The Normandie-Niemen squadron claims
 

Hello
has anybody been able to breakdown the number of kills credited to the four Escadrilles of the Normandie-Niemen regiment.

I know they started as a Escadrille Normandie and later they formed in three Squadron and eventually four

1.Escadrille Rouen
2.Escadrille Le Havre
3.Escadrille Cherbourg
4.Escadrille Caen.

This French unit was credited with 273 kills during the war.

Cheers
Santiago A.Flores

Re: The Normandie-Niemen squadron claims
 

Santiago,
The book by Chris Ehrengardt on the N-N has a complete victory and loss list. Also the Journal de Marche published in 1946 has information on most claims and losses. Try searching Addall.com for Ehrengardt and Niemen. And as a separate search Journal de Marche Niemen.

Frank.

Re: The Normandie-Niemen squadron claims
 

Hi!

It's a very difficult thing to have a breakdown by escadrille as they were formed and disbanded according to the number of pilots available.
Furthermore, victories were recorded at the Régiment staff level and unless you know which escadrille each pilot was attached to, it's almost impossible.
And I'd add, useless - but that's my own point of view.
Anyway, in my book I made no attempt to give such a breakdown.
Sorry.

Chris

Re: The Normandie-Niemen squadron claims
 

hello Guys

thanks for the input, I have the C.Ehrengardt book Normandie-Niemen and using it to do a breakdown of the Escadrilles,as they were formed and disbanded during the war.

I also have the book "French Eagles,Soviet Heroes" by John D.Clarke and using that as well.

I have done two breakdowns, but the totals come up a little low or the last one little high not matching the 273 score.

I have pilots that I dont know what Escadrilles they were assigned, per example Delfino before the became the regimental commander what Escadrilles he was assigned to?

Other pilots that I cannot confirmerthier Escadrilles are Capt. Matras who later became second in command of the unit .

Right now I broke down the 1/o.Escadrille Rouen by aircraft shot down and shared with other Escadrilles:

1943: 24 individual Squadron kills
1 Shared sqaudron kill

1944: 33 individual squadron kills
5 shared squadron kills

1945: 24 individual squadron kills
4 shared squadron kills

total 73 inidividual squadron kills and 10 shared sqaudron kills= 83.

I will be working on the other Escadrilles and the HQ flights and post my findings.


cheers
Santiago

Re: The Normandie-Niemen squadron claims
 

Santiago,

The C/O and his deputy were not rattached to an escadrille. They belonged to the "escadrille d'état-major", just like the Stabs in the Luftwaffe.

Re: The Normandie-Niemen squadron claims
 

hello Guys;

After burining the mid night oil I have finally come close to the breakdown of claims per each escadrille of the Normandie-Niemen regiment as follows:

HQ Escadrille: 2 individual+ 5 shared= 7
Escadrille Normandie : 31 Individual+ 0 shared= 31
1/o.Escadrille Le Rouen: 73 individual+10 shared = 83
2/o.Escadrille Le Havre: 48 individual+9 shared = 57
3/o.Escadrille Le Cherbough: 47 individual +9 shared= 56
4/o.Escadrille Le Caen: 30 individual+8 shared= 38

totals 231 individual+ 41 shared= 272

this is the closest I come to the reported 273 claimed kills by the Regiment.

Cheers
Santiago