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Site in French
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Historical
On
May 10, 1940, the GAO 501 is attached to the 7th Army of the 1st
Air Division of the ZOAN (North Air Operations Area).
Staff
|
Commanders
of the group
GAO 501
|
| Commander
MOGUEZ Henri |
|
May
19, 1940
|
|
|
Captain
DE-LESQUEN Michel
|
May 22,
1940
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Other
Members of the Military Staff
|
| Sub-Lieutenant
DAUPHIN |
Mechanic
Officer
|
|
| Captain
CHANDON |
Commander
of the S.P.A. 20.104 photographic section assigned to GAO 501 |
|
| Sub-Lieutenant
MITTLER |
Assistant
to Captain CHANDON |
|
| Lieutenant
DUMONT |
Commander
of the Section of 3 light aircraft |
|
Personnel
|
Pilots
and crew of the Group
|
|
Names
of crew members
|
Rank
|
Function
|
Informations
|
Civil
Statut
|
Photos
|
Citations
|
| ALEXANDRE
Daniel |
Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
Seconded
observer from the French Army |
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| BENOIST
Marcel |
Sub-Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
Killed
on June 5, 1940 aboard the Potez 63-11 No. 250 shot by German
Fighters.
|
Born in Nice (06 - Alpes-Maritimes)
on 20 June 1914
Killed on 5 June 1940 at Senlis (60 - Oise)
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| BEROISSARD |
Sergeant
|
Machine-Gunner
|
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| BOURDON |
Sergeant
|
Pilot
|
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| CANONNE
Jean - Emmanuel |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Observer
|
Killed
aboard Le Mureaux 115 n � 57 shot by German Fighters on May
19, 1940.
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Born on 18 July 1914
at Roubaix (59 - Nord)
Killed at Boves (80 - Somme) on 19 March 1940
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| COCU
Pierre |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Pilot
|
Seriously
injured aboard the Mureaux 115 No. 57 shot by German Fighters
on May 19, 1940.
|
|
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| COQUETON
Gabriel - Georges |
Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
Killed
aboard Potez 63-11 No. 297 shot down by 9 Me109 on May 13,
1940.
|
Born 23 May 1913 at
Guéret (23 - Creuse)
Killed at Aarschot (Belgium) on 13 May 1940
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| CUVILLIER
Henri - Eugene |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Pilot
|
Killed
on June 5, 1940 aboard the Potez 63-11 No. 250 shot by German
Fighters.
|
Born at Saint-Omer (62
- Pas de Calais) on 15 October 1916
Killed on 5 June 1940 at Senlis (62 - Pas de Calais)
|
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|
| DARDAINE |
Sergeant
|
Machine-Gunner
|
|
|
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| DECLERCQ |
Chief
Warrant Officer
|
Machine-Gunner
|
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| DE-LESQUEN
DU PLESSIS- CASSO Michel - Marie |
Commander
|
Commander
of Group
|
A graduate of the Ecole
Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr (1924 - 1926), he
became a Captain on mobilisation and was on the Air Staff
of the 1st Army Corps. He commanded GAO 501 from 22nd May
1940, replacing Commandant MOGUEZ who had been wounded in
air combat.
After the war, he was assigned to the Air Force General
Staff until 1942.
After the war, he continued his career in the Air Force
and was appointed Air Brigadier General, commanding the
Light Air Force from September 1956.
|
Born in Cherbourg Octeville
(50 - Manche) on 4 June 1905
Died in Versailles (78 - Yvelines) on 11 April 1993
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| DEMAY
Alfred - Louis |
Sub-Lieutenant
|
Pilot
|
|
Born on 9 June 1900
in Verquin (62 - Pas de Calais)
Died at Reims (51 - Marne) on 2 April 1976
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| DOMAGE |
Sergeant
|
Machine-Gunner
|
|
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|
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| DUFOUR
François |
Chief
Warrant Officer
|
Pilot
|
On May
25, 1940, his aircraft, the Potez 63-11 No. 350 is hit by
the Flak and must land in the countryside where he is burned
by the crew. Unwilling, the Chief Warrant Officer DUFOUR will
be taken prisoner.
