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Reconnaissance Group GR II/33
3rd Squadron
4th Squadron


Historical

On May 10, 1940, the GR II / 33 is attached to the 1st Air Division of the ZOAN (North Air Operations Area).

 


Staff

Commanders of the group GR II/33
Captain SCHURCK  
Commander ALIAS Henri
 
Commander of the 3rd Squadron
Captain LAUX
April 16, 1940
 
Lieutenant ISRAEL Jean
April 17, 1940
May 22, 1940
 
Lieutenant GAVOILLE René
May 23, 1940
 
Commander of the 4th Squadron
Captain GUILLAUME  
Captain GELEE Max

 

 


Personnel

Pilots and crew of the Group
Names of crew members
Rank
Function
Sqn.
Informations
Civil-statut
Photos
Citations
ALIAS Henri - Jean
Commander
Group Commander
Staff Group
A former Saint-Cyrien with a General Staff certificate, he joined the Air Force in October 1923. Born in Paris  
ANDRES Emile
Sub-Lieutenant
Pilot
Joined the Group on May 22, 1940 from GAO 586.
His Aircraft, the Potez 63-11 n°582 is shot down by the Flak on May 22, 1940. The sub-Lieutenant ANDRES, unharmed, is made prisoner.
 
ANDREVA
Capiain
Observer
   
ANTOINE
Staff-Sergeant
Machine-Gunner
   
BAGREL Louis - Marie
Adjutant
Machine-Gunner
On April 16, 1940, his Aircraft, Bloch MB174 n°16 was destroyed in a fight with the opponent at 2 Me109. The Aircraft crashes to the ground and ignites. Adjutant BAGREL is killed. Born on November 27, 1909 in Baccarat (54 - Meurthe et Moselle)  
BAUDENS Albert - René
Chief-Warrant-Officer
Pilot
 
BEDIEZ Maurice - André
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
On April 16, 1940, his Aircraft, Bloch MB174 n°16 was destroyed in a fight with the opponent at 2 Me109. The Aircraft crashes to the ground and ignites. Sub-Lieutenant BEDIEZ is killed.
Born on March 3rd, 1901 in Aubigny (80 - Somme)
BERNARD Michel - Paul
Adjutant
Pilot
Killed aboard Potez 637 n°3, shot down during an air fight against 6 Me109 on November 5, 1939. Born on June 27, 1907 in Rambervillers (88 - Vosges)  
BLONDEL Brice
Corporal
Machine-Gunner
3rd Sqn..
- On April 30, 1940, Bloch MB174 n°18 was destroyed on take-off following a speeding down. Corporal BLONDEL is unharmed. - On June 9, 1940, the Potez 63-11 n°665 was shot down by the Flak during a reconnaissance flight at low altitude. The crew, wounded, is taken prisoner. "    
BOUGEROL Jacques-Guy
Lieutenant
Observeur
Reserve Lieutenant from the E.O.R., ... and Reverend Father, he joined the GR II/33 in May 1940.    
CASTELLANA Gratien - Amédée
Lieutenant
Pilot
Killed aboard the Potez 637 n°14, shot December 21, 1939 by ,,, 2 British Hurricane, deceived by the silhouette of the Potez very similar to that of the German Me110. Born on December 12, 1915 in Perpignan (66 - Pyrénées Orientales)  
CHERY Henry - Louis
Lieutenant
Observer
Tank officer seconded to the Air Force. He will be the first to report the enemy armoured columns in the Ardennes on May 12, 1940 : the 9th Army General Staff will not believe him...  
COLLOT René
Sub-Lieutenant
Pilot
Joined the Group on May 22, 1940 from GAO 586.
On June 9, 1940, the Potez 63-11 n°665 was shot down by the Flak during a reconnaissance flight at low altitude. The crew, wounded, is taken prisoner.
   
CONSTANTIN
Adjutant
Pilot
On June 10, 1940, Potez 63-11 n°50 was seriously damaged by the Flak, but managed to reach his land. The crew is unharmed, but the aircraft is destroyed.    
CREPUT
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
Joined the Group on May 22, 1940 from GAO 586.
On June 16, 1940, the Potez 63-11 No. 718 was destroyed by accident during a flight at very low altitude: flying too low, these propellers touch the ground, and the pilot must land in the countryside ... crew is unharmed.
   
