Hi Clint
It seems the French continue to create headaches (at least for me....
)
I don't think this is a Morane 225 (or 226) at all. The reasons are:
a) the landing gear is quite different (not single photo exists of either type with this landing gear)
b) the three-blade propeller (as above, none ever seen before)
c) the straight wing (all M-S designs between the war had a broken upper wing)
I don't think the aircraft is a production model. It has no "buzz number" under the wings. It has no unit markings what so ever. It carries mixed national markings, Aeronautique Maritime under the wings but Armée de l'Air on the fuselage. All this indicates a prototype of some sort.
Behind is one of the Loire-Nieuport 161 prototypes. They all seem to have gone for testing with the CEMA (yes I have found it now) and I have no fate for any of them. But perhaps the photo was taken at CEMA as well?
Having said all this I have no idea of what it is we have in the foreground...
Cheers
Stig