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ISBNXXXXXXX-

Editor in chiefRoger Wallsgrove

Editorial TeamBartłomiej Belcarz

Artur JuszczakJames Kightly

Robert Pęczkowski

DTPBartłomiej BelcarzArtur Bukowski

ProofreadingRoger Wallsgrove

TranslationFrançois Graczyk

Colour DrawingsTeodor Liviu Morosanu

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Purchasing the Curtiss H-75 in the USA ..............................................5The contracts.............................................................................................5Delivery.to the Air.Force...........................................................................8Performance............................................................................................ 11Curtiss H-75 units and their badges ...................................................13GC I/5......................................................................................................13GC II/5....................................................................................................15GC I/4......................................................................................................16GC II/4....................................................................................................18GC III/2...................................................................................................19Other.units............................................................................................. 20The phoney war .................................................................................22First.Battles............................................................................................. 22The battle.of “the nine.versus.twenty-seven”.........................................26Last.combats.before.winter.................................................................... 30Hibernation.............................................................................................33A relative.calm.before.the storm.............................................................37The Battle of France ........................................................................... 4110.May.1940:.the German.offensive.to the North..................................4213.May.1940:.Breakthrough.in Sedan................................................... 48Dunkirk...................................................................................................53Resumption.of the offensive.to the South...............................................59Last.combats.and withdrawal.to Afrique.Française.du.Nord.................69Under the Vichy government .............................................................77Less.than.two.weeks.of uncertainty.......................................................77Mers.el-Kébir.......................................................................................... 80Reorganization.of the Armée.de l’Air.....................................................83

“Threat”.to Dakar....................................................................................86Two.years.of near.inactivity................................................................... 90Operation.“Torch”..................................................................................96End of Career .................................................................................... 101Return.to training................................................................................. 101At school.in Morocco............................................................................102Last.refuge,.the 706.school.at Cazaux..................................................104Czech pilots.......................................................................................106GC I/4 in colour during the winter of 1939-1940............................110Curtiss Hawk H 75 in colour ............................................................113

Table of contents

Get in the picture! Do you.have.photographs.of historical.aircraft,.airfields.in action,.

or original.and.unusual.stories.to tell?.MMP.would.like.to hear.from.you!.We welcome.previously.unpublished.material.that.will.help.to make.MMP.books.the.best.of their.kind..We will.return.original.photos.to you.and.provide.full.credit.for your.images..Contact.us before.sending.us any.valu-able.material:.rogerw@mmpbooks.biz

MMP SAMPLE

In early.1938,.as the international.situation.was.deteriorating.and the French.aeronautical.industry.lagged.behind.that.of Germany,.France.considered.the option.of buying.planes.abroad..The French.turned.to the only.market.able.to provide.modern.aircraft.in significant.quantities.and in reasonable.time:.the USA.

The contractsAn initial.buying.commission.came.to the USA.in early.1938.and quickly.decided.to buy.the H-75,.an export.

version.of the Curtiss.P36.fighter.which.the Army.Air.Corps.had.just.ordered..Negotiations.began,.and despite.a high.unit.price.(twice.as much.as for aircraft.made.in France),.contract.n°.1035/8.was.signed.on 9.September.1938.for an initial.series.of 100.Curtisse.H-75s,.as well.as Spare.parts..Made.in the USA,.then.reassembled.in France.in Bourges.between.February.and May.1939,.the H-75A1.was.equipped.with.a Pratt.and Whitney.R-1830.Twin.Wasp.SCG.engine.(950.hp).and four.7.5mm.machine.guns.

A second.contract,.n°.1544/9,.was.finalized.on 8.March.1939.for the purchase.of a new.series.of 100.fighters,.the H-75A2..This.appellation.did.not.correspond.to a technical.feature,.but.just.denoted.this.series..The first.H-75A2s.were.similar.to the H-75A1,.but.from.n°120.the 53.last.H-75A2s.were.equipped.with.the SC3G.version.of the Twin.Wasp,.which.used.a new.carburettor,.more.efficient.at high.altitude..Furthermore,.these.aircraft.featured.two.additional.machine.guns.from.n°141..They.were.delivered.to the Armee.d.l’Air.between.July.and September.1939.

