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Bomber Group GB I/34

1st Squadron
2nd Squadron


Historical

Originally, GB I / 34 is a reconnaissance group: GO I / 34. He becomes GB I / 34 on January 1, 1938

On May 10, 1940, GB I / 34 is attached to Group No. 9 of the 1st Air Division of the ZOAN (North Air Operations Area)

GB I/34, disbanded on 16 August 1940, was reborn on 1 April 1944 as GB I/34 "Béarn".


Staff

Commanders of the group GB I/34
Lieutenant-Colonel AUDOIN
October 22,1939
 
Captain VERON Jean
October 22,1939
May 21, 1940
 
Captain JULIEN Georges
May 21, 1940
 
Commander of the 1st Squadron
Captain DE-PERETTI DE LA ROCCA François
 
Lieutenant ORANGE André
 
Commander of the 2nd Squadron
Captain MARIE Bernard  
Lieutenant GUSTIN Paul

 

 


Personnel

Pilots and crew of the Group
Names of crew members
Rank
Function
Sqn.
Informations
Etat Civil
Photos
Citations & Décorations
AUDOIN
Lieutenant-Colonel
Cder of Group
   
BEGUERET André
Staff-Sergeant
Mechanic
On October 15, 1939, the Amiot 143 No.93 was shot down by the Flak. The crew is taken prisoner.He will be interned at Stalg VII. A
   
BENYAMINA Clément - Louis
Chief-Warrant-Officer
Observer and Machine-Gunner
Clément BENYAMINA joined the Free French Forces in May 1943.
Born on 3 January 1901 in Trois Palmiers (Algeria)
Died on 5 January 1983
 
BETOU Paul - Pierre
Sergeant
Paul BETOU was killed on 30 January 1946 when a GLAM (Groupe de Liaisons Aériennes Ministérielles) Siebel-204 crashed. The plane, with its controls blocked by ice, crashed near Bourg en Bresse, killing the crew and none other than the famous female pilot Maryse HILSZ.
Born on 13 November 1916
Killed on 30 January 1946
   
BOISONNADE Pierre
Sub-Lieutenant
Crew Chief
 
BONDU Jean
Chief Warrant Officer
Machine Gunner
On October 15, 1939,the Amiot 143 No.93 was shot down by the Flak. The crew is taken prisoner.
   
BONIFACE
Adjutant
Pilot
   
CARRE Daniel
Staff-Sergeant
Machine Gunner
On May 21, 1940, the Amiot 143 No.133 was shot down by the Flak. Staff Sergeant CARRE parachutes and will be taken prisoner.
 
CHABLE Alphonse - André
Adjutant
Pilot
Wounded on October 15, 1939 aboard the Amiot 143 No 93 shot by the Flak. The crew is taken prisoner.
Born in Saint-Max (54 - Meurthe et Moselle) on 5 January 1908
Died in Epinal (88 - Vosges) on 3 February 1980
   
CHAUVET Gaston
Sub-Lieutenant
Pilot

In 1968, Colonel Gaston CHAUVET was appointed Commander of Base Aérienne 745 at Aulnat.
He ended his career with the rank of Air Brigadier General.

Born on 4 January 1915 in Jazennes (17 - Charente-Maritime)
Died August 29th 1984 in Paris (75)
 
De-PERETTI DE LA ROCCA François
Captain
Cder 1st Sqn.
Born on 15 April 1908    
FOISSET Ernest - Georges
Chief Warrant Officer
Navigateur
On June 20, 1940, Amiot 354 No. 28 is missing at sea.The crew is killed.
Born on 15 July 1909 in Vandoeuvre lès Nancy (54 - Meurthe et Moselle)
Missing at sea on 20 June 1940
   
FREMON
Lieutenant
Crew Chief
2nd Sqn.
   
