Quote:
Originally Posted by MW Giles
Basic Question 1 Is GC I/3 the Groupe or is the Groupe GC3 and GC I/3 a sub unit?
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GC I/3 is composed of two escadrilles (each of 12 fighters) and 2 HQ fighters. At first it (alongside GC II/3) belongued to the 3ème Escadre (until 1939 when organisation was changed and there was no longer correlation between the groupe's second number and the escadre's number.
To complicate things, the Free French wanted to create their own groupes in the foreign air forces. Those created early in the MTO used a single number : GC 1, GB 2 and GC 3 (this one would become the "Normandie-Niemen"). Then they changed designation to match with the rest of the French Air Force, GC 1 became GC 3/2 (note the roman number are no longer used) and so on. But I am not aware of GC 3 ever being renamed before war's end.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MW Giles
I am happy that air force units in the Battle of France were noted as Roman numeral/GC Arabic numeral (GC II/3). I think this carried on under the Vichy Regime.
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Yes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MW Giles
However after the N Africa landings the French Air Force was reconstituted to work alongside the Allies, using units from the Free French Air Forces (FAFL) etc. Opinion seems to vary (even amongst French authors); should the new units follow the old style e.g. GC II/3 or did they become GC 2/3 in the new regime. Post war they were definitely GC 2/3 but when did the change happen?
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They should have been using arabic numbers but you know, tradition, bureaucracy,... Both appears at first then to be replaced by the new designation.
If you want more details, please ask I'll give you them when I'm at home.