Fighting for Free France — the FAFL in French North Africa (1940-1943)

On 17 June 1940, five days before the signing of the Franco-German Armistice, the first "exodus" of 10 airmen took flight from Bordeaux-Mérignac to England. Others rallied to General Charles de Gaulle from France and French North Africa during the period of June 1940 to November 1942. A contingent of volunteers from South American countries such as Uruguay, Argentina and Chile was also created, as Free French officials recruited there personally. From a strength of 500 on July 1940, the ranks of the Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres (FAFL) grewn to 900 by 1941, including 200 flyers. A total of 276 of these flyers were stationed in England, and 604 were stationed in overseas theaters of operation. General de Gaulle named then-Colonel Martin Valin as commander-in-chief of the FAFL in the summer of 1940, though he was at the French military mission in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the time of his appointment. He was required to complete his assignment there by February 1941, yet it took him some 45 days to get to London to see de Gaulle. It was not until he took over from the caretaker commander, Admiral Emile Muselier, that Valin formally assumed office on July 9, 1941.

All FAFL aircraft were to be identified differently from those of the Vichy French air force, which continued to sport the tricolor roundel.

The Cross of Lorraine, a cross with two parallel horizontal arms, with the lower arm slightly longer than the upper one, was the symbol of Free France chosen by Charles de Gaulle. It was chosen in order to distinguish their allegiance from those of their countrymen now having to fight, however reluctantly, for the benefit of a country friendly to the Axis powers. The cross could be seen in the same places on FAFL aircraft where the roundels used to be on all French military aircraft, that is, on the fuselage and on the lower and upper surfaces of the wings. The FAFL was formed at de Gaulle’s behest with one “mixed” unit at RAF Odiham on August 29, 1940, under the command of Commandant (Major) Lionel de Marmier. One of its first jobs was to try and persuade the governors-general of colonies in French West Africa not to submit to the orders of the Vichy government, and instead join the Free French in their continuing fight against the Axis Powers of Germany and Italy. An Allied plan to take control of Dakar was code-named Operation Menace. Among the units taking part was the newly formed FAFL Groupe de Combat Mixte (GMC) 1, code-named "Jam", consisted of four squadrons, composed of Bristol Blenheim bombers and Westland Lysander liaison/observation aircraft. Operation Menace was a failure, and FAFL envoys were arrested and imprisoned at Dakar by the Vichy authorities.

However, French forces in Cameroon and Chad, in French Equatorial Africa, rallied to the Gaullist cause. There were three detachments of French air force units — based at Fort-Lamy (now N’Djamena) (Chad), Douala (Cameroon) and Pointe-Noire (Congo) - operating a mixed bag of Potez and Bloch aircraft, and they thus became part of the FAFL. However, Gabon remained loyal to Vichy, so, in mid- to late October 1940, FAFL squadrons set out on photo-reconnaissance and leaflet-dropping missions. The first Vichy-versus-FAFL combats took place on 6 November 1940, when two Vichy air force aircraft took on two FAFL Lysanders near Libreville, resulting in both aircraft sustaining damage but making it back to base. Two days later, the first FAFL airmen were shot down and taken prisoner. Two days after that, Libreville was taken by Free French army troops, resulting, ironically, in the FAFL aircraft now sharing the same air base with their opponents of a few days before. The French attitude towards the fighting was that of a “civil war” that was being won for Free France, since now Libreville had joined the Gaullist cause. As it happened, this would be the only time when opposing factions within FEA territory would fight each other openly.

Philippe de Hauteclocque, better known by his French resistance name of Leclerc, who later became one of the most famous French army generals in history, had strong ambitions in North Africa. But in outlining what he wanted the FAFL to do, he often revealed a complete lack of understanding of what it was actually capable of. When he demanded that the Italian-held airfield at Koufra in Libya was to be bombed, he was told, matter-of-factly, that the squadrons had no capability of carrying out such a major mission, especially given the lack of experience in navigating over vast desert territory. Leclerc’s reaction, based on his fury at lack of air support during the German invasion of France, was ugly, and relations between him and the FAFL deteriorated rapidly. A mission carried out by the recently formed Groupe de Bombardement (GRB) 1 (Lorraine) on February 4, 1941, ended disastrously when, out of four Blenheims sent to bomb Koufra, only a single one returned - and, even then, it was because of engine trouble. (It was not until 1959 that one of the other three aircraft was found.) On February 27, the Free French took Koufra airfield, while the enemy garrison surrendered two days afterwards. Leclerc, for his part, still regarded aviation as a kind of appendage, of such minor importance that it might as well not be there to support the ground forces at all.

