The escadron Normandie-Niemen is one of the little known stories of World War II. In 1942 there were three wings of the Free French Air Force: Alsace, Ile de France and Normandie, fighting in Britain and Africa under the control of the RAF. For better or worse, General deGaulle decided he would offer one of them to Soviet Russia. After some negotiation, the Russians agreed and de Gaulle selected Groupe Normandie for the mission. 62 men; 15 pilots and the rest mechanics, constituting a squadron (escadron), went to Russia through Persia and were sent to Ivanovo near Moscow, for Russian language instruction and training on the Yak 1 fighter. They were declared operational in March 1943 and went into action to the southwest of Moscow, having been augmented by 22 more pilots. The French effort grew from one squadron to four, constituting a groupe (wing in English terminology and regiment in Russian). French mechanics were replaced by Russian mechanics. In all a total of 96 pilots flew for Normandie Niemen. They remained in action constantly until May 9, 1945 when they were in East Prussia. They flew first the Yak 1, then the Yak 7, then the Yak 3, perhaps the best fighter of the Soviet air force. The Yak 3 was light, sturdy, easy to fly and maneuverable. It was armed with one 2 mm ShVAK cannon firing through the propellor hub and two synchronized UBS 12.7 machine guns in the nose. It had a liquid cooled, V12 engine of 1300 bhp, giving it a top speed of just over 400 MPH. it was competitive with the Luftwaffe's BF 109 and FW 190.
The Groupe Normandie-Niemen stayed in the northern part of Russia and participated in the battles of Orel, Smolensk, Niemen, Konigsberg and others. In addition to escorting bombers and intercepting incoming hostiles, the groupe flew many ground attack missions. These were particularly unhealthy due to the vulnerability of the liquid cooled engine to ground fire, and the fate of Russian soldiers captured by the Germans. A Lieutenant Raymond Derville, brought down by ground fire, was captured and shot.
At the end of the war the groupe was in Elbing, East Prussia. As a measure of the esteem in which they were held, Stalin gave them their Yak fighters, and they flew 60 of them across ocujpied Germany home to France. a few of these planes are still in musuems in France.
The Groupe flew 5420 sorites and brought down 273 Luftwaffe aircraft, mostly BF 109s and FW 190s, they also had 37 probables and 47 damaged. They lost 42 of their 96 pilots for a respectable kill ratio of 1:6.5 against the Luftwaffe. Their own casualty rate was unfortunatly equally high; 44% killed in three years of combat, inluding one of the squadron commanders; they led from the front.
The Groupe Normandie-Niemen stayed in the northern part of Russia and participated in the battles of Orel, Smolensk, Niemen, Konigsberg and others. In addition to escorting bombers and intercepting incoming hostiles, the groupe flew many ground attack missions. These were particularly unhealthy due to the vulnerability of the liquid cooled engine to ground fire, and the fate of Russian soldiers captured by the Germans. A Lieutenant Raymond Derville, brought down by ground fire, was captured and shot.
At the end of the war the groupe was in Elbing, East Prussia. As a measure of the esteem in which they were held, Stalin gave them their Yak fighters, and they flew 60 of them across ocujpied Germany home to France. a few of these planes are still in musuems in France.
The Groupe flew 5420 sorites and brought down 273 Luftwaffe aircraft, mostly BF 109s and FW 190s, they also had 37 probables and 47 damaged. They lost 42 of their 96 pilots for a respectable kill ratio of 1:6.5 against the Luftwaffe. Their own casualty rate was unfortunatly equally high; 44% killed in three years of combat, inluding one of the squadron commanders; they led from the front.
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