French pilot 1944

[keith A]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped..._IWM_CL_29.jpg

Can anyone identify the French pilots to the left and right of Sailor Malan in this photo? The one on the extreme left is Lieutenant Raoul Duval but I thought Duval was killed in 1943? The indentified pilots are duval(?), Malan, unidentified, "Chris Martell" (Montet), and Bill Crawford-Compton.

[RSwank]

The same photo appears here: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205210933

They identify the men (left to right) as: Lieutenant Raoul Duval, Group Captain A G Malan, Commandant C Martell and Wing Commander W V Crawford-Compton. The man on the right is not identified.

[keith A]

http://www.wingsmuseum.co.uk/images/...Duval_1943.jpg

My mistake. Duval evaded after being shot down, but the man in the photo doesn't look much like this photograph above, or this below.

http://www.francaislibres.net/liste/.../2627livor.jpg

Could it be Pierre Laurent?

[Bertrand H]

Hi

On left Pierre Laureys aka Kennard on right adj René Huin (KIA 26/8/44). Both were of n°340 sqdn

Claude Raoul Duval (341 sqdn) died on 10 may 2018 ; I wrote his biography is in the issue n°196 (11/2013) of Avions magazine (LELAPresse)

Bertrand

[Frédéric Bruyelle]

Hi,
they are Pierre Laureys, (aka Kennard) and René Huin. Huit died during the Battle of Normandy from a flack fire. Pierre Laureys will survive the war. He died in Vallauris in 2004, and his wife Marie-France followed him two years later.
fred

[keith A]

Bertrand, Frederic many thanks. The photo has also identified Martell as Crawford-Compton (Wikipedia).

I want a French perspective of the sparse English language sources of French squadrons. Was there a difference between 329 and both 340 and 341 Squadrons? Were they combined for reasons other than the language?

329 was formed from different personnel.

[Bertrand H]

Hi

...and now wikipedia will put a new an true caption !

340 then 341 were the first Free French squadron and in action from the end of 1941 for GC 2 (future 340) and autumn 1941 for GC 1 (future n°341) in ME.

The 340 sqdn will only stay in northern Europe and 341 will begin its ops missions from Europe in April 1943.

n°329 sqdn was in North Africa as GC I/2. This unit was still a part of Vichy state up to early 1942 then some days before Torch and they will go to North Africa.

End of 12/1943 then early 1944 volontairs to pursuit the fight from UK joined UK then become n°329 squadron. If 340 and 341 were with French "FAFL" - joined Free French before august 1943 most of pilots of n°329 were not but some of them were FAFL ; I have put their names here :

http://www.francaislibres.net/liste/...hp?index=53451

Of course during the war pilots and crew of n°340 and 341 were joined by military arrived post-august 1943.

At last like these three squadrons were only with French they stay together in the Wing 145 (even if Wing/co was English).


HTH

bertrand

[keith A]

Many thanks Bertrand. Oddly enough there was a programme on British TV last week where a Spitfire IX MJ772 on 341 Squadron was re-built to fly again. It's pilot in 1944 was one of seven British pilots who were with the squadron 1944-45. I think four or five were lost in action during the winter. The pilot in the programme was "David" 94 years old

[keith A]

David Mitchell was his full name. He has since died.

[Bertrand H]

Keith,

I think you will be as well as me when I am at Kew

Before to plan a visit I invite to check their info here :

https://www.servicehistorique.sga.defense.gouv.fr/en

and contact me off board.

I have been in contact with DAve Mitchell ; him and 6 others UK pilots posted on n°341 sqdn on 6/3/1945.

Bertrand