The Groupe Bretagne was formed on 1 January 1942, with certain objectives in mind: U.S.-built Maryland aircraft would carry out long-range reconnaissance missions, the Lysanders close-support missions and the Potez liaison and transport missions. Yet it was not until March 3 that the first operational missions were carried out from Uigh el-Kébir, which had only been captured the previous day. The very next day, however, a Lysander crashed on landing, injuring its pilot, who had to be evacuated to hospital. On March 7, the FAFL had some success when some Lysanders successfully destroyed three enemy aircraft on the ground at Um el-Aranel; one of them was chased by an Italian fighter plane, but it managed to get back to base, albeit sustaining considerable damage.

For most of 1942, the Groupe Bretagne concentrated mostly on liaison and training flights, yet, in late autumn, Leclerc wanted to count on the FAFL for supporting ground offensives against the Italians in the wake of the victory of the British 8th Army against the Afrika Korps at the Second Battle of El Alamein and the Anglo-American invasion of Morocco during Operation Torch. However, lack of co-operation between Leclerc’s general staff based at Algiers and the Allies seemed to indicate a power struggle between him and de Gaulle since the latter was in charge of the Free French forces in London. Though FAFL airplanes from the “Rennes” squadron of the Groupe Bretagne did engage Italian forces towards the end of 1942 and the beginning of 1943, problems with both weapons and the aircraft themselves (mostly engine trouble resulting in forced-landings) dogged the efforts of the aircrews. January 23, 1943, witnessed the fall of Tripoli - and the end of the air war for the Groupe.

The Anglo-American landing in North Africa in November 1942 was the starting point for the rebirth of the French Air Force, thanks to the commitment by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, of 1,000 planes, and the French began to receive U.S.-built aircraft to replenish its squadrons. On July 1, 1943, the Algiers-based Armée de l'Air general staff (which received its orders from de Gaulle and General Giraud) and the FAFL general staff were merged and placed under the command of General Bouscat. He conducted the reorganization of the French Air Force, incorporating all elements coming from the ex-Vichy French Army in North Africa and the FAFL. Those forces included about twenty various Groups equipped mainly with Dewoitine D.520s, LeO 45s, Glenn Martin bombers, Bloch MB.175 reconnaissance aircraft, and an assortment of Amiots, Farmans, and Potez 540 transport aircraft.

GC II/5 receiving USAAF P-40s at Casablanca, 9 January 1943GC II/5 receiving USAAF P-40s at Casablanca, 9 January 1943.

Web Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_French_Air_Force

Le Ordre de Combat du Troisieme République de France December, 1944

L'Armée de l'Air de la République de la France

Aircraft Possession

(* Got full numbers but little stats will post on request. Only Fighters being produced or predecessors to new designs
Fighters (includes Fighters with secondary “Reconnaissance” roles)
Bloch 152: 208
Bloch 174: 40
Dewoitine 510: 24
Dewoitine 520: 128
Dewoitne D.531: 330
de Havilland Mosquitos: 120
Supermarine Spitefire (various Marks): 480
P-38F 'Lightning': 504 Units
P-39D 'Airacobra': 240 Units
P.50: 540
Navel Fighters
F4F 'Wildcat': 150 Units
F4U 'Corsair': 660 Units
SB2C 'Helldiver': 105
TBF-1 'Avenger': 150
Lockheed D-60: 20
Lockheed D-61: 20

Prototypes
Lockheed XH-60/D-60 Prototype: 2/2
Lockheed XH-61/D-61 Prototype: 2/2
Bloch B.17 Recon Aircraft prototype February ’45

