fate of Farman 222 No. 19 L1-161

[Alex Smart]

Hi,

Would like to find out the fate of Farman 222 Number 19 that landed at St. Eval on June 20th 1940. IIRC her underside code was L1-161.

It was from Supply Unit Entrepót 301 at Sait-Jean d Angély.

She was sent to another RAF base , but then again IIRC she was sent out to the Middle East.

Then ???

Thanks

Alex

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hi Alex
Correct type number is F.222.2 and its French military serial was L 161.
I don't know what you mean with IIRC, but from an article in Avions it is stated that she was sent out to Lignes Aerienne Militaires of FAFL on 30.5.1942
She was probably one of all those French aeroplanes stored at Odiham during their stay in Britain. Stored as well was No 2 of the same sub-type.
No fate reported after delivery to ME

Cheers
Stig Jarlevik
Gothenburg, Sweden

[Alex Smart]

Hello Stig,

Thank you for your reply.

What is FAFL ?

What would be the under wing number for the Number 2 also stored at Odiham, do you know ?

Anyone else have details of L-161 in the Middle East?

Thanks

Alex

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hi Alex

Without checking I THINK FAFL stands for

Force Aerienne Francaise Libre, ie Free French Air Force

No 2 was a F.222.1 model and carried the s/n L 144

Cheers

Stig Jarlevik

[Alex Smart]

Hello Stig,


Can you recall how No: 2 came to be in Britain. Did she escape across the channel to ?

Alex

[Stig Jarlevik]

Sorry Alex

French sources says basically nothing regarding No 2 while my source in English is Air Britains Impressment Log

Cheers

Stig Jarlevik

[Many Souffan]

Hello Alex.


Do you know if it exist in the British archives some photographs about this Farman?

I have 2 photos taken from the Anson which guided the plane over Newquay.

Did you know that his name of baptism was Altaïr.

Approx 2 years ago I was the last person to meet the Late Col. James Denis,(he died 3 weeks later at 97) one of the 19 passengers of this famous travel of the 20 june. He told me all the story of this Escape and he gave to me these 2 photos.

A great man this James Denis, he was the Fisrt Free french to reach the status of Ace, the first Free french to be decorated of The DFC, 6 victories and half in less 40 days over Tobrouk and the only one pilot to have shot down two times the great J. Marseille.

To come back to Farman at the end (november) of 1941 it was still in England
Thank you.

[Alex Smart]

Hello Many,


Thank you for your reply.

Very important we get to know of these little bits of history and how they all connect up to make the big picture we call history.

I have seen one photo in a book that is said to be of No:19, L-161, but as it is from quite a distance it could be any one of them. I would not be able to state firmly that it was indeed No:19.

If at all possible could you please scan and send copies of your two photos to me at alex@smart98.freeserve.co.uk

Thank you

Alex

[Graham Boak]

Altair was F.222.2 No19, but this was the only such escapee. All F222.1 were accounted for. F.222.1.10 joined the LAM after the fall of Vichy Syria.

Source Avions 23 to 29.