Vichy French pilots 1940

[FalkeEins]

Brian,

..you don't have Morareau's 'Loire 130' tome ..?...super book ..published by Lela Presse ..link follows

Dunkerque; No. 69 HS 21 and no. 70 HS 23, pilot LV Pierre Evin... No. 69 came under British anit-aircraft fire, was then attacked by fighters, managed to evade their attentions unscathed and reached Arzew that evening...No. 70 also fended off a fighter attack by the expedient of putting down on the sea...before returning to Mers-el-Kebir...

Strasbourg; No. 60 HS 24, crew EV1 Pujade, pilot Mt Andre Troadec, not immediately clear from the text what the fourth a/c was, probably No. 50 (?)...No. 60 was assailed by flak from its own ship.. the two aircraft provided cover for their vessel and spotted for its fire before touching down after two hours in the air at Mostaganem and flying on to Arzew the following day and Algers on the 6th..

http://www.avions-bateaux.com

by the way the current issue of Lela Presse's 'Navires ...' is devoted to Mers-el-Kebir ..

http://www.avions-bateaux.com/en/cat...ogue_1061.html

[Brian]

Thanks for the latest, Neil.

Any success with the Gisclon extract/translation?

Cheers
Brian

[FalkeEins]

Hi Brian

e-mail incoming via the forum...

cheers

Neil

[Brian]

Hi guys

Hawk 75As of GCI/5 and GCII/5 were engaged with FAA aircraft during the Mers-el-Kebir tragedy on 3 and 6 July. Skua pilots believed they gained hits on three occasions - two on 3 July and one on 6 July. Is there any record of damage suffered by any Hawks during these actions?

Cheers
Brian

[FalkeEins]

quick answer for 3 July from Gisclon's account..

"..when we came into Saint-Denis-du-Sig, Lieutenant Trémolet was already there. He was pointing out to the mechanics the twelve bullet impacts in the fuselage of his Curtiss ..

'..if Legrand hadn't shouted a warning my career would have come to an end today', he said with a smile. His patrol been jumped by six Skuas. Legrand had shot down the enemy fighter that had caught Trémolet but had then had a narrow escape himself for which he could thank the armour plate in his machine..."

Gisclon doesn't report any damage sustained for 6 July aside from that inflicted by his victim....

" three seconds later I was on his tail as he levelled out.. I gave him a long burst from fifty metres which struck home. My incendiaries danced across his wings, setting them alight, while his gunner peppered my starboard wing. I gave him a second burst and he tipped over into a downwards spiral and disappeared into the cloud deck over the sea.."

[Brian]

Hi Neil

Wow! I'm drooling! I trust you received my e-mail.

Cheers
Brian

[FalkeEins]

no, sorry, didn't get your mail - but I've send the account for 6 July via the forum..