Bombers (includes “Reconnaissance”)
P.23: 270
P.46: 270
B-17F 'Flying Fortress': 144 Units
B-24 'Liberator': 144 Units
B-25 'Mitchell': 150 Units
B-26 'Marauder': 90

Armée de l'Air Headquarters

G.Q.G.A Squadron consisting of 5 Spitfires at St. Jean de les deux Jumeaux
F.A.C.N.E(British Expeditionary Force){undecided as of yet} at La Ferté-s/s-Jouarre

Spéciales Armée de l'Air “Reserve, training missions”.
Attached to Forces Spéciales D'Armée
SAA I/I consisting of 20 P.50 and 10 P-38F “Lighting” at “N-12”
SAA I/II 30 P-38F 'Lightning' and 20 P-39D 'Airacobra'
SAA I/III consisting of 20 Lockheed D-61 at New Celadonia
SAA II/I consisting of 20 P.50 and 10 P-38F “Lighting” at “N-12”
SAA III/I consisting of 20 P.50 and 10 P-39D 'Airacobra' at “N-12”

Groupment de Bombardement 1

SAAB I/I consisting of 40 P.23 at “N-12”
SAAB II/I consisting of 40 P.46 at “N-12”
SAAB III/I consisting of 20 P.23
SAAB I/II consisting of 20 P.46
SAAB II/II 20 B-17F “Flying Fortress”

Groupment de Bombardement 2

Ia/I P.23 20 and 20 B-24 'Liberator'
Ia/II P.46 20 and 20 B-17F 'Flying Fortress'

Groups de Reconnaissances I

IDR I/I consisting of 10 Bloch M.B 174 and 20 Potez 63.11 at “N-12”

Reserves

Zone d'Opération Paris

B-17F 'Flying Fortress': 90 Units
B-26 'Marauder': 80
de Havilland Mosquitos: 80
P-38F 'Lightning': 140 Units
P-39D 'Airacobra': 100 Units
Supermarine Spitefire (various Marks): 80
P.50: 20
P.23: 40
Dewoitne D.531 90

Training Squadorns

24 Spad 510 and 10 P.50 and 24 P-38F 'Lightning' and 6 Potez 29 and 10 Dewoitne D.531

Zone d'Opération France

de Fighter 1 consisting of 40 P-38F 'Lightning' at Reims
de Fighter 2 consisting of 20 P-39D 'Airacobra' at Strasbourg
de Fighter 3 consisting of 20 P-38F 'Lightning' at Rouen
de Fighter 4 consisting of 20 P-38F 'Lightning' and 20 P-39D 'Airacobra” at Rouen
de Fighter 5 consisting of 20 P-39D 'Airacobra” at Lille

Reserves

Zone d'Opération Aériennes Nord - Z.O.A.N.
Groupment de Chasse 21

HQ Gpt 21 consisting of 5 P-38F “Lighting” at Chantilly- Les Aigles
----------G.C. I/1 consisting of 30 P.50 and 20 P-39D at Chantilly- Les Aigles
----------G.C. II/1 consisting of 40 P.50 and 15 Dewoitne D.531 at Buc
----------G.C. III/3 consisting of 25 Dewoitne D.531 and 10 Spitfires at Beauvais-Tillé
----------G.C. II/10 consisting of 48 Spitfires at Rouen-Boos
----------G.C. III/10 consisting of 48 Spitfires at Le Havre-Octeville

Groupment de Chasse 23

HQ Gpt 23 consisting of 2 Curtiss H-75 at Laon-Chambry
----------G.C. II/2 consisting of at 40 Dewoitne D.531 Laon-Chambry
----------G.C. III/2 consisting of 10 Dewoitne D.531 and 24 P-38F “Lighting” at Cambrai-Niergnies
----------G.C. I/4 consisting of 40 P.46 at Wez-Thuisy
----------G.C. I/5 consisting of 40 P.46 at Suippes
----------E.C.M.J 1/16 consisting of 20 P-38F “Lighting” and 24 Potez 631 at Wez-Thuisy