N°1, seen in flight in America, was tested between November 1938 and January 1939 to order to verify the manufacturer’s performance figures and validate the first French order. (MAE)

Purchasing the Curtiss H-75 in the USA

5

MMP SAMPLE

The French purchasing commission in Buffalo from 4-12 January 1939 was present at engine power testing undergone by machine n°1. (SHD-A)

Curtiss H-75A2 n°148, powered by the SC3G variant of the Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp, also under-went trials in the US before it was delivered. (Guieu)

Performance of French Curtiss H-75s N°1 1 N°5 2 N°120 3 N°281 4

Engine speed (rpm) 2550 2800 2540 2540 2550 2800Max speed at sea level (km/h) 412 393Max speed at 1000m (km/h) 433.5 412.5Max speed at 3500m (km/h) 433 439Max speed at 4000m (km/h) 486.5 482Max speed at 4400m (km/h) 498 502Max speed at 5000m (km/h) 483 491 426 430Max speed at 8000m (km/h) 449 449.5

1: Tested in the United States from November 1938 to January 1939, engine P&W R-1830 SCG, unarmed, not painted2: Tested in France from February to April 1939, engine P&W R-1830 SCG, four guns, not painted, not totally equipped3: Tested in France during the summer of 1939, engine P&W R-1830 SC3G, four guns, painted, totally equipped 4: Tested in Finland during the winter of 1941-1942, engine P&W R-1830 SC3G, six guns, painted, totally equipped

12

Curtiss HAWK H-75 in French Service

MMP SAMPLE

Above: Cne Pierre Claude, commander of the 4th Esc. of GC II/4, standing here with Cne André Borne, was killed on 25 September 1939 during a clash with Bf109s. (J. Prott)

Sgt Edouard Salès standing in front of n°5 coded 9 of the 3rd escadrille of GC II/5 in September 1939. (E. Salès)

Below: Displaying the emblems of GC I/5’s two escadrilles, n°39 was the personal aircraft of Cdt Jacques-Louis Murtin. This aircraft was written off in an accident on 25 October 1939 following an engine failure on takeoff. (J-L. Claessens)

was.damaged.and forced.to land.in a field,.but.the advantage.was.no longer.in favor.of the Messerschmitts.once.the dogfight.was.engaged..Taking.advantage.of the maneuverability.of his.aircraft,.Legrand.saw.his.fire.striking.one.of the Bf109s,.which.dived.towards.the ground.before.crashing.

On 24.September,.as every.day,.a double.patrol.(six.planes).of GC II/4.was.sent.to protect.a reconnais-sance.aircraft.above.the lines..They.soon.found.themselves.face.to face.with.as many.Bf109Es.of JGr.152.and engaged.them..The combat.took.place.in two.phases,.some.Bf109Es.of 1./JG.53.helping.the first.ones.during.the second..Nevertheless,.despite.a Curtiss.destroyed.(Sgt.Antoine.de la Chapelle.took.to his.parachute),.the French.fighters.won.four.new.victories,.two.of them.confirmed.and the other.two.probables,.including.the first.ones.by Adj.Camille.Plubeau.

But.the next.day,.a more.important.formation.of H-75s.of the group,.led.by Cne.Pierre.Claude,.com-mander.of the fourth.escadrille,.reinforced.by six.H-75s.of GC I/4,.took.part.in the middle.of the day.in a ter-rible.battle.against.Bf109Es.of JG.51.and JG.53..During.this.fight,.A/C.Pierre.Verry,.from.the first.escadrille.

Curtiss HAWK H-75 in French Service

MMP SAMPLE

10 May 1940: the German offensive to the North

Groups.on H-75s.were.relatively.spared.by the first.German.bomber.raids..In fact,.these.latter.only.found.the airfield.at Xaffévillers,.where.GC II/4.was.based,.and where.six.fighters.were.damaged..Elsewhere,.the patrols.on alert.took.off.at dawn.

