French ace JEANDET

[Brian]

Hi guys

I have a photo depicting Cne Jeandet of GCII/7 in the cockpit of his Spitfire following his '5th' victory, although analysis of his claims reveals the following (5 swastikas were painted beneath the cockpit following his victory over Bf109 on 27/2/45):

30/9/43 Ju88 shared, Do217 shared

3/10/43 Ju88 shared

date unknown V-1

27/2/45 Bf109

14/4/45 Fw190

So, rather than a final total of six, as credited, he actually had two plus three shares and one V-1. Two questions: What was his first name and when did he shoot down the V-1?

Please help!

Brian

[Laurent Rizzotti]

His first name was Henri and he is listed as having 8 victories (in French systemù, ie a shared = a victory).

His claims in 1940 were:

7/Apr/1940: a shared Ju 52 (with 10 other pilots of GC II/7)

10/May/1940: a Bf 110 shot down. He was heavily wounded the same day.

The missing victory may have been scored against the British, or may be the V-1 you list, but is probably the former. But I didn't have a thand the books to prove this.

[Brian]

Hi Laurent

Thanks for the above. The photo I have depicts, as I mentioned, five victory markings. Beneath each marking is the identity of the kill as follows - Ju88, Do217, Ju88, Fi103, Me109G. No indication of his earlier kills. He scored again later, a FW190, so with the two successful combats in 1940, it would give him 8 kills under the French system .

I still require the date of his V-1 kill.

Cheers
Brian

[Stéphane Lehuédé]

I remember that the photo was published in Aéro Journal n° 10, and after the courier from a reader, the editor wondered if that Fi 103 could be a Hs 293.

One shared Do 217 is missing, according french sources (aéro journal n° 10, 23 & 31) Henri Jeandet was credited with 2 quarter Do 217 on 30/sept/1943, both shared with Cne Bouton, Cdt de La Source & Adj Doudiès.

[Boris Ciglic]

According to Les AS de la Guerre 1939 1945 tome I, his claims were:
7.4.40. Ju 52 shared with 7 pilots from II/7 and 3 from I/6
10.5.40. Bf 110
30.9.43. Ju 88 shared with 1 pilot and 2 Do 217 shared with 3 pilots, and 1 Do 217 shared probable
19.10.43. Ju 88 probable shared with 1 pilot
30.10.43. Ju 88 shared with 5 pilots
27.2.45. Bf 109 shared with 1 pilot
14.4.45. Fw 190 shared with 1 pilot

No mention of either Hs 293 or V-1.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hi Guys

This undoubtedly rises a few questions how the French counted their victories.

I suppose one can differentiate them as follows

1) Against Germany (up to the Armistice in 1940)
2) Vichy France
a) Domestic France - Were any victories scored during this time?
b) North Africa - As above?
c) Middle East - Covered by Shores in Dust Clouds in the Middle East
d) Malagasy - as above
f) Far East - were any victories scores against the Japanese/Thais?
3) Free French Forces
a) With RAF
b) ??
4) Normandie Niemen Group in Soviet Union

Since Jeandet does NOT appear in any of Shores Aces High volumes, I suppose he never was counted as belonging to the RAF (unlike Clostermann), so the question then arises, did the French after the liberation, first in North Africa and later mainland France, have their own organisation completely outside RAF with a unit structure and victory structure all their own? Hence the 3b above. Has anyone any idea of the structure and scoring system during this period?

Cheers
Stig

[Brian]

Hi guys

Thanks for the input.

Stephane - I think you are probably correct regarding the confusion between an Fi-103 and an Hs293. It would seem probable that Jeandet shot down an Hs293 during the attack on KG100's Hs293-armed Do217s on 30/9/43, rather than a V-1 at a later date. I have therefore amended my notes in my forthcoming book. Thanks for this - it saves another 'egg on face' scenario!

Cheers
Brian