French Aces of World War 2

The story of the French aces who fought both with and against the Allies in planes such as Curtiss Hawks, Morane MS.406s and Dewoitine D.520s.

French pilots fought both for and against the allies during World War II. After the fall of France, many pilots achieved ace status flying with Vichy French squadrons, and in Russia flying Yaks on the Eastern Front. This volume includes many scale drawings of planes and archival photographs.

French pilots endured fighting both with and against the Allies during World War 2.

Possessing obsolescent aircraft at the outbreak of the war, the Armée de l'Air was decimated in the wake of the Blitzkrieg; however, a number of fighter units still achieved creditable scores flying Curtiss Hawks, Morane MS.406s and Dewoitine D.520s.

This book tells the story of these aces, many of which continued to fly with the now Vichy French Squadrons after the capitulation of France in 1940 and subsequently saw action against their former Allies in North Africa. With detailed accounts from the aces themselves, it discusses the numerous French pilots also escaped to Britain, and a handful achieved notable success with the RAF flying Hurricanes, Spitfires and Tempests. In Russia, the formation of the French-manned 'Normandie-Niemen' regiment in 1943 also saw near on 40 pilots achieve ace status flying Yak fighters on the Eastern Front.