DE-PONTAC Marie - François
Lieutenant
Observer
Joined the Group on May 15th from GR I / 35  
DE-SAINT-EXUPERY Antoine
Captain
Pilot
He was reported missing in action on July 31,1944
Born on June 29,1900 in Lyon 2nd Arr (69 - Rhône)
DURET André - Louis
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
 
DUTERTRE Jean - Marius
Lieutenant
Observer
Born in Lyon. He left Saint-cyr in 1932 and joined the infantry before joining the Observation Air Force in 1938. He is assigned to the GR II/33 as a detachment of the Army.  
ESCANE
Sergeant
Machine-Gunner
     
FAVRET
Adjutant
Pilot
     
FRISOU Léo
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
On June 10, 1940, Potez 63-11 n°50 was seriously damaged by the Flak, but managed to reach his land. The crew is unharmed, but the aircraft is destroyed.  
GAVOILLE René - Robert
Lieutenant
Pilot
Staff 3rd Sqn.
On May 13th, 1940, after having shot down a Henshel 126, the Potez 637 n°2 was destroyed during an aerial combat opposing it to 9 Me109. The crew is unscathed.  
GELEE Max
Captain
Staff 4th Sqn.
Joined the Air Force in 1927, he is a former student of Polytechnique and graduated from the War School. Born in Mont-Saint-Aignan (Seine-Maritime).    
GENESTE Valmy - Jean
Sergeant
Machine-Gunner
On May 24, 1940, his aircraft, Potez 63-11 n°607 was shot down by the Flak. The crew is killed. Born on July 20,1920 in Bordeaux (33 - Gironde)  
GEOFFROY Ernest - Guy
Lieutenant
Observer
Killed aboard Potez 637 n°3, shot down during an air fight against 6 Me109 on November 5, 1939. Born on June 22,1901 in Mesnil-Esnard (76 - Seine Maritime)  
GUERIN André
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
His aircraft, the Potez 637 n°5 is attacked by Me109 on October 31, 1939, he managed to regain his land.Staff-Sergeant GUERIN is unscathed.
�His aircraft, Potez 637 n°49 was shot down by the Flak on May 22, 1940. The crew, unharmed, is taken prisoner.
Born on April 7,1913 in Marseille (13 - Bouches du Rhône)
GUILLAUME
Captain
Observer
Staff 4th Sqn.
On October 30, 1939, his aircraft, the Potez 637 n°6, was destroyed on landing on the return from a mission. Captain GUILLAUME is unharmed.    
HEBRAD
Lieutenant
Observer
On June 16, 1940, the Potez 63-11 n°718 was destroyed by accident during a flight at very low altitude: flying too low, these propellers touch the ground, and the pilot must land in the countryside ... crew is unharmed.    
HINCKER Charles
Staff-Sergeant
Machine-Gunner
His aircraft, the Potez 637 n°49 was shot down by the Flak on May 22, 1940. The crew, unharmed, is taken prisoner.  
HOCHEDE Jules - Emile
Sub-Lieutenant
Pilot

- On May 12, 1940, his aircraft, the Potez 637 No. 7 was hit by the flak during a reconnaissance at low altitude. The pilot manages to return to the field, but the Potez is irreparable. Second Lieutenant HOCHEDE is unharmed.
- On May 17, 1940, Bloch MB 174 No. 9 was hit by the Flak. Sergeant MILLET, believing the lost plane parachutes, but kills himself by hitting the empennage. Sub-Lieutenant HOCHEDE brings the aircraft back to Le Bourget without a hitch.

