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Group of Bombardment of Assault GBA II/35

3rd Squadron
4th Squadron


Historical

On March 20, 1940, GB II / 35 was assigned to Assault Aviation and became GBA II / 35. On May 10, 1940, the GBA II / 35 belongs to the Groupement n° 19 of the Southeast Bombardment Aviation Training Group of the ZOAA (Alpine Air Operations Zone).

However, in the face of GBA losses in combat, the GBA II / 35 is removed from active units to provide support to the other four Assault Aviation Groups. The GBA I / 54 receives 15 crews and 4 Breguet 691, the GBA II / 54 receives him 10 crews. The band is dissolved on August 30, 1940.


Staff

Commanders of the group GBA II/35
Commander FERIGOULE  
Commander of the 3rd Squadron
Captain PETITGUILLAUME Henri
May 20, 1940
 
Lieutenant RENDU
May 21, 1940
August 30, 1940
 
Commander of the 4th Squadron
Captain DESCLERC Abel
May 18, 1940
 
Lieutenant MURGUET Robert
May 19, 1940
May 20, 1940
 
Lieutenant ZOCCOLAT

May 21, 1940

August 30, 1940
 

 


Personnel

Pilots and crew of the Group
Names of crew members
Rank
Function
Sqn.
Informations
Civil-statut
Photos
Citations
ANTOINE Louis - François
Lieutenant
On June 16, 1940, the Breguet 691 n°49 crashes accidentally on landing during a trip: the crew is killed.
Born on 15 February at Oran (Algeria)
Killed in an air crash on 16 June 1940 at Chateauroux (36 - Indre)
   
ARTOLA
Lieutenant
Machine-Gunner
The Breguet 691 n° 39 is shot down on May 18, 1940 by 10 Me109. The crew, unharmed is made prisoner    
BARTERE
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
     
BELOGROTE Raymond
Sergeant
Pilot
On June 8, 1940, the Breguet 691 n° 57 crashes by accident during a training flight : At take-off, Sergeant BELOGROTE, a young pilot just out of the Istres School, has switched his propeller from low pitch to high pitch too quickly, thus choking his engines : the aircraft crashes to the ground.
The unreliable Breguet 691 n°57 was in the process of being reformed. Sergeant BELOGROTE asked to make a last test, and asked that the machine gunner be replaced by sandbags. Sergeant BELOGROTE was the only victim of the accident.
At the time of his burial, his comrades flew over the Church and the cemetery for a last homage...
Source Mme M MOINDREAU and Mr A. BELOGROTE.
Born on 19 September 1920 in Boulancourt (77 - Seine et Marne)
Killed on 8 June 1940 by accident in Chateauroux (36 - Indre)

 
BRUNET Félix
Félix
Observer
   
CHARBONNIER Marcel
Sergeant
Mecchanic
On December 3, 1939, the Amiot 143 n°110, caught in the mist, crashes into a Jura furs. Sergeant CHARBONNIER is the only survivor.
He was ejected 35 metres into the air when he hit the trees. Seriously injured, he was treated by nuns at the Pontarlier Hospital.
He later made a career in the Air Force, which he left with the rank of Major. Marcel CHARBONNIER died in 2006, at the age of 92
Born on September 1st, 1914 at Lyon (69 - Rhône)
Died in March 2006 in Lyon (69 - Lyon)
CHEVALIER René
Chief-Warrant Officer
Pilot
2nd Sqn..
He enters in 1938, as a military pilot student at Ambérieu en Bugey, and at the Caudron school. He was certified as a pilot in 1939, he entered the Istres School and was posted in May to the GBA II/35 until August 1940, before being transferred to the GB I/31. Born in Trévoux in the Ain.    
DESCLERC Abel
Captain
Cder 4th Sqn.
 
DURAND
Sergeant
Pilot
  Assigned to the Group in May 1940, after completing his pilot training at the Istres school.    
EMINET
Staff-Sergeant
       
FAUCARD Robert - Marcel
Staff-Sergeant
Machine-Gunner
On December 3rd 1939, Amiot 143 n° 110, caught in the fog, crashed in a forest of the Jura. Sergeant-Chef FAUCARD was killed as well as 3 other crew members who were buried in Pontarlier.
His body will be exhumed on December 15th 1948 and re-interred in Grenoble cemetery
Born on May 4, 1916 at Cornusse (18 - Cher)
Killed by accident on 03 December 1939 in Supt (39 - Jura)
   
FERIGOULE
Commander
Cder Group
   
GERAUD Pierre
Adjutant
Pilot
The Breguet 691 n° 39 is shot down on May 18, 1940 by 10 Me109. The crew, unharmed is made prisoner  
GOHON Bernard
Sergeant
Pilot
  Assigned to the Group in May 1940, after completing his pilot training at the Istres school.    
KRUMENACKER
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
   
