Vichy French Air Force use of the P-38/F-5 Lightning

[Alex Smart]

Hi,

It now seems that in 1943 the Vichy French Air force used the P-38/F-5 Lightning.

Anyone have any details of where these a/c were and what unit used them?

When did the US sell or loan them to the Vichy Forces ?

Alex

[Andy Fletcher]

1e/GR II/33 commanded by Cne René Gavoille operated the F-4A and F-5A during 1943. The unit was based at Maison Blanche, Algeria from May43 and was declared operational 12Jul43. I believe it was subordinate to 3PRMG/PRG (USAAF)

It was an EX Vichy unit. It was an Allied Unit by 1943.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[Alex Smart]

Hello Andy,

Thanks for the info and dates.

Ex Vichy , so would that make it a Free French Unit ?

Or was the "Free" title only used by Units that came out of the UK ?

Alex

[Bertrand H]

Alex


Free French units are those which are « born » after the fall of France with crew who decided to continue the fight from UK with General de Gaulle as chief. For memory Air units are 340, 341, 342, Bretagne, Artois, Picardie, Lignes Aériennes Militaire, Normandie.

Air Force in North Africa (after June 40) was under Vichy command but after TOCH these ex-units were gathered with Allied Air Force and reequipped with US a/c (Airacobra, Thunderbolt, Lighting etc…)

HTH

Bertrand

[RT]

The history is enought difficult to understand like that pls, the legal govern. of France from 1940 to 1944 was the so called govern. of Vichy, who had total souvereignity they hv diplomatical relation with all the remaining free state of the earth, including USA till nov.1942 nd that ceased not because of the french government, the personal of your recce unit was issued from the french air-force of 1940/1942, the french who fought in 1943/1945 merely in Italy, were are 80 % issued nd formed by the Armée de l'armistice, conceded by the very favourable armistice treaty signed in June 1940


Rémi

[Graham Boak]

Operation Anton, the German occupation of southern France after Operation Torch in November 1942, ended any legitimacy the Vichy French government may have possessed. It cannot be said to have lasted until 1944.

[RT]

There is no other legal government in France so, till the election of 1946..
won partly by the communist party, whose Leader defected to Russia in 1939, at that time he was soldier..

rémi

[hanshauprich]

Most popular Pilot with II/GR 33 was Commandant Antoine de Saint-Exupery lost with an F-5 an 31. July 1944. Is it true, that his crash side was found on about 2004 or so?

[CJE]

Let's get things right.
No F-4/F-5s were ever used by Vichy or Free French air force.
They were handed over to the French after "Torch" and were only used by the "Forces aériennes françaises" under Allied leadership.
GR II/3 had been based in Tunisia since July 1940, and Tunisia was then under Vichy control and, consequently, is NOT a Free French unit. GR II/33 converted to F-4/F-5s after "Torch" under Allied control.
Hope this is clear.

[Alex Smart]

Hello To you ALL,

May I just say that you have All been very helpful and I do appreciate it.

MANY THANKS TO YOU ALL

Alex