He was killed in aerial combat on June 28,1943 while fighting with the GB 3/3 of the Free French Forces

Born on March 28,1907 in Toulon (83 - Var)  
ISRAEL Jean - Isidore
Lieutenant
Observer
Staff 3rd Sqn.
- His aircraft, the Potez 637 n°5 is attacked by Me109 October 31, 1939, he managed to regain his ground ISRAEL The Lieutenant is free.. �- On April 30, 1940, Bloch MB174 n°18 was destroyed at takeoff following a speed drop. Lieutenant ISRAEL is unharmed. �- His aircraft, Potez 637 n°49 was shot down by the Flak on May 22, 1940. The crew, unharmed, is taken prisoner. "  
JOUANNIC Maurice - Louis
Sergeant
Machine-Gunner
On May 12, 1940, his aircraft, the Potez 637 n°7 was hit by the flak during a reconnaissance at low altitude. The pilot manages to return to the field, but the Potez is irreparable. Sergeant JOANNIC is killed.  
JOSSERAND François
Chief Warrant Officer
Pilot
4th Sqn.
On October 30, 1939, his aircraft, the Potez 637 n°6, was destroyed on landing on the return from a mission. Chief Warrant Officer JOSSERAND is killed. Born on October 19,1908 in Saint-Martin du Mont (01 - Ain)    
LAUX
Captain
Pilot
Staff 3rd Sqn.
On April 16, 1940, his Aircraft, Bloch MB174 n°16 was destroyed in a fight with the opponent at 2 Me109. The Aircraft crashes to the ground and ignites. Captain LAUX, badly wounded and burned, is the only survivor.    
LENOIR André
Lieutenant
Observer
On May 24, 1940, his aircraft, Potez 63-11 n°607 was shot down by the Flak. The crew is killed.  
LUSSIER Roger - Jean
Adjutant
Machine-Gunner
He was killed on May 18,1942 at El-Aouina, Algeria Born on June 14,1913 in La Rochelle (16 - Charente-Maritime)  
MAGNIN
Adjutant
Machine-Gunner
On June 10, 1940, Potez 63-11 n°50 was seriously damaged by the Flak, but managed to reach his land. The crew is unharmed, but the aircraft is destroyed.    
MILLET Georges - Jean
Adjutant
Machine-Gunner
On May 17, 1940, Bloch MB 174 No. 9 was hit by the Flak. Sergeant MILLET, believing the lost plane parachutes, but kills himself by hitting the empennage. The pilot brings the aircraft back to Bourget without any trouble. Born on April 17,1912 in Pont à Mousson (54 - Meurthe et Moselle)  
MOREAU René
Sergeant
Machine-Gunner
His aircraft, the Potez 637 No. 5 is attacked by Me109 on October 31, 1939, he manages to regain his land, but Sergeant MOREAU is seriously injured    
MOREAU Edgard
Captain
Observer
On May 12, 1940, his aircraft, the Potez 637 n°7 was hit by the flak during a reconnaissance at low altitude. The pilot manages to return to the field, but the Potez is irreparable. Captain Moreau is seriously injured.  
MOT
Sergeant
Machine-Gunner
On June 16, 1940, the Potez 63-11 n°718 was destroyed by accident during a flight at very low altitude: flying too low, these propellers touch the ground, and the pilot must land in the countryside ... crew is unharmed.    
MOTTEZ Stéphane - Lucien
Lieutenant
Pilot
 
PENICAUT Olivier
Captain
Pilot
Joined the Group on May 22, 1940 from GAO 586.  
PERNOT Marcel - Emile
Adjutant
Machine-Gunner
4th Sqn.
"- On October 30, 1939, his aircraft, the n°63 Potez 637, was destroyed on landing on the return from a mission, and Warrant Officer PERNOT was unharmed. �- Killed aboard the Potez 637 n°14, shot December 21, 1939 by ,,, 2 British Hurricane, deceived by the silhouette of the Potez very similar to that of the German Me110. " Born on June 06,1908 in Uremil (88 - Vosges)  
PERTON André
2nd Class
Radio
Born on November 16, 1915 inMontrond le Chateau (25 - Doubs)
PUTE COTTE DE-RENEVILLE Bertrand - Charles
Lieutenant
Observer
His aircraft, the Potez 63-11 n°582 was shot down by the Flak on May 22, 1940. Lieutenant DE-RENEVILLE, seriously wounded, is taken prisoner but will die the next day. Born on February 22,1915 in Tours (37 - Indre et Loire)  
QUELLEC
Corporal
Machine-Gunner
Potez 63-11 n°690 was accidentally destroyed on landing on the return from a training flight on May 30, 1940. Corporal QUELLEC is unscathed.    
RABY Max
Lieutenant
Observer
 
