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Old 4th August 2008, 19:11
Franek Grabowski Franek Grabowski is offline
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Re: Book on French AF 1939-40?

For a moment I have thought that GCD I/55 was based at Villacoublay on 3 June 1940, but it was not, being at Etampes. Nonetheless accounts of Polish pilots, five of them being attached, of whom three achieved ace status later in the war, just confirm Park's comments. In the effect Poles refused to fly with French, and wanted to fly with Czechs. According to Zumbach, on 3 June only one French pilot actually engaged enemy. Poles had little success due to faulty aircraft, and in general both Czechs and Poles complained they had worsest aeroplanes.
One thing is worth to note, though. Frenchmen were one of the most communised societies in Europe, and post-war it was even feared that communists may won free-elections! In 1940 communists supported Germany, organised strikes or sabotage (hey, this happened in Britain too, eg. in Castle Bromwhich AF), and perhaps this was one of factors behind the French collapse.