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Re: Vichy French pilots 1940
Hi guys
I note that four seaplanes (Loire 130s of Esc HS2?) - two from Dunkerque and two from Strasbourg - were moored to bouys at Mer-el-Kebir prior to the attack on 3 July, and that all four took off when the attack began.
It is implied that (1) one was badly damaged by AA fire (French?) but managed to reach Arzew by nightfall (2) one put down in the sae to shake off a Skua (3) one contrived to signal the movements of the British fleet but was attacked by a Skua and also by a French fighter, but succeeded in reaching Mostaganem (4) one shadowed the British Fleet, was attacked but reached Arzew (this information extracted from Warren Tute's The Deadly Stroke).
In addition, the Birzete (E2-1) had departed Arzew at 1815 to investigate the state of affairs at Mers-el-Kebir when it ran into two Skuas and was badly damaged, alighting on the sea near Oran
Can anyone put flesh on bone? Identities of the four Loire 130s and their pilots/crews? Which was which?
In hope
Brian
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