ROBERT André - Paul
Adjutant
Machine-Gunner
On November 5, 1939, his aircraft, the Potez 637 n°3, was shot down during an air fight against 6 Me109. Warrant Officer ROBERT, seriously injured, parachutes and is taken prisoner. He will die following his wounds on May 23, 1941 Born on August 18,1907 in Metz (57 - Moselle)  
SAGON Emmanuel
Lieutenant
Pilot
His Aircraft, the Potez 637 n°14, is shot by ,,, 2 British Hurricane, deceived by the silhouette of the Potez very similar to that of the German Me110. Only Lieutenant SAGON, badly wounded, parachutes and survives the attack Born on February 03,1917 in Toulon (83 - Var)    
SAURT
Corporal
Machine-Gunner
3rd Sqn.
On May 13th, 1940, after having shot down a Henshel 126, the Potez 637 n°2 was destroyed during an aerial combat opposing it to 9 Me109. The crew is unscathed.  
SCHURCK
Captain
Staff Group
   
SCHUTZ André
Sub-Lieutenant
Pilot

The Potez 63-11 n°690 is accidentally destroyed on landing on the return from a training flight on May 30, 1940. Sub-Lieutenant SCHUTZ is injured.

He was killed on March 25,1945 in Bietigheim, Germany, while serving with GB I/32 of the Free French Air Force

Born on May 7,1918 in Marseille (13 - Bouches du Rhône)    
SEGUELA Marc - Joseph
Chief Warrant Officer
Pilot
On May 24, 1940, his aircraft, Potez 63-11 n°607 was shot down by the Flak. The crew is killed. Born on May 13,1912 in Salles (69 - Rhône)  
SEPET
Chief Warrant Officer
Pilot
3rd Sqn.
On April 30, 1940, Bloch MB174 n°18 was destroyed at takeoff following a speed drop. Chief Warrant Officer SEPET slightly injured    
VAUDAINE Gaston
Chief Warrant Officer
Machine-Gunner
His aircraft, Potez 63-11 n°582, was shot down by the Flak on May 22, 1940. Warrant Officer VAUDAINE, wounded, was taken prisoner.  
VEZIN Robert
Captain
Observer
3rd Sqn.
On May 13th, 1940, after having shot down a Henshel 126, the Potez 637 n°2 was destroyed during an aerial combat opposing it to 9 Me109. The crew is unscathed.  
YSERMANN
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
Potez 63-11 n°690 was accidentally destroyed on landing after a training flight on May 30, 1940. Sub Lieutenant YSERMANN is unharmed.
On June 9, 1940, the Potez 63-11 n° 665 was shot down by the Flak during a reconnaissance flight at low altitude. The crew, wounded, is taken prisoner.
   

 

 

Stories

Names
Photos
Descriptive
Staff-Sergeant André GUERIN
Source GUERIN family
2nd Class André PERTON
Source Mr Christophe PERTON, son of André PERTON

 

 

 

 

 


Stories of crews

Crews of Group
Names of crew members
Rank
Function
Informations
Crew
JOSSERAND François
Chief Warrant Officer
Pilot
Potez 637 n° 6 : Destroyed on landing when returning from a mission. Chief Warrant Officer JOSSERAND is killed.
GUILLAUME
Captain
Observer
PERNOT Marcel
Adjutant
Machine-Gunner
Crew
GUERIN André
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
Potez 637 n° 5 : Attacked by BF109E on October 31, 1939, he managed to regain his land, but Sergeant MOREAU was seriously wounded
ISRAEL Jean
Lieutenant
Observer
MOREAU Edgard
Sergeant
Machine-Gunner
Crew
BERNARD Michel
Adjutant
Pilot
Potez 637 n° 3 : Shot down by 6 BF109E on 5 November 1939. Warrant Officer BERNARD and Lieutenant GEOFFROY are killed. Warrant Officer ROBERT, injured, parachutes. Prisoner, he will die following his wounds on May 23, 1941
GEOFFROY Ernest
Lieutenant
Observer
ROBERT André
Adjutant
Machine-Gunner
Crew
SAGON Emmanuel
Lieutenant
Pilot
Potez 637 n° 14 :Despatched by mistake on December 21, 1939, by two English Hurricanes. Only Lieutenant SAGON, injured, survives the attack
CASTELLANA Gratien
Lieutenant
Observer
PERNOT Marcel
Adjutant
Machine-Gunner
Crew
LAUX
Captain
Pilot
Bloch MB174 n° 16 : Destroyed in aerial combat on April 16, 1940. the only survivor is Captain LAUX, badly wounded.
BEDIEZ Maurice
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
BAGREL Louis
Adjutant
Machine-Gunner
Crew
SEPET
Chief Warrant Officer
Pilot