Groupment de Chasse 25

----------HQ Gpt 25 consisting of 4 P-38F 'Lighting' and 1 Dewoitne D.531 at Aire-La Lys
----------G.C. III/1 consisting of 40 P.50 at Norrent-Fontes
----------G.C. II/8 consisting of 25 Dewoitne D.531 at Calais Marck

Groupement de Chasse de Nuit

----------HQ Gpt CN consisting 5 B-24 “Liberator” and 2 P.50of at Meau-Esbly
----------E.C.N. 1/13 consisting of 10 de Havilland Mosquitos at Meau-Esbly
----------E.C.N. 2/13 consisting of 17 Spitfires at Melun-Villaroche
----------E.C.N. 3/13 consisting of 12 Spitfires at Le Plessis-Belleville
----------E.C.N. 4/13 consisting of 12 Spitfires at Betz-Bouillancy

Groupment de Bombardement 8

----------G.B. I/12 consisting of 24 B-24 'Liberator' and 24 LéO 451 at Soissons-Saconin
----------G.B. II/12 consisting of 20 B-25 'Mitchell' and 24 LéO 451 at Persan-Beaumont

Groupment de Bombardement 9

----------G.B. I/34 consisting of 20 B-24 “Liberator” at Montdidier
----------G.B. II/34 consisting of 20 B-24 “Liberator” and 12 Bloch 131 at Roye-Amy

Groupment de Bombardement d'Assault 18

----------G.B. I/54 consisting of 24 Bréguet 693 and 10 B-24 'Liberator' at La Ferté-Gaucher
----------G.B. II/54 consisting of 12 Bréguet 693 and 10 B-25 'Mitchell' at Nangis

Groups de Reconnaissances

----------G.R. II/33 consisting of 12 Potez 637 and 6 Potez 63.11 and 6 Bloch 174

Attached to 1re Armée
----------G.R. I/14 consisting of 12 P-38F 'Lightning” at Clastres-Saint-Simon
----------G.A.O. 502 consisting of 4 Potez 63.11 and 8 Mureau 115 at La Fere-Courbes
----------G.A.O. 503 consisting of 6 Potez 63.11 and 18 Mureaux 115 at Valenciennes
----------G.A.O. 504 consisting of 26 LéO C.30 and 6 Potez 39 and 4 Potez 39 at Denain-Prouvy
----------G.A.O. 505 consisting of 6 Potez 63.11 and 6 Potez 39 at Le Quesnoy-Vertain
----------G.A.O. 545 consisting of 6 Potez 63.11 and 6 Potez 27 at Denain-Prouvy
----------G.A.O. 4/551 consisting of 6 Potez 63.11 and 6 Mureaux 117 at Le quesnoy-Vertain
----------G.A.O. 544 consisting of 6 Potez 63.11 and 6 Mureaux 115 and 5 P.23 at Villers-les Guise

Attached to 2e Armée

----------G.R II/22 consisting of 12 Potez 63.11 at Chatel-Chéhery
----------G.A.O. 507 consising of 12 Potez 63.11 and 12 Mureaux 115 at Attigny
----------G.A.O. 510 consisting of 6 Potez 63.11 and 6 Potez at Attigny
----------G.A.O. 518 consisting of 6 Potez 63.11 and 6 Bréguest 27 at Challerange
----------G.A.O. 2/520 consisting of 6 Potez 63.11 and 6 Mureaux 115 at Challerange

Attached to 7e Armée

----------G.R. I/35 consisting of 12 Potez 63.11 at Saint Omer-Wizerne
----------G.A.O. 501 consisting of 6 Potez 63.11 and 6 Mureaux 115 at Dunkerque-Mardyck
----------G.A.O. 516 consisting of 4 Potez 63.11 and 8 Potez 27 at Calais-Saint Inglevert
----------G.A.O. 552 consisting of 6 Potez 63.11 and 6 Mureaux 117 at Saint Omer-Wizernes