|
|
|
|
| DURIEZ
Jean - Henri |
Lieutenant
|
Pilot
|
|
Born in Séclin
(59 - Nord) on 4 January 1907
Died at Faches-Thumesnil (59 - Nord) on 5 July 1984
|
|
|
| GARDEUR
Albert |
Captain
|
Observer
|
Albert GARDEUR, a
brilliant student at the Saint-Cyr Military School, spent
the first part of his career in the infantry, first posted
to Germany and then to Morocco in a regiment of Algerian
riflemen, where he joined the Geographic Service before
becoming an Air Observer, still in Morocco.
In 1936, he returned to France, in the infantry, but was
seconded as an Air Observer to GAO 501 in September 1939.
On 25 May 1940, his aircraft, Potez 63-11 No. 350, was hit
by Flak and had to land in the field, where it was set on
fire by the crew. Captain GARDEUR was wounded and taken
prisoner.
He remained in captivity until April 1945.
In December 1945, he
was transferred to the Armée de l'Air and returned
to Algeria, where he held various positions. He was commended
for his outstanding work, particularly in his position as
Commissaire Général de la Région Aérienne.
He returned to France in 1960 and was appointed Inspector
General of the Air Commissariat, a post he held until his
departure in 1962.
But his career did not
end there: during his captivity, he took his law degree,
and subsequently obtained two post-graduate degrees in law
while stationed in Algeria. He submitted a thesis on Air
Law and was awarded the title of Doctor of Law in 1962.
After leaving the Air Force, he taught at Kabul University
for several years. When he returned to France, he continued
to teach while maintaining contact with Air Force personnel.
He died of a heart attack
in May 1979.
|
Born in Maubeuge (59
- Nord) on 19 September 1904
Died in Paris (75) on 15 May 1979
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| GOY |
Master-Corporal
|
Machine-Gunner
|
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| LAFRANCE
Paul |
Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
|
Born in Paris (75) on
12 February 1904
Died at Lunel (34 - Hérault) on 19 December 1997
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| LEBRUN
Raymond |
Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
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| LEFEBVRE
André - Adolphe |
Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
|
Born in Douai (59 -
Nord) on 6 April 1907
Died at Libourne (33 - Gironde) on 26 October 1974
|
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|
| LEGRAND |
Chief
Warrant Officer
|
Machine-Gunner
|
On
May 25, 1940, his aircraft, the Potez 63-11 No. 350 is hit
by the Flak and must land in the countryside where he is burned
by the crew. Unwilling, Chief Warrant Officer LEGRAND will
be taken prisoner.
|
|
|
|
| LEVAILLANT |
Sergeant
|
Machine-Gunner
|
|
|
|
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| LEYGNAC
Louis - Jean |
Sergeant
|
Machine-Gunner
|
Killed
aboard the Potez 63-11 No. 297 shot by German Fighters May
13, 1940.
|
Born on 24 February
1914 in Seilhac (19 - Corrèze)
Killed on 13 May 1940 at Aarschot (Belgium)
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|
|
| MOGUEZ
Henri - Etienne |
Commander
|
Pilot
et Cder of Group
|
Ancien élève
de Ecole Militaire de Saint-Cyr, Henri MOQUEZ intègre
l'Armée de l'air en 1923. De 1925 à 1927,
il est affecté au 22eme Régiment de Bombardement
de nuit basé à Chartres. Il rejoint ensuite
l'Aéronautique Navale en Afrique Occidentale, de
1927 à 1929.
Il revient en métropole
pour prendre le Commandement d'une Escadrille d'Observation
à Tours, pendant 5 ans. Il repart en Afrique pour
devenir Commandant de l'Air à Djibouti avant de revenir
en France et prendre le Commandement du GAO 501 basé
à Lille.
