FAFL units in Kongo, 1944-45

[cz_raf]

Hi all,

I will be very glad if anyone can help me to understand correctly structure of FAFL units in Kongo in 1944-45.
I am interested in coastal air force, particularly in Groupe de Reconnaissance Artoix, Escadrille Arras and Groupe Bretagne in Paris.

Any information much apprecited.

TIA

Pavel

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Escadrille Arras was a part of Groupe Artois (a escadrille was roughly a flight in RAF, a groupe = a RAF squadron). The other escadrille of the Groupe was the Escadrille Béthune.

Groupe Artois was based in French Central Africa with Wellington, Anson, Oxford and Lysander and was flying coastal missions, but also transport missions.

Known losses (to me):
4/Nov/1943: Anson EG 359 crashed off Pointe-Noire during training flight, 4 crew + 3 passengers killed, 1 survivor
9/Feb/1944: Lysander P9102 destroeyd during Pointe-Noire to Libreville liaison flight
14/Apr/1944: Anson E351 crashed at take-off (no location...): 1 KIA, 1 WIA, 2 unhurt

The Groupe Bretagne was a medium bomber unit, formed in Africa with Blenheim but that moved to Great Britain and used Boston in 2 Group RAF from 1943 to the end of the war.
The details of his operations and losses can be found in Shore's book series "2nd TAF"

There is no link between the Groupe Bretagne and Congo in 1944-45, except that some crew could have come from this part of the French Empire.

Maybe there is a confusion between the Escadrille Béthune and the Groupe Bretagne.

[Bertrand H]

Laurent,

You did a mistake. Groupe Bretagne never been engaged from UK !

Formed in Africa with Blenheim but moved to Territoire du Levant then North Africa with B-26 and engaged to south of Europe !

Bertrand H

[Bertrand H]

Pavel,

you certainly know that a Czech man posted with Groupe Artois :

http://www.francaislibres.net/liste/...hp?index=74286

HTH

Bertrand H

[cz_raf]

Hi Bertrand,

thanks a lot for your replies. Yes I know about Hnatek - it is the reason why I was asking for explanation of these units:-)

Pavel

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hi Laurent

You mention a loss of Anson E351 in your message. However this is a corrupt serial and one possibillity is of course EG351 which went to the FAFL five days ahead of EG359. Do you have anything else on that serial?

Is anything further known about the Groupe Bretagne after it had finished training on the Marauder in North Africa appx early 1944? Did it for example become a numbered French Unit? My source Flying Training and Support Units since 1912 (RAF) ends in November 1943 when the Groupe arrives to North Africa.... Perhaps Bertrand?

Cheers
Stig

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Originally Posted by Bertrand H

Laurent,

You did a mistake. Groupe Bretagne never been engaged from UK !

Formed in Africa with Blenheim but moved to Territoire du Levant then North Africa with B-26 and engaged to south of Europe !

Bertrand H

You're perfectmy right Bertrand, I made a confusion with the Lorraine group. Sorry.