In Suippes,.two.H-75s.took.off.at 4:45.am,.but.S/C.François.Morel.quickly.found.himself.alone,.his.teammate’s.aircraft.being.victim.of a breakdown..Nev-ertheless,.he continued.his.mission.and soon.spotted.a formation.of Bf110s.of 3./ZG.26..He slipped.quietly.behind.one.of them,.and fired.a long.burst..With.an engine.in flames,.the 110.landed.in the country,.but.his.companions. immediately.turned.toward.the isolated.fighter..Morel.managed.to flee.after.a few.minutes,.but.he brought.back.a very.damaged.aircraft..Three.other.patrols.took.off.between.4:55.and 5:15.am. Cne.Jean-Mary.Accart,.commander.of the first.esca-drille,.who.had.himself.designed.the tactics.for use.of the Curtiss.H-75.in a test.escadrille.in 1939,.left.with.his.usual.teammate,.the Czech.Sgt.Frantisek.Perina..They.met.a Do17.isolated.from.II./KG.2,.and man-aged.to shoot.it down.with.the help.of two.H-75s.of GC I/4..S/Lt Auguste.Goupy,.S/Lt Jean-Marie.Rey.and A/C.Louis.Bouvard,.faced.the big.part.of a forma-tion.from.II./KG.2..One.of the Dorniers.was.quickly.isolated.and shot.down,.but.in the action.S/Lt Goupy.was.wounded.in the leg,.shot.by the defending.German.gunners.

Several.missions.during.the day,.including.two.reconnaissance.escorts,.did.not.result.in any.con-frontation,.but.just.before.6.pm,.nine.H-75s.took.off.on alert.when.Do17s.of III./KG.3.came.close.to Suippes..Cdt.Jacques-Louis.Murtin.had.left.nothing.to chance.in his.group,.and the field.had.been.very.well.cam-

GC II/5’s officers seen here at Cannes during March 1940. At the front are S/Lt Marcel Hébrard and S/Lt Paul Boudier. In the second row can be seen Cne Hubert Monraisse, Cdt Marcel Hugues and Cne Raymond Destaillac. In the third row are S/Lt Pierre Villacèque, X, Lt Robert Huvet and Lt Pierre Houzé. At the back are S/Lt Guy Le Stum and Cne Gérard Portalis. (E. Villacèque)

S/Lt Jean-Marie Rey and Cne Jean-Mary Accart of the 1st escadrille of GC I/5 seen with the damaged windshield of Curtiss n°151 (Accart’s own machine), after it had been hit by a stray round on 12 May. (SHD-Air)

42

Curtiss HAWK H-75 in French Service

MMP SAMPLE

N°124 of the 2nd escadrille of GC I/4, seen here during March 1940, on board which S/Lt Harold de la Taille-Trétinville was killed by Bf109s on 6 June. (SHD-Air)

Curtiss n°212 (GC I/4, 1st escadrille) landed on its nose by Lt Frantisek Burda on 6 June, would be quickly repaired. (J. Rajlich)

64

Curtiss HAWK H-75 in French Service

MMP SAMPLE

Results of the use of the Curtiss H-75s by the Armée de l’Air in 1939-1940A:.Combat.missions.between.10.May.and 16.June.1940B:.Total.sorties.between.10.May.and 16.June.1940C:.Confirmed.victories.from.September.1940.to June.1940D:.Probable.victoriesE:.Pilots.killed.(by the enemy)F:.Wounded.pilots.(by the enemy)G:.Prisoners.of warH:.Lost.aircraft.in air.combat.or to FlakI:.Aircraft.destroyed.on the ground.or abandoned.during.the retreatJ:.Lost.aircraft.in accidentsK:.Total.of lost.aircraft

A B C D E F G H I J KGC I/5 ≈ 148 ≥ 950 84 27 11 (7) 7 (7) 1 ≈ 15 ≈ 5 4 ≈ 23GC II/5 73 ≈ 570 48 23 2 (2) 5 (4) 0 ≈ 8 ≈ 7 4 ≈ 19GC I/4 ≈ 83 ≈ 510 36 9 9 (8) 9 (8) 4 ≈ 20 ≈ 10 3 ≈ 33GC II/4 99 672 52 23 9 (8) 8 (8) 1 18 18 2 38GC III/2 26 (1)  238 12 5 2 (2) 3 (3) 0 6 4 1 11DAT Bourges ≈ 30 (2)  ≈ 120 3 0 0 1 (1) 0 0 0 1 1DAT Chartres 22 (3)  27 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0DAT Etampes 11 (4)  11 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1Total ≈ 490 ≈ 3100 234 (5) 87 37 (28) 33 (31) 6 ≈ 67 ≈ 95 ≈ 20 ≈ 180 (6)

1. From 6 June 19402. From 16 May 19403. From 12 to 23 May 19404. From 10 May 19405. A shared victory between GC I/4 and I/56. This figure includes the numerous aircraft captured at Bourges or abandoned by the technical organisations during recovery or repair.

