necessary range to fly over Czekoslovakia.
No way Potez 63s could have done it. 637s and 63.11s, though considered as "reconnaissance" a/c by the HQ, were merely observation planes.

Re: French Recce over Czechoslovakia 1939/1940
 

CJE,

Thanks for putting me on the right track naming the Farman 222.

It helped me find this link that exactly describes missions to Germany and Czechoslavkia during the Drôle de Guerre: http://www.ba123.air.defense.gouv.fr...sk=view&id=265

At least one flight on 22 April 1940 to Prague.

Michal, I hope this answers your question?

Regards,

Leendert

Re: French Recce over Czechoslovakia 1939/1940
 

Excellent! Splendid!

Thanks, it is exactly what I need :)

Best

Michal