Attached to 9e Armée

----------G.R. II/52 consisting of 12 Potez 637 and 12 Potez 63.11 at Couvron
----------G.A.O. 511 consisting of 30 P.50 and 6 Potez 39 at Villers-les-Guise
----------G.A.O. 545 consisting of 12 Potez 63.11 and 6 Potez 27 and 5 P.23 at Denain-Prouvy
----------G.A.O. 547 consisting of 12 Potez 63.11 and 12 Potez 27 at La Malmaison
----------G.A.O. 2/551 consisting of 6 Potez 63.11 and 10 P-38F 'Lightning' at Tournes-Belval

Reserves

----------G.A.O. 515 consisting of 6 Potez 63.11 and 24 Bloch 151 and 12 Mureaux 117 at Connantre

Zone d'Opération Aériennes Est - Z.O.A.E.

Groupement de Chasse 22

----------HQ Gpt 22 consisting of 2 Morane 406 and 2 Curtiss H-75 and 2 Bloch 152 at Velaine-en-Haye
----------G.C. I/2 consisting of 36 Morane 406 at Toul-Ochey
----------G.C. II/4 conssiting of 36 Curtiss H-75 at Xaffévillers
----------G.C. II/5 consisting of 36 Curtiss H-75 at Toul-Croix-de-Metz
----------G.C. II/6 consisting of 36 Spitefires at Anglure-Vouarces
----------G.C. III/7 consisting of 36 Spitefires at Vitry-le-Francois
----------G.C. I/8 consisting of 48 Bloch 152 at Velaine-en-Haye

Groupement de Bombardement 10

G.B. I/38 consisting of 12 Amiot 143 and 12 Bloch 200 at Troyes-Barberey
G.B. II/38 consisting of 12 Amiot 143 and 12 Bloch 200 at Chaumont-Semoutiers

Groupement de Bombardement 15

G.B. I/15 consisting of 12 Farman F222 at Reims-Courcy
G.B. II/15 consisting of 12 Farman F222 at Reims-Courcy

Groups de Reconnaissances

G.R. I/52 consisting of 12 Potez 637 and 6 Potez 63.11 and 6 Bloch 174 at Saint-Dizier

Attached to 3e Armée

----------G.R. I/22 consisting of 12 Potez 637 at Metz-Frescaty
----------G.A.O. 1/506 consisting of 4 Potez 63.11 and 8 Mureaux 115 at Doncourt-les-Conflans
----------G.A.O. 2/506 consisting of 12 P-38F 'Lightning” and 12 Mureaux 117 at Chambley-Bussieres
----------G.A.O. 2/508 consisting of 10 Potez 63.11 and 14 Potez 27 at Mars-la-Tour
----------G.A.O. 1/551 consisting of 6 Potez 63.11 and 6 Mureaux 117 at Etain-Buzy
----------G.A.O. 3/551 consisting of 6 Potez 63.11 and 6 Mureaux 117 at Senon-Spincourt

Attached to 4e Armée

----------G.R. I/36 consisting of 12 Potez 63.11 at Martigny-les-Gerbonvaux
----------G.A.O. 509 consisting of 6 Potez 63.11 and 6 Bréguet 27 at Delme & Essey-les-Nancy
----------G.A.O. 1/520 consisting of 12 Potez 63.11 and 12 Mureaux 115 at Morhange

Attahced to 5e Armée

----------F.A. 105 consisting of 1 Curtiss H-75 at Neufchateau
----------G.R. II/36 consisting of 12 Potez 63.11 and 12 Bloch 174 at Neufchateau
----------G.A.O. 512 consisting of 12 Potez 63.11 and 12 Potez 39 at La Perthe
----------G.A.O. 517 consisting of 6 Potez 63.11 and 6 Potez 39 at Neufchateau
----------G.A.O. 548 consisting of 6 Potez 63.11 and 6 Mureaux 115 at Epinal-Dogneville
----------G.A.O. 553 consisting of 6 Potez 63.11 and 6 Mureaux 115 at Nancy-Azelot

Zone d'Opération Aériennes Sud - Z.O.A.S.