GEMON Marie - Joseph
Captain
Pilot
On June 20, 1940, Amiot 354 No. 28 is missing at sea.The crew is killed.
Born on 22 February 1901 in Pérignac (17 - Charente-Maritime)
Missing at sea on 20 June 1940
   
GUSTIN Paul - Cyrille
Lieutenant
Pilot Cder 2nd Sqn.
And
Crew Chief
Born in Trieux (54 - Meurthe et Moselle) on 3 August 1905
Died 27 April 1976 at Montbard (21 - Côte d'Or)
 
HOFFMANN Gabriel - Nicolas
Sergeant
Pilot
On May 21, 1940, the Amiot 143 No.133 was shot down by the Flak. Sergeant HOFFMANN is killed.
Born in Metz (57 - Moselle) on 14 August 1915
Killed at Essigny Le Grand (02 - Aisne) on 23 May 1940
 
JULIEN Georges
Captain
Observer and Cder of Group
Captain Georges JULIEN joined the Free French Air Force and was assigned to the 34th Wing created in July 1944 and made up of the GB 2/52 "Franche-Comteé", the GB 2/63 "Sénégal" and the GB I/32 "Bourgogne".
 
JULLIAN Gérard
Chief-Warrant-Officer
Crew Chief
Born in Pontenx-Les-Forges (40 - Landes) on 5 August 1905
Died in Marseille (13 - Bouches du Rhône) on 26 October 1975
 
LAMBLIN Maurice - Armand
Lieutenant
Observer
On October 15, 1939, the Amiot 143 No.93 was shot down by the Flak. The crew is taken prisoner.
Born 6 September 1911, Paris (75)
Died in Malaucène (84 - Vaucluse) on 14 October 2000
   
LECLERC Marie - François - Robert
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
 

Marie-François Leclerc joined the French Air Force on 15 October 1937, and joined the CIC at Chartres. He obtained his Pilot's Licence No 26189 on 18 March 1938 and was successively appointed Corporal in May 1938, Master Corporal in July 1938 and Sergeant in August 1938. He was mobilised on 2 September 1939, and served in the French Campaign with the GB I/34. He was demobilised on 20 August 1940.
He re-enlisted on 23 December 1944, and was finally sent home on 26 October 1945.
Source Mme NEWLAND Anne, Daughter of Sergeant-Chef Marie - François LECLERC

Born on 22 March 1916 in Paris (75)
Died on 5 February 1986 in the United States
LEFEVRE
Lieutenant
   
LEFEVRE Germain - François
Sergeant
Mechanic
On June 20, 1940, Amiot 354 No. 28 is missing at sea.The crew is killed. Only the staff of Staff Sergeant LEFEVRE will be found in February 1941,
Born on 13 July 1917 in Mautesson (78 - Yvelines)
Missing at sea on 20 June 1940
   
LEGRAND
Staff-Sergeant
Machine Gunner Avant
2nd Sqn.
On May 14, 1940, Amiot 143 No. 69 was shot down jointly by the Flak and the German hunt. Staff-Sergeant LEGRAND, unscathed, parachutes.
   
MACHET
Sergeant
   
MARIE Bernard - Lucien
Captain
Cdt 2nd Sqn. and Observer
2nd Sqn.
Bernard MARIE is a graduate of the Ecole de Saint-Cyr, the Ecole Libre des Sciences Politiques and the Ecole de Guerre de l'Air.
On 14 May 1940, Amiot 143 No 69 was shot down jointly by Flak and German fighters. Captain MARIE, unhurt, parachuted out.
In 1950, he was assigned to the Armed Forces General Staff. From 1953 to 1955 he was director of the Air Staff College. In 1955 he was technical adviser to the cabinet of the Minister Delegate at the Presidency of the Council, Mr Palewski. Head of the first division of the Armed Forces General Staff in 1957, he was appointed military adviser to the cabinet of the ministerial delegate for the air force, Mr Blancard, in 1959.

Promoted to Brigadier General in 1960, in 1962 he became Commander of the Strategic Air Forces, the first atomic deterrent force.

