Normandie-Niemen

[knusel]

Hello,

I've collected Normandie-Niemen decimal score aces by Yak type.
Interestingly there were 15 Yak-3 aces, only 2 Yak-9 aces and no Yak-1 aces except for maybe Henri Foucaud who may have been a Yak-9 or a Yak-1 ace. Does anyone of you know more about his plane ?

Have a nice weekend,

Michael

[CJE]

Something that can be of some interest.

On 22 March 1943 Normandie transfered to Monkounino (French spelling) with 14 Yak-1b's:
- 26.112 Tulasne
- 17.115 Derville
- 29.117 Mahé
- 44.115 Albert
- 43.112 Préziosi
- 09.117 Posnanski
- 16.119 Littolff
- 33.110 Castelain
- 05.117 Bizien
- 06.118 Durand
- 33.112 Béguin
- 03.113 Risso
- 14.116 Lefèvre
- 33.116 de La Poype
- U2 de Pange

Chris

[knusel]

Dear Chris,

very appealing line-up.
As far as I know, Henri Foucaud joined NN in August. Can you tell me, if he scored he started his scoring run in the Yak-9 ?

Have a nice Thursday,

Michael

[knusel]

Marcel Albert is generally pronounced the top scorer of the Normandie-Niemen regiment (see also his excellent biography written by Many Souffan).
However, when you count shared kills as decimals Jacques André has a higher NN-score: 12,67 kills versus Albert's 12,07 kills.

[Ludovico Slongo]

Hello to all,
according with Black Cross Red Star vol.5 , French veterans Albert Littolf and Noel Castelain were shot down on 16 July 1943 while flying YAK-7Bs.
Any comment on the use of this YAK variant by Normandie?
Regards
Ludovico

[focusfocus]

Hello

A "good" book....but!
"Pay attention" to the facts mentioned,there are many errors,contradictions,omissions....it's mentioned for example:Normandié-Niemen,in 1943 the name of the French Regiment was Normandie...Niemen was not added until 1944.

16/07/43
Albert Litolf:Yak 9 (5 white n°0434)
Noel Castelain:Yak 9 (8 white n°0442)
Gerard Leon:Yak 1B (28 white)

Michel

[Ludovico Slongo]

Thank you very much for these data.
Regards
Ludovico

[knusel]

Possibly, the Yak-7B wasn't used in the Normandie unit at all, or only in very limited numbers. Some sources might have mixed up this type with the Yak-1b which was the unofficial name for the Yak-1 with lowered rear fuselage.

[knusel]

If shared kills are counted as decimals, then the French had

• 15 Yak-3 aces
• 7 Spitfire aces
• 5 Curtiss P-36 aces
• 3 Yak-9 aces
• 3 Dewoitine D.520 aces
• 3 Hurricane aces
• 2 Morane-Saulnier MS.406 aces
• 2 Bloch MB.152 aces
• 1 Tempest ace