Curtiss fighters of GC II/5 at Saint-Denis-du-Sig in Algeria in late June 1940. Nearest the camera is a Wright Cyclone engine of a H-75A4. (J. Rajlich)

76

Curtiss HAWK H-75 in French Service

MMP SAMPLE

The ceasefire.between.France.on one.side,.Germany.and Italy.on the other,.started.on 25.June.1940..That.day,.most.of the modern.equipment.of the Armée.de l’Air.had.been.withdrawn.to North.Africa,.specifically.in our.case,.186.Curtiss.H-75s..What.would.become.of these.planes,.of their.pilots?.Would.the Armée.de l’Air.continue.the fight.from.the colonies?.

Less than two weeks of uncertainty On 25.June.1940,.the fighter.units.dispersed.in AFN.had.only.very.limited.means,.their.ground.ech-

elons.(hardware.and mechanics).being.for the most.part.still.at sea..Almost.nothing.had.been.organized,.including.fuel.supplies,.and the only.order.given.was.a total.ban.on flights..The armistice.had.been.signed,.and its.conditions.included.all.units.out.of France..The only.certainty.is that.nobody.in the upper.echelons.of the army.took.the initiative.at the end.of June.1940.for organizing.and continuing.this.fight,.as expected.by most.of those.who.had.retreated.to AFN.

If the Armée de l’Air.seemed.to have.still.a lot.of equipment,.almost.more.than.on May.10.with.the arrival.of many.modern.aircraft,.the situation.was.different.concerning.the pilots..The losses.were.significant.during.the French.campaign,.and if the many.wounded.or killed.in combat.had.been.numerically.replaced,.those.young.pilots.lacked.their.elders’.experience..Those.who.had.survived.were.physically.and morally.exhausted.by the battles.and their.ending.

From.approximately.30.June,.the necessary.mechanics.and ground.staff.joined.their.units,.while.the Czech.and Polish.pilots.slowly.left.them.to embark.for England.by sea..At the same.time,.an order.was.sent.from.

Curtiss fighters of GC II/5 at Saint-Denis-du-Sig at the end of June 1940. Nearest the camera are n°153 and H-751 n°8 of the 3rd escadrille. (G.Botquin)

Under the Vichy government

77

MMP SAMPLE

Serving with the autonomous 6th escadrille at Thiès (Senegal), Sgt Marcel Milan flew to British-held Gambia on 10 February 1941 at the controls of n°230. (S. Joanne)

Line-up of Curtiss fighters of the 2nd escadrille of GC I/5 in early 1941. N°147 “9”, n°279 “10” and n°193 “1” can be distin-guished. (J-L. Claessens)

92

Curtiss HAWK H-75 in French Service

MMP SAMPLE

Under the trees in Xaffévil-lers in spring 1940, Lt Aloïs Hlobil, one confirmed victory at the end of the campaign, assigned to the 4th escadrille of GC II/4 on 21 January 1940

Crashed Hawk n°57 coded white “11” of GC I/5. Czech pilot Emil Moravek was killed during an emergency landing at Heuilley-le-Grand in the Langres area on 15 June 1940. German soldiers watching buried the body of Moravek. (B.Belcarz)

108

Curtiss HAWK H-75 in French Service

MMP SAMPLE

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MMP SAMPLE

Curtiss Hawk H 75 in coulor(photos by Wojciech Łuczak)

113

MMP SAMPLE

Pilots and mechanics of 2nd escadrille in March 1940: Standing from left to right: Lt Audemard d’Alançon, X, A/C Kesse, Cne Barbier, Sgt Lemare, X, S/C Schwartz, S/C Cucumel, S/C Petit, Lt Milbeau. Seated: S/C Forzy, A/C Feuillat, Adj Dagbert. (J Tardy de Montravel)

Lt Audemard d’Alançon of the 2nd escadrille seen in front of his Curtiss coded 2 (possibly n°80). The machine’s starboard gear leg has collapsed on impact with the rock-hard frozen ground. (J Tardy de Montravel)

118

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