LEBRUN Roger - Félix
Sub-Lieutenant
Crew Chef
On December 3, 1939, the Amiot 143 n°110, caught in the mist, crashes into a Jura furs.
Second Lieutenant LEBRUN was killed as well as 3 other crew members who were buried in Pontarlier.
His body will be exhumed on December 15th 1948 and re-interred in Chaville cemetery
Born on February 22, 1915 at Versailles (78 - Yvelines)
Killed by accident on 03 December 1939 in Supt (39 - Jura)
   
MEISTER Georges
Pilot
  Became a pilot in 1938 by following the Popular Aviation course. In April 1938, he joined the French Air Force and joined the CPAP of Aulnat where he obtained his military pilot's licence and joined GB II/35 on 6 August 1939.    
MOISSELIN Gérard - Paul
Sergeant
Machine-Gunner
On December 3, 1939, the Amiot 143 n°110, caught in the mist, crashes into a Jura furs.
Sergeant MOISSELIN is killed as well as 3 other crew members who will be buried in Pontarlier.
His body will be exhumed on June 1st 1955 and re-interred in Rougernant-Le-Chateau (Doubs) cemetery
Born on November 26, 1919 at Reims (51 - Marne
Killed by accident on 03 December 1939 in Supt (39 - Jura)
   
MURGUET Robert
Lieutenant
Cder 4th Sqn.
   
PASQUIER Armand - Bazile
Sergeant
Pilot
On December 3, 1939, the Amiot 143 n°110, caught in the mist, crashes into a Jura furs.
Sergeant PASQUIER was killed as well as 3 other crew members who were buried in Pontarlier.
His body will be exhumed on December 15th 1948 and reinterred in Langres cemetery (Haute-Marne)
Born on November 3, 1916 at Samoens (74 - Haute-Savoie)
Killed by accident on 03 December 1939 in Supt (39 - Jura)
   
PECASTAIN
Lieutenant
Pilot
     
PETITGUILLAUME Henri - Etienne
Captain
Cder 3rd Sqn.
Captain PETITGUILLAUME was killed on 31 October 1945 - Reason unknown
Né le 23 Juin 1911 à Montreuillon (58 - Nièvre)
Tué le 31 Octobre 1945 à Avord (18 - Cher)
POULITOU André - Jean
Staff-Sergeant
Machine-Gunner
On June 3, 1940, the Breguet 691 n°60 was destroyed by accident during a training flight: the crew was killed.
Né le 18 Janvier 1911 à Petit-Chaux (25 - Doubs)
Tué par accident le 3 juin 1940 à Montierchaume (36 - Indre)
   
RENDU
Lieutenant
Cder 3rd Sqn.
   
SIMON Joseph - Albert
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
On June 3, 1940, the Breguet 691 n°60 was destroyed by accident during a training flight: the crew was killed.
Born on 08 February 1914 in Rive De Gier (42 - Loire)
Killed by accident on 3 June 1940 at Montierchaume (36 - Indre)
   
THOUIN André - Victor
Sergeant
Machine-Gunner�
On June 16, 1940, the Breguet 691 n°49 crashes accidentally on landing during a trip: the crew is killed.
Born on 09 June 1917 at Benet (85 - Vendée)
Killed in an air crash on 16 June 1940 at Châteauroux (36 - Indre)
   
TODOLI René - François
Chief Warrant Officer
�
On June 16, 1940, the Breguet 691 n°49 crashes accidentally on landing during a trip: the crew is killed.
Born on 17 May 1907 (34 - Hérault)
Killed in an air crash on 16 June 1940 at Châteauroux (36 - Indre)
 
ZOCCOLAT
Lieutenant
Cder 4th Sqn.
     

 


Mechanics

Group Mechanics
Name
Rank
Function
Sqn.
Informations
Photo
BRUMIER
Staff-Sergeant
Mechanic
 
CHETAIL
Sergeant
Mechanic
 

 


Récits

Names
Photos
Descriptive
Sergeant Marcel CHARBONNIER
Source Mrs Josyane ROUSSEL, daughter of Sergeant Marcel CHARBONNIER

 

 

 

 


Stories of crews

Crews of Group
Names of crew members
Rank
Function
Sqn.
Informations
Photo
Crew PASQUIER Armand
Sergeant
Pilot
Amiot 143 n° 110 : During a reconnaissance flight in the night of December 2nd to 3rd 1939, the aircraft hit the ground in the Forest of "La Joux" (Jura) because of the fog. The crew was killed except for Sergeant CHARBONNIER, who was ejected at 35 meters altitude when the aircraft hit the trees. In the "Stories" section of this page, an extract of Sergeant Charbonnier's account (Source Mme Roussel, his daughter)
LEBRUN Roger
Sub-Lieutenant
Crew Chef
CHARBONNIER Marcel
Sergeant
Mecchanic
FAUCARD Robert
Staff-Sergeant
Machine-Gunner
MOISSELIN Gérard
Sergeant
Machine