Groupement de Chasse 24

HQ Gpt 24 consisting of 2 MOrane 406 at Dijon-Longvic
G.C. III/6 consisting of 36 Morane 406 and 12 Dewoitine 520 at Chissey s/- Loue
G.C. II/7 consisting of 36 Morane 406 and 12 Dewoitine 520 at Luxeuil-Saint Sauveur

Groups de Reconnaissances

G.R. I/33 consisting of 12 Potez 637 and 6 Potez 63.11 and 6 Bloch 174 at Dole.

Assigned to 8e Armée

----------G.R. I/55 consisting of 8 Potez 63.11 and 4 Bloch 131 at Lure-Malbouhans
----------G.A.O. 513 consisting of 6 Potez 27 and 6 Potez 39 at Belfort-Chaux
----------G.A.O. 543 consisting of 10 P.50 and 6 Potez 25 at Luxeuil-Saint Sauveur

Reserve

----------G.A.O. 1/508 consisting of 18 Potez 63.11 and 12 Bréguet 27 at Romilly

Zone d'Opération Aériennes des Alpes - Z.O.A.A.

HQ Z.O.A.A. consisting of 4 Morane 406 and 20 P.50 at Valence
G.C. I/6 consisting of 36 Morane 406 at Marseille-Marignane
G.C. III/9 consisting of 12 Spitefires and 20 P.50 at Lyon-Bron
E.C.N. 5/13 consisting of 12 Spitefires and 12 Potez 631 at Loyettes
G.A.M 550 consisting of 6 Bréguest 27 and 6 Potez 631 at Calvi(on Corsica)
G.C. I/3 consisting of 24 P-38F “Lighting” and 36 Dewoitine 520 at Cannes-Mandelieu
G.C. II/3 consisting of 48 Spitefires at Le Luc
G.C. II/9 consisting of 12 Bloch 152 and 10 de Havilland Mosuitos at Marseille-Marignane

Note: Z.O.A.A is the home of the South Eastern Bomber Training Command (G.I.A.B.S.E)

G.I.A.B.S.E

Groupment de Bombardement 6

G.B. I/31 consisting of 24 Lioré et Olivier 451 at Lézignan
G.B. II/31 conssting of 12 Bloch 21 and 12 Lioré et Olivier 451 at Lézignan

Groupment de Bombardement 7

G.B. I/23 consisting of 12 Bloch 210 and 12 Lioré et Olivier 451 at Istres IV
G.B. II/23 consisting of 16 Bloch 210 and 8 Lioré et Olivier 451 at Istres-Le Vallon

Groupment de Bombardement 9

G.B. I/21 consisting of 12 Bloch 210 and 20 B-24 “Liberator” at Avignon-ChateauBlanc
G.B. II/21 consisting of 12 Bloch 210 and 20 B-24 “Liberator” at Avignon-ChateauBlanc

Groupment de Bombardement 11

G.B. I/11 consisting of 18 Bloch 210 and 6 Lioré et Olivier 451 at Istres-Mas de Rue
G.B. II/11 consisting of 20 Bloch 210 and 16 Lioré et Olivier 451 and 4 B-17F 'Flying Fortress' at Istres-Mas de Rue

Groupment de Bombardement d'Assault 19

G.B. II/35 consisting of 6 Bréguet 691 and 6 Bréguet 693 at Birare
G.B.A. I/51 consisting of 6 Bréguet 691 and 6 Bréguet 693 at Le Luc
G.B.A. II/51 consisting of 12 Potez 633 and 12 Bréguet 691 at Le Luc

Groups de Reconnaissances

G.A.O. 2/514 consisting of 12 Potez 63.11 and 12 Mureaux 115 at Saint-Etienne-de-Saint-Geoirs
G.R. II/55 consisting consisting of 12 Potez 63.11 at Marcilloles
G.A.O. 1/514 consisting of 12 Potez 63.11 and 12 Mureaux 117 at Montbard-Touillon
G.A.O. 581 consisting of 12 Potez 63.11 at Cannes-Mandelieu
G.A.O. 582 consisting of 12 Potez 63.11 at Valence-Chabeuil
G.A.O. 1/589 consisting of 12 Potez 63.11 at Sisteron