General Marie is an Officer of the Legion of Honour.
Born on 3 October 1912 in Paris (75)
Died 23 May 2004 in Montpellier (34 - Hérault)
 
MILAN Henri
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
Born on 22 May 1908  
MINONDO Pierre - Jean
Adjutant
Machine Gunner
On May 21, 1940, the Amiot 143 No.133 was shot down by the Flak. Adjutant MINONDO is killed.
Born on 26 January 1911 at Hendaye (64 - Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
Killed on 21 May 1940 at Saint-Quentin (02 - Aisne)
 
MOLLIET-BILLIET Marcel - Maurice
Lieutenant
Observer
On June 20, 1940, Amiot 354 No. 28 is missing at sea.The crew is killed.
Born on 16 July 1900 in Vitry Le françois (51 - Marne)
Missing at sea on 20 June 1940
   
NOMERANGE Marcel
Sergeant
Radio
Wounded on October 15, 1939 aboard the Amiot 143 No93 shot by the Flak. The crew is taken prisoner.
   
ORANGE André
Lieutenant
Cder 1st Sqn. And
Crew Chief
Lieutenant André ORANGE was killed on 20 December 1942 in Morocco, while serving with GT I/63 of the Free French Air Force.
Born on 19 April 1914 in Rouen (76 - Seine-Maritime)
Killed on 20 December 1942 at El Aïoun Sidi Mellouk, (Morocco)
 
PECH Raymond - François
Staff-Sergeant
Machine Gunner
On June 20, 1940, Amiot 354 No. 28 is missing at sea.The crew is killed.
Born on 15 January 1912 in Béziers (34 - Hérault)
Missing at sea on 20 June 1940
   
SAULOU Guy
Adjutant
Radio
On May 21, 1940, the Amiot 143 No.133 was shot down by the Flak. Injured, Adjutant SALOU parachutes himself and will be taken prisoner.
 
SPEICH Hubert - Paul
Adjutant
Pilot
Wounded May 14, 1940 aboard the Amiot 143 No. 69 shot jointly by the Flak and the German hunt. Adjutant SPEICH, seriously injured, parachutes.
 
TABARDEL Gabriel
Sub-Lieutenant
Crew Chief
Gabriel Tabardel joined the Free French Air Force, and fought in the GBM II/52 "Franche Comté" equipped with B26 Marauders.
Born on 29 December 1916 in Chaville (92 - Haut de Seine)
Died at Kremlin-Bicêtre (94 - Val De Marne) on 30 September 1996
 
TEYSSIER
Staff-Sergeant
Machine Gunner Dorsal
2nd Sqn.
On May 14, 1940, Amiot 143 No. 69 was shot down jointly by the Flak and the German hunt. Staff Sergeant TEYSSIER, unscathed, parachutes.
   
THEVENARD Jean
Staff-Sergeant
Radio
2nd Sqn.
Wounded May 14, 1940 aboard the Amiot 143 No. 69 shot jointly by the Flak and the German hunt. Staff Sergeant THEVENARD, seriously wounded, parachutes.
Born on 26 September 1912
Died 3 August 1962
 
VERON Jean
Captain
Cder of Group
and
Obrver

Jean VERON joined the Air Force in 1929 and was commissioned in November 1930.

On 21 May 1940, Amiot 143 No 133 was shot down by Flak. Captain VERON parachuted and was taken prisoner.
He managed to escape in November 1941.
He was successively assigned to the general services of the Vichy central aviation administration (1941), to the air force headquarters in North Africa at the end of 1942, to the bombing inspectorate (August 1943-March 1945), then to head the 34th medium bombing squadron from June 1945 to June 1946;
Jean VERON left the French Air Force in 1946 to become Director of the French aviation reinsurance group.
Born in Cao-Bany, Tonkin  

 

 