Bloch MB174 n° 18 : Destroyed by accident on April 30, 1940. Chief Warrant Officer SEPET slightly injured

ISRAEL Jean
Lieutenant
Observer
BLONDEL
Corporal
Machine-Gunner
Crew
HOCHEDE Jules
Sub-Lieutenant
Pilot
Potez 637 n° 7 : Destroyed following an air combat on May 12, 1940. Captain MOREAU seriously injured, and Sergeant JOANNIC killed
MOREAU Edgard
Captain
Observer
JOUANNIC Maurice
Sergeant
Machine-Gunner
Crew
GAVOILLE René
Lieutenant
Pilot
Potez 637 n° 2 : Destroyed in air combat May 13, 1940. The crew is unscathed.
VESIN Robert
Captain
Observer
SAURT
Corporal
Machine-Gunner
Crew
HOCHEDE Jules
Sub-Lieutenant
Pilot
Bloch MB 174 n° 9 : Affected by the Flak on May 17, 1940. Sergeant MILLET, believing the lost plane parachutes, but kills himself by hitting the empennage. The pilot brings the aircraft back to Bourget without any trouble.
MILLET Georges
Adjutant
Machine-Gunner
Crew
GUERIN André
Adjutant
Pilot
Potez 637 n° 49 : Shot down by the Flak on May 22, 1940. The crew, unharmed, is taken prisoner.
ISRAEL Jean
Lieutenant
Observer
HINICKER Charles
Staff-Sergeant
Machine-Gunner
Crew
ANDRES Emile
Sub-Lieutenant
Pilot
Potez 63-11 n° 582 : Shot down by the Flak on May 22, 1940. Lieutenant DE-RENEVILLE is killed, Sub-Lieutenant ANDRES and Chief Warrant Officer VAUDAINE are prisoners, the latter being wounded.
DE-REUNEVILLE Bertrand
Lieutenant
Observer
VAUDAINE Gaston
Chief Warrant Officer
Machine-Gunner
Crew
SEGUELA Marc
Chief Warrant Officer
Pilot
Potez 63-11 n° 607 : Shot down by the Flak on May 24, 1940. The crew is killed.
LENOIR André
Lieutenant
Observer
GENESTE Valmy
Sergeant
Machine-Gunner
Crew
SCHUTZ André
Sub-Lieutenant
Pilot
Potez 63-11 n° 690 : Accidentally destroyed on landing on May 30, 1940. Sub-Lieutenant SCHUTZ is injured.
YSERMANN
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
QUELLEC
Corporal
Machine-Gunner
Crew
COLLOT René
Sub-Lieutenant
Pilot
Potez 63-11 n° 665 : Shot by the Flak on June 9, 1940: the crew, wounded, is taken prisoner.
YSERMANN
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
BLONDEL
Corporal
Machine-Gunner
Crew
CONSTANTIN
Adjutant
Pilot
Potez 63-11 n° 50 : Severely damaged by the Flak on June 10, 1940: the crew is unharmed, but the aircraft is destroyed.
FRISOU Léo
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
MAGNIN
Adjutant
Machine-Gunner
Crew
CREPUT
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
Potez 63-11 n° 718 : Destroyed by accident on June 16, 1940: flying too low, these propellers touch the ground ... The crew is unscathed.
HEBRAD
Lieutenant
Observer
MOT
Sergeant
Machine-Gunner