Groups de Transports

Groupment de l'Infanterie de l'Air

G.I.A. I/601 consisting of 6 Potez 650 and 6 Farman 224 at Avignon-Pujaut
G.I.A. I/602 consisting of 12 Potez 650 at Avignon & Montélimar

Groupment Aérien de Transport

S.A.T. 1 consisting of 12 Wibault 33 at Dugny-Le Bourget
S.A.T. 5 consisting of 12 Wibault 33 at Dugny-Le Bourget
S.A.T. 8 consisting of 12 Wibault 33 at Dugny-Le Bourget
S.A.T. 9 consisting of 12 Wibault 33 at Dugny-Le Bourget
S.A.L.C 1/110 consisting of 12 Dewoitine 338 at Dugny-Le Bourget
S.A.L.C 303/139 consisting of 12 Farman 224 at Dugny-Le Bourget
S.A.L.C 304/139 consisting of 12 Farman 224 at Dugny-Le Bourget
S.A.L.C 305/139 consisting of 12 Bloch 160 at Dugny-Le Bourget
S.A.L.C 306/139 consisting of 12 Bloch 160 at Dugny-Le Bourget

<Various planes of British S.A.S based in France>

North Africa

Fighter Squadrons

G.C. I/6 consisting of 24 Spitefires and 10 P.50 at Oran-La Senia(Algeria)
G.C. I/10 consisting of 54 P.50 at Oran-La Senia(Algeria)
E.R.C. 571 consisting of 20 P-38F 'Lightning' and 24 P.50 at Casablanca(Morroco)
E.R.C. 572 consisting of 24 Dewiotne D.531at Sidi-Ahmed(Tunisia)
E.R.C. 573 consisting of 30 P-38F 'Lightning' and 30 Supermarine Spitefire at Casablanca(Morroco)
E.R.C. 574 Consisting of 25 Dewoitne D.531 at Sidi-Ahmed(Tunisia)
E.R.C.601consisting of 20 P-38F 'Lightning'(Tunisia)
E.R.C. 602 consisting of 29 P-38F 'Lightning'(Tunisia)
E.R.C. 602 consisting of 20 P-39D 'Airacobra” (Tunisia)
E.R.C. 602 consisting of 20 P-39D 'Airacobra” (Tunisia)
E.R.C. 603 consisting of 10 P.50 and 20 P.50 (Morroco)
E.R.C. 604 consisting of 20 Supermarine Spitefires

Bomber Squadrons

Groupement de Bombardement 1

G.B. I/62 consisting of 20 B-25 “Mitchell” at Meknes(Morroco)
G.B. I/63 conssting of 20 B-25 “Mitchell” at Marrakech(Morroco)

Groupement de Bombardement 2

G.B. I/19 consisting of 20 B-25 'Mitchell' at Médiouna (Morroco)
G.B. II/19 consisting of 20 B-25 'Mitchell' at Médiouna(Morroco)
G.B. II/61 consisting of 20 B-25 'Mitchell' at Médiouna(Morroco)

Groupment de Bombardement 3

G.B. I/32 consisting of at 10 B-25 'Mitchell' and 5 B-24 'Liberator' Meknes(Morroco)
G.B. II/32 consisting of 12 Douglas DB-7 at Marrakech(Morroco)
G.B. II/32 consisting of 10 B-17F “Flying Fortress” at Marrakech(Morroco)

Groupement de Bombardement 8

G.B. I/25 consisting of 12 Bloch 200 at Sidi-Ahmed(Tunisia)
G.B. II/25 consisting of 24 Lioré et Olivier 257 bis at Bougie(Algeria)

Groupement de Bombardement 8-2

G.B I/226 15 B-25 'Mitchell'(Tunisia)
G.B I/220 15 B-25 'Mitchell' (Tunisia)

