Free French AF II/33 Squadron

[Alex Smart]

Hi

Free French AF II/33 Squadron ,

Did this unit ever operate over the Italian mainland ?

Thanks

Alex

[Bertrand H]

Hi Alex,

The airfields used by GR 2/33 "SAvoie" in Italia were :

Catane 2 may 44
Pomigliano 3 may
Santa Maria Di Capua Vetere 9 may
Nettuno 6 june
Tarquinia ( Ponte Galera)10 june
Follonica (Grosseto) 18 june

then Corsica island

Please note that 2/33 is NOT a Free French squadron.

340, 341, 342, "Normandie", "Bretagne", "Picardie", "Artois" and LAM (Lignes Aériennes Militaires) were only free French units.

Sincerely

Bertrand

[Alex Smart]

Originally Posted by Bertrand H

Hi Alex,

Please note that 2/33 is NOT a Free French squadron.

340, 341, 342, "Normandie", "Bretagne", "Picardie", "Artois" and LAM (Lignes Aériennes Militaires) were only free French units.

Sincerely

Bertrand

hello Bertrand,

Do I understand you correctly ?

Are you saying that the P-38/F-5 Unit i asked about was indeed a Vichy French Unit ?
AND did the other Units you note ALL fly P-38/F-5's ?

Alex

[Bertrand H]

Yes Alex after the fall of France, II/33 joined North Africa and became an aerial unit of Armistice (Vichy) ; they received their F-5 in mid 1943.

Of course the units I quote are only Free Frenchs but never flown on Lightings ! Spitfire or Yak were their tools !

Bertrand

[Alex Smart]

Hello Bertrand,

So now its out?
The Vichy French Air force Flew the P-38/F-5 Lightning in 1943.

Thanks this is great news as previously I had beleived that only the Americans and British had flown them in 1943.

Alex

[Bertrand H]

Hi Alex,


After Torch in November 1942, Air Force of Armistice stopped their work with Vichy and joined the Allied. GR 2/33 received F-4 and F-5 after Potez 63/11 and Bloch 174 used from 1940.

For example 41-2363 is the first F-4A delivered on 30 march 1943 and the 42-13080 (F-5) on 3 august 1943.

Bertrand

[HARD_Sarge]

GR 2/33 "SAvoie"

I am a bit confused, or the info I am getting is a bit off

I got 1 esc GR II/33 La Hache , flying F-5s in 1943

then

2 esc GR II/33 La Moutte, flying Spitfire PR.IV's starting in May 1944

would they of had a "name" for the group and then a "name" for the Squadrons ?

and I have

GB II/20 "Bretagne" flying B-26s


and just in case, I am very poor on French units, and am using info that has been told me, so I may be in error

[Alex Smart]

Hello Hard Sarge,

Your confused ! Your not the only one.

Is it I/33 or II/33 that had the P-38/F-5 ?

Apologies to Bertrand, my French is less than basic so I do understand that there may be differences in understanding and also in translation.

Alex

[Bertrand H]

La Hache and La Mouette are the names of the escadrilles (Flight A & Flight B) for the 2/33 "Savoie".

Not simple but easier than the cricket game rules...

Bertrand

[Alex Smart]

Hi Bertrand,

I/33 was named "Belfort"
II/33 was named "Savoie"

I had thought that it was just II/33 that had used the P38/F-5.
Did they ever use them ?
I now see that it was indeed I/33 that used the p-38/F-5.

How many P-38/F-5 losses over Italy did this unit have if any ?

Many thanks
Alex