Crew

De SAINT-EXUPERY Antoine
Captain
Pilot
Bloch MB 174 n°28 : Participates in a reconnaissance mission on May 23, 1940 to estimate the importance of the German breakthrough
DUTERTRE Jean
Lieutenant
Observer
MOT
Sergeant
Machine-Gunner

 


Airfield

Airfields
Period of use of airfields
Names
County
Soissons Saconin
02 - Aisne
September 3, 1939
Orcontre
51 - Marne
September 17, 1939
Athies-Sous-Laon
02 - Aisne
January 19, 1940
Orconte
51 - Marne
.23 March 1940
Arthies-Sur-Laon
02 - Aisne
April 11, 1940
Soissons Saconin
02 - Aisne
May 16, 1940
Nangis
77 - Seine et Marne
May 16, 1940
Le Bourget
93 - Seine Saint-Denis
May 17, 1940
Orly
94 Val de Marne
May 21, 1940
Nangis
77 - Seine et Marne
June 2, 1940
La Châpelle Vendômoise
41 Loir et Cher
June 10, 1940
Châteauroux
36 - Indre
June 15, 1940
Jonzac
17 - Charente-Maritime
June 17, 1940
Perpignan la-Salanque
66 - Pyrénées-Orientales
June 19, 1940
Alger maison-Blanche
Algérie
June 20, 1940

Click on the map to enlarge :

Itinerary of the GR II/33

 

 


Aircrafts

The GR II/33 has been mainly equipped since its creation with the following Aircraft :

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 :

  • 1 Potez 542
  • 9 Potez 637
  • 8 Potez 63-11
  • 6 Bloch MB174

 


Casualties

Crewmen killed
14
Chief Warrant Officer JOSSERAND (Accident)
October 30, 1939
Adjutant BERNARD (Combat)
November 5, 1939
Adjutant ROBERT (Combat)
November 5, 1939
Lieutenant GEOFFROY (Combat)
November 5, 1939
Lieutenant CASTELLANA (Méprise)
December 21, 1939
Adjutant PERNOT (Méprise)
December 21, 1939
Sub-Lieutenant BEDIEZ (Combat)
April 16, 1940
Adjutant BAGREL (Combat)
April 16, 1940
Sergeant JOANNIC (Combat)
May 12, 1940
Adjutant MILLET (Combat)
May 17, 1940
Lieutenant DE-RENEVILLE (Combat)
May 22, 1940
Lieutenant LENOIR (Combat)
May 24, 1940
Chief Warrant Officer SEGUELA (combat)
May 24, 1940
Sergeant GENEST (Combat)
May 24, 1940
Crewmen injured
10
Sergeant MOREAU (Combat)
October 31, 1939
Lieutenant SAGON (Méprise)
December 21, 1939
Captain LAUX (Combat)
April 16, 1940
Chief Warrant Officer SEPET (Accident)
April 30, 1940
Captain MOREAU (Combat)
May 12, 1940
Chief Warrant Officer VAUDAINE (Combat)
May 22, 1940
Sub-Lieutenant SCHUTZ (Accident)
May 30, 1940
Sub-Lieutenant COLLOT (Combat)
June 9, 1940
Sub-Lieutenant YSERMANN (Combat)
June 9, 1940
Corporal BLONDEL (Combat)
June 9, 1940
Crewmen prisoner
8
Lieutenant ISRAEL
May 22, 1940
Adjutant GUERIN
May 22, 1940
Staff-Sergeant HINCKER
May 22, 1940
Chief Warrant Officer VAUDAINE
May 22, 1940
Sub-Lieutenant ANDRES
May 22, 1940
Sub-Lieutenant COLLOT
June 9, 1940
Sub-Lieutenant YSERMANN
June 9, 1940
Corporal BLONDEL
June 9, 1940

 

 


Sources

- Famille GUERIN, du Sergenty André GUERIN
- The citations or decorations listed are extracted from the Official Journals archived in « Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France »
- 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 Jacqueline and Paul MARTIN - Editions Aéro-Editions