Stories of crews

Crews of Group
Names of crew members
Rank
Function
Sqn.
Informations
Crew
CHABLE Alphonse
Adjutant
Pilot
Amiot 143 No 93 : Shot down by the Flak on October 15, 1939. The crew is taken prisoner. Sergeant NOMERANGE and the Adjutant CHABLE are injured
LAMBLIN Maurice
Lieutenant
Observer
BEGUERET André
Staff-Sergeant
Mechanic
NOMERANGE Marcel
Sergeant
Radio
BONDU Jean
Chief Warrant Officer
Machine Gunner
Crew
SPEICH Hubert
Adjutant
Pilot
Amiot 143 No 69 : Shot down by the Flak and German Fighterson May 14th, 1940: The crew evacuated the apparatus in parachute.Adjutant SPEICH and Staff-Sergeant THEVENARD were wounded.
MARIE Bernard
Captain
Observer
THEVENARD Jean
Staff-Sergeant
Radio
LEGRAND
Staff-Sergeant
Machine Gunner Avant
TEYSSIER
Staff-Sergeant
Machine Gunner Dorsal
Crew
HOFFMANN Gabriel
Sergeant
Pilot
Amiot 143 No 133 : Shot by Flak on May 21, 1940. Sergeant HOFFMANN and Adjutant MINONDO are killed. Captain VERON, Staff-Sergeant CARRE and Adjutant SALOU parachute themselves and are taken prisoner. The latter being injured.
VERON Jean
Captain
Observer
SAULOU Guy
Adjutant
Radio
MINONDO Pierre
Adjutant
Machine Gunner
CARRE Daniel
Staff-Sergeant
Machine Gunner
Crew
GEMON Paul
Captain
Pilot
Amiot 354 No 28 : Missing at sea on June 20, 1940. The crew is killed.
MOLLIET-BILLIET Maurice
Lieutenant
Observer
FOISSET Ernest
Chief Warrant Officer
Navigateur
LEFEVRE Germain
Sergeant
Mechanic
PECH Raymond
Staff-Sergeant
Machine Gunner

 


Airfield

Airfields
Period of use of airfields
Names
County
Abbeville
80 - Somme
September 1, 1939
Auzainvilliers
88 - Vosges
September 8, 1939
Chaumont Semoutiers
52 - Haute-Marne
September 17, 1939
Montbard
21 - Côte d'Or
October 14, 1939
Montdidier
80 - Somme
April 10, 1940
La Ferté-Gaucher
77 - Seine et Marne
May 10, 1940
Nangis
77 - Seine et Marne
May 17, 1940
Bray-Sur-Seine
77 - Seine et Marne
May 26, 1940
Avord
18 - Cher
June 11, 1940
Bergerac
24 - Dordogne
June 14, 1940
Lézignan
11 - Aude
June 19, 1940
Oran
Algérie
June 21, 1940
Kalaa-Djerda
Tunisie
June 22, 1940

Click on the map to enlarge :

Itinerary of the GB I/34

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Aircrafts

The GB I/34 was equipped since its creation, following aircrafts :

The used aircrafts are described in the accessible file by the link below. You will find N � of series, Registration, date of affectation to the group, and fate of the plane there.

In this list are identified :

  • 2 Potez 390
  • 19 Amiot 143
  • 1 Potez 540
  • 2 Bloch MB200
  • 1 Amiot 351
  • 5 Amiot 354

 


Casualties

Crewmen killed
7
Sergeant HOFFMANN (Combat)
May 21, 1940
Adjutant MINONDO (Combat)
May 21, 1940
Captain GEMON (Accident)
June 20, 1940
Lieutenant MOLLIET-BILLIET (Accident)
June 20, 1940
Chief Warrant Officer FOISSET (Accident)
June 20, 1940
Sergeant LEFEVRE (Accident)
June 20, 1940
Staff-Sergeant PECH (Accident)
June 20, 1940
Crewmen injured
5
Adjutant CHABLE (Combat)
October 15, 1939
Sergeant NOMERANGE (Combat)
October 15, 1939
Adjutant SPEICH (Combat)
May 14, 1940
Staff-Sergeant THEVENARD (Combat)
May 14, 1940
Adjutant SAULOU (Combat)
May 21, 1940
Crewmen prisoner
8
Adjutant CHABLE
October 15, 1939
Sergeant NOMERANGE
October 15, 1939
Lieutenant LAMBLIN
October 15, 1939
Chief Warrant Officer BONDU
October 15, 1939
Staff-Sergeant BECQUERET
October 15, 1939
Adjutant SAULOU
May 21, 1940
Captain VERON
May 21, 1940
Staff-Sergeant CARRE
May 21, 1940

 


Sources

- Mrs Anne NEWLAND, daughter of Sergeant Marie-François LECLERC
- The dates and places of birth of the Group's personnel are taken mainly from the site : "Mémoires des Hommes"
- Book : "Ils étaient là" by Mr Jacqueline and Paul MARTIN - Editions Aéro-Editions
- ...