Le 19 Mai 1940, son
appareil, le Mureaux 115 n° 91 est abattu par la chasse.Grièvement
blessé, le Commandant MOGUEZ se parachute.
Après l'Armistice,
il prend le Commandement du GB II/38 à Istres puis
part pour 3 ans en Afrique Orientale française (de
1941 à 1944) et devient Commandant de la Base Aérienne
de Dakar.
Après l'Armistice
de 1945, il Commandera notamment la Base Aérienne
du bourget. Il sera nommé ensuite Officier Supérieur
adjoint au Général Commandant la 3eme région
Aérienne à Bordeaux avant de prendre sa retraite,
en Aout 1955.
|
Born on 6 January 1902
in Bruyères (88 - Vosges)
Died at Nice (06 - Alpes-Maritimes) on 8 April 1993
|
|
|
| PAQUEZ
Victor - Aristide |
Sub-Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
On May
19, 1940, his aircraft, the Mureaux 115 No. 115 was shot down
by German Fighters. Heavily wounded, Sub-Lieutenant PAQUEZ
parachuted himself.
|
Born in Saint-Léonard
(62 - Pas de Calais) on 6 August 1916
Died on 8 March 2011 at Bellerive-sur-Allier (03 - Allier)
|
|
|
| PLOUVIER |
Lieutenant
|
Pilot
|
|
|
|
|
| RABUEL
Joseph - Alphonse |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Machine-Gunner
|
Killed
on June 5, 1940 aboard the Potez 63-11 No. 250 shot by German
Fighters.
|
Born at Péronne
(01 - Ain) on 24 January 1914
Killed at Pont-Sainte-Maxence (60 - Oise) on 5 June 1940
|
|
|
| ROUSSEAU
Bernard - Jacques |
Sub-Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
Killed
on June 11, 1940 aboard Potez 63-11 No. 347 crashing on takeoff.
|
Born in Caen (14 - Calvados)
on 29 August 1918
Killed at Saint-André de l'Eure (27 - Eure) on 11 June
1940
|
|
|
| VELLY
André |
Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
|
Born August 17, 1905
in Epinal (88 - Vosges)
Died in Lille (59 - Nord) on 22 November 1980
|
|
|
| WICCAERT
Albert - Ernest |
Captain
|
Pilot
|
Killed
aboard the Potez 63-11 No. 297 shot by German Fighters May
13, 1940.
|
Born on 28 February
1911 at Avion (62 - Pas de Calais)
Killed on 13 May 1940 at Aarschot (Belgium)
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Group mechanics and non-flying personnel
|
|
Name
|
Rank
|
Function
|
Sqn.
|
Informations
|
Photo
|
| BOURIEZ |
Sergeant
|
|
|
Assigned
to the Photographic Section S.P.A 20.104 assigned to GAO 501 |
|
Stories
of crews
|
Crews
du Groupe
|
|
Names
of crew members
|
Rank
|
Function
|
Informations
|
|
Crew
|
WICCAERT
Albert |
Captain |
Pilot
|
Potez
63-11 n° 297 : Shot down in air combat on May 13,
1940. The crew is killed. |
| COQUETON
Louis |
Lieutenant |
Observer
|
| LEYGNAC
Louis |
Sergeant |
Machine-Gunner
|
|
Crew
|
MOGUEZ
Henri |
Commander |
Pilot
|
Mureaux
115 n° 91 : Shot in air combat on May 19, 1940.
Commander MOQUEZ and Sub-Lieutenant PAQUEZ are severely injured. |
| PAQUEZ
Victor |
Sub-Lieutenant |
Observer
|
|
Crew
|
COCU
Pierre |
Staff-Sergeant |
Pilot
|
Mureaux
115 n° 57 : Shot down in air combat on May 19, 1940.
