Free French P40 Defectors .

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

Has any more info been found on these two French P40's ?

Also fate of their pilots ?

Alex

[CJE]

They both lived a quiet life after WW2. One was a successful hauling company manager.
That's how things go!

[Alex Smart]

Hi CJE,

Thanks for the update.

Any idea as to why they did it ?

I have sent you a PM

All the best

Alex

[CJE]

They defected because they had enough to be considered as puppets with Vichy, Darlan, De Gaulle, Giraud, Americans pulling the strings. They were ordered to fight against the US invading Northern Africa on 8th Nov. and three days later they were told that the Allies were now their friends...

[kolya1]

Only an additionnal comment about this : AFAIK, they were not "Free French", but "only" French Air Force pilots, as they did not join De Gaulle before the rallying of regular French forces of North Africa to the allies.

Not very important, but it is useful to distinguish in order to understand problems within the French military (i.e. between the Free French and those who had remained within the Vichy army till 1943).

Hope this may help,

Kolya.

[CJE]

Who said they were "Free French"?

[kolya1]

That's the title of the thread....

[CJE]

You're right! Looks like I have to change my glasses.
Of course, they were not Free French.

[Alex Smart]

Hello CJE and Kolya1,

Yes I see your point re the Free French part.

CJE I have tried to send you an e-mail hope it gets through to you.

Thanks for replies both.

Alex

[Rémi Baudru]

When they came in france they spent they where "used" by the vichy government for propaganda. Then they tryed to work in Germany as factory pilots but the manager refused.
Back in France they made ferry flights of arcraft produced in France for the german army.
After the defeat of the german army in the summer 1944, they where imprisoned and condamned.

As all the men who made the wrong choice, it was for them and their families longs years of very bad time.

Both finaly succeeded in flying again. One died at the end of the fifties (in a crop dusting plane), the second worked as pilot for a foreign compagny.

Please forgive my very basic english.