FP_2015_05_

May 2015 FLYPAST 45

167 and Douglas DB-7, tried their

best but their average sortie rate of

a quarter of a mission per aircraft

per day just wasn’t enough to make

much of an impact on the German

advance.

For example, bombing strikes

requested by the army in the

afternoon were not carried out

until the following day due to a

tortuous command chain. This

resulted in attacks on positions

way behind the German advance.

Likewise, the reconnaissance

sorties faced the perils of

overwhelming German air

superiority and a retreating

front line – try as they might,

their effectiveness was limited.

Furthermore, information obtained

by the recce units was received with

mistrust by the French Army. As the

battle continued, their usefulness

was further impaired – one GAO

flew just a single operational sortie

during the whole Battle of France.

LAST SHOTS

Despite valiant efforts by all

elements of the French Air Force,

nothing could stem the German

Blitzkrieg. With the bulk of the

British forces evacuated from

Dunkirk, the French Prime

Minister announced on June 20 he

was negotiating a surrender. Two

days later, an armistice was signed

with Germany.

The

last

French

combat

loss is

thought to have

been an MS.406

of GC 1/6 on June

24. It was shot down
    by flak, killing Sous-
    Lieutenant Henri
    Raphenne. The
    final French
    air combat
    victory is
    believed to
    have been scored by Sous-
    Lt Jean Marchelidon of
    GC I/2 who shot down
    a Henschel Hs 126 of 5 Staffel
    (Heer)/Aufklärungsgruppe 13,
    killing both the crew.
    Elements of the French Air
    Force deployed to the southwest
    of the country beyond the range
    of Luftwaffe air strikes. From
    there some headed for the French
    colonies in North Africa.
    Other units sat on the ground
    at airfields across France, waiting
    for the Germans to arrive. A
    number of pilots, including Jean
    Marchelidon, went to Britain to
    continue the fight.

“THE NEWS FROM FRANCE IS VERY BAD AND I GRIEVE FOR THE GALLANT FRENCH PEOPLE WHO HAVE

FALLEN INTO THIS TERRIBLE MISFORTUNE. NOTHING WILL ALTER OUR FEELING TOWARDS THEM OR

OUR FAITH THAT THE GENIUS OF FRANCE WILL RISE AGAIN... WE HAVE BECOME THE SOLE

CHAMPION IN ARMS TO DEFEND THE WORLD CAUSE...” WINSTON CHURCHILL

167 and Douglas DB-7, tried their

best but their average sortie rate of

Furthermore, information obtained

by the recce units was received with

victory is

Above left

An unidentifi ed

Amiot 143, probably

force-landed and set on

fi re by its crew.

Below

A Curtiss 75, of an

unidentifi ed unit, being

looked over by two

soldiers of the Waffen SS.

ALL IMAGES AUTHOR’S

COLLECTION

42-44_Blitzkrieg_fpSBB.indd 45 13/03/2015 10:14