[b] Groupement de Reconnaissance

G.R. I/61 consisting of 24 Glenn-Martin 167 at Médiouna(Morroco)
G.A.O. 581 consisting of 12 Potez 63.11 at Marrakech(Morroco)
G.A.O. 582 consisting of 12 Potez 63.11 at Fes(Morroco)
E.P.S. 2/583 consisting of 6 Potez 25 and 6 Potez 29 at Oran
G.A.O. 584 consisting of 12 Potez 63.11 at Sétif(Algeria)
G.A.O. 1/585 consisting of 6 Potez 25 and 6 Potez 29 at Alger-Maison Blanche (Algeria)
E.P.S. 2/585 consisting of 6 Potez 25 and 6 Potez 29 at Alger & Toggourt (Algeria)
G.A.O. 586 consisting of 12 Potez 63.11 at Tunis(Tunisia)
G.A.O. 587 consisting of 6 Potez 25 and 6 Potez 29 at Agadir(Morroco)
E.S. 588 consisting of 4 Potez 25 and 4 Potez 29 and 4 Potez 540 at Colomb-Béchar(Algeria)
E.P.S. 2/589 consisting of 6 Potez 25 and 6 Potez 29 at Meknes(Morroco)
G.A.O. 590 consisting of 6 Potez 25 and 6 Potez 29 at Gabes(Tunisia)
E.S. 591 consisting of 4 Potez 25 and 4 Potez 29 and 4 Potez 540 at Toggourt(Algeria)

Middle East

Fighter Squadron

G.C I/7 consisting of 36 Morane 406 and 30 P.50’s at Rayack(Lebanon)
G.C I/8 consisting of 5 Bloch 152 and 20 Dewoitine 520(Syria)
G.C I/9 consisting of 20 P.50 and 10 Spitefires (Syria)
G.C II/1 consisting of 10 P.50 and 10 Spitefires (Lebanon)

Bomber Squadron

G.B. I/39 consisting of 12 Glenn-Martin 167 F at Rayack (Lebanon)
G.B II/88 consisting of 20 P.46 at Rayack (Lebanon)

Recon Squadron

G.R. II/39 consisting of 12 Potez 63.11 at Damas(Syria)
E.O. 594 consisting of 15 P.23 at Damas(Syria)
G.A.O. 1/583 consisting of 10 P.23 at Alep(Syria)
E.O 593 consisting of 10 P.23 at Alep(Syria)
E.O. 592 consisting of 10 P.23 at Rayack(Lebanon)
E.O. 595 consisting of 10 P.23 at Palmyre(Syria)
E.O. 596 consisting of 10 P.23 at Deir Ez-Zor(Syria)

French Somali Coast

Détachement Air consisting of 8 Potez 631 and 8 Potez 25 and 8 Potez 29 at Djibouti

French West Africa

Esc. 6 consisting of 12 Dewoitine 501 at Dakar-Ouakam(Senegal)
43e G.A.M. consisting of 4 Farman 222 and 4 Potez 542 and 4 Potez 25 at Thies(Senegal)

Madagascar

G.A.M. 555 consisting of 12 Potez 25 and 10 P-38F “Lighting” at Ivato

Pacific

Esc.10 consisting of 10 de Havilland Mosquitos and 20 Dewoitine 520 at New Caledonia
G.A.M.558 consisting of 24 P.23 and 40 P.46 at New Caledonia
G.A.M 559 consisting of 40 P.50 at French Polynesia
G.A.M 560 consisting of 14 Dewoitne D.531 and 20 P-38F 'Lighting' at French Polynesia
E.O.598 consisting of 10 Potez 63.11 at French Polynesia

South America

French Guyana

Esc. 11 consisting of 10 de Havilland Mosquitos and 10 Spitefires at Iracoubo
Esc. 12 consisting of 34 Bloch 152 and 8 Morane 406 at Saul
Esc. 13 consisting of 12 Potez 631 and 3 Potez 24 at Saul
E.O.597 consisting of 12 Potez 29 and 27 P.23
G.B II/89 consisting of 10 B-25 “Mitchell” and 20 P.46 and 48 Glenn-Martin 167 F and 48 Douglas DB-7

Web Reference: http://forums.spacebattles.com/showthread.php?t=17156&page=5

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This webpage was updated 30th June 2023

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