Staff-Sergeant CANONNE is killed and Staff-Sergeant COCU is
seriously wounded. |
| CANONNE
Jean |
Staff-Sergeant |
Observer
|
|
Crew
|
DUFOUR
François |
Chief
Warrant Officer |
Pilot
|
Potez
63-11 n° 350 : Shot by the Flak on May 25, 1940.
The crew is taken prisoner. The Captain GARDEUR is injured |
| GARDEUR
Albert |
Captain |
Observer
|
| LEGRAND |
Chief
Warrant Officer |
Machine-Gunner
|
|
Crew
|
CUVILLIER
Henri |
Staff-Sergeant |
Pilot
|
Potez
63-11 n° 250 : Shot by German Fighters on June 5, 1940.
The crew is killed. |
| BENOIST
Marcel |
Sub-Lieutenant |
Observer
|
| RABUEL
Joseph |
Staff-Sergeant |
Machine-Gunner
|
|
Crew
|
BOURDON |
Sergeant |
Pilot
|
Potez
63-11 : Participates on May 14, 1940 in a reconnaissance
mission to recognize the enemy over the sector held by the 25
� DLM. |
| LEFEVRE
André |
Lieutenant |
Observer
|
| DARDAINE |
Sergeant |
Machine-Gunner
|
|
Crew
|
ROUSSEAU
Bernard |
Sub-Lieutenant |
Observer
|
Potez
63-11 n°347 : Crashes on takeoff June 11, 1940:
Sub-Lieutenant ROUSSEAU is killed |
Airfield
|
Airfields
|
Period
of use of airfields
|
|
Names
|
County
|
| Lille
Lesquin |
59
- Nord
|
September
3, 1939
|
| Sommesous |
51
- Marne
|
September
16, 1939
|
| Dunkerque
Mardyck |
59
- Nord
|
November
10, 1939
|
| Mantes
Gassicourt |
78
- Yvelines
|
May
19, 1940
|
| Chantilly
Les Aigles |
60
- Oise
|
June
7, 1940
|
| Saint-André
De L'Eure |
27
- Eure
|
June
8, 1940
|
| Voves
Baignolet |
28
- Eure et Loir
|
June
11, 1940
|
| Romorantin |
41
- Loir et Cher
|
June
14, 1940
|
| Sainte-Gemme |
17
- Charente-Maritime
|
June
18, 1940
|
| Bordeaux
Mérignac |
33
- Gironde
|
June
23, 1940
|
| Moissac |
82
- Tarn et Garonne
|
June
24, 1940
|
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Click
on the map to enlarge :
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Aircrafts
The GAO 501 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 :
- 4 Potez 63-11
- 1 Mureaux 117
- 3 Mureaux 115
Casualties
|
Crewmen
killed
|
8
|
| Lieutenant
COQUETON (Combat) |
May 13,
1940
|
| Captain
WICCAERT (Combat) |
May 13,
1940
|
| Sergeant
LEYGNAC (Combat) |
May 13,
1940
|
| Staff-Sergeant
CANONNE (Combat) |
May 19,
1940
|
| Sub-Lieutenant
BENOIST (Combat) |
June
5, 1940
|
| Staff-Sergeant
CUVILLIER (Combat) |
June
5, 1940
|
| Staff-Sergeant
RABUEL (Combat) |
June
5, 1940
|
| Sub-Lieutenant
ROUSSEAU (Accident) |
June
11, 1940
|
|
Crewmen
injured
|
4
|
| Commander
MOGUEZ (Combat) |
May 19,
1940
|
| Staff-Sergeant
COCU (Combat) |
May 19,
1940
|
| Sub-Lieutenant
PAQUEZ (Combat) |
May 19,
1940
|
| Captain
GARDEUR (Combat) |
May 25,
1940
|
|
Crewmen
prisoner
|
3
|
| Captain
GARDEUR |
May 25,
1940
|
| Chief Warrant Officer
DUFOUR |
May 25,
1940
|
| Chief Warrant Officer
LEGRAND |
May 25,
1940
|
Sources
- 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
- ...
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