Author Topic: History question... (Read 711 times)

TexMurphy · « **on:** September 01, 2004, 06:21:35 AM »

I just realized Ive never heared of french air force in WW2.

Did they even have one? Or was it so that it was so insignificant that the germans gained air supperiority right away? If they ever had one what planes did they have?

Tex

Ghosth · « **Reply #1 on:** September 01, 2004, 06:28:59 AM »

The french had one of sorts. They had a few of their own planes, also inported P36's (early p40 varient)

I think the french spent most of their money on static defenses.

straffo · « **Reply #2 on:** September 01, 2004, 06:39:39 AM »

We had , it was not insignifiant in number but pretty badly used ,like sending bomber in little number in area full of flack and german fighter ...

You can find an incomplete list of plane type here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_of_the_WWII_Arm%E9e_de_l'Air

In 1940 the frontline plane were :
Fighter : MS406 (mostly) ,H75,D520 ,VG33
Bomber Potez 63,breguet 691,Léo451

Plus some obsolete plane (Amiot 143 etc ...)

See the ODB here : http://france1940.free.fr/adla/ada_juin.html

After the defeat some pilot joined the RAF (Alsace and Lorraine squadron example ), the VVS (Normandie Niemen squadron) ,the french airforce rejoined the fight in about 1944 using English and US planes.

Squire · « **Reply #3 on:** September 01, 2004, 06:41:47 AM »

They had a sizeable air force, and many of their a/c were as good or better than the LWs and RAF (some were worse, no doubt). They had many pilots that fought bravely against the tide untill the end came. They fought just as hard as the RAF did in 1940 but their armies were defeated, and they had nowhere to base from in the end.

Most air combat books don't focus a lot on them, I suppose because in the english world we wright more about ourselves, USAAF, RCAF, RAF, RAAF ect. and those we fought against, LW and IJN. That and it was a short campaign, May-July 1940.

The best French fighter of 1940 was the Dewotine D520, which was a very good fighter from what I understand and gave a good account of itself in the fighting.

I suppose Pierre Clostermann is the most famous French WW2 pilot in exile, who flew Spitfires and Tempests with the RAF.

Osprey Publishing has a book called "French Aces of WW2" ACE-28, http://www.warweb.com/books/osprey/aircraft.html which I don't have but is on my list...it would be a great source on the 1940 pilots im sure.

GRUNHERZ · « **Reply #4 on:** September 01, 2004, 07:11:08 AM »

France had the ugliest bombers ever.

straffo · « **Reply #5 on:** September 01, 2004, 07:32:36 AM »

Squire I've heard this book was pretty average

@grun : we were trying to compete with handley-page

Squire · « **Reply #6 on:** September 01, 2004, 08:34:19 AM »

Most of the Opsrey books are very good, I mean its only @ 20 bucks I think, would still be a good reference. I will have to have a look at it and see I suppose. Some are better than others, sure.

straffo · « **Reply #7 on:** September 01, 2004, 08:52:00 AM »

Meanwhile you can look at this site : http://perso.wanadoo.fr/frenchaces/

But you'll need to learn a bit of French

Hajo · « **Reply #8 on:** September 01, 2004, 02:14:15 PM »

France had lots' of great designs.....but because of Government Bureacracy (normal) few if any of the designs were produced in numbers. Seems they couldn't decide what to build, when, how many, what powerplants etc. Good old foot dragging ensured LW supremacy when over Frances air space.

TexMurphy · « **Reply #9 on:** September 01, 2004, 04:12:55 PM »

Thanks for the info guys.

So what about some frensh planes in AH?

Tex

TexMurphy · « **Reply #10 on:** September 01, 2004, 04:24:25 PM »

I really like the Arsenal VG 33

Krusty · « **Reply #11 on:** September 01, 2004, 04:52:57 PM »

Why not?

Here is why not.

LA7, N1k2, P51D, F4U-1/4,109G, and all the other late war fighters.

Consider, the French air force was DONE, out of service, before even the Battle of Britain. Nobody EVER will fly early 1940 planes in the late-war MA. They would be easy targets and rightly so.

No, French planes, if ever, will only be used in the CT/SEA, for realistic early-war setups. And there are SO many other important planes missing from the planeset as it is, that any French aircraft are so unimportant in comparison to. The IJN has so many holes it's not funny. The LW is missing lots of bombers, the RAF needs early bombers. Many would like to see more light bombers of early types.

That's basically, in a nutshell, why there will be no French fighters.

eskimo2 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 01, 2004, 05:38:47 PM »

Were there any BOF French aces? Anyone have any stats on aircraft destroyed by both sides during the BOF?

eskimo

Karnak · « **Reply #13 on:** September 01, 2004, 05:55:38 PM »

I recall that the UK commited a greater percentage of it's fighter force to the defense of France than France did of it's own fighter force.

B17Skull12 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 01, 2004, 06:35:47 PM »

the french instead of spending money on airplanes opted to waste money of "monuments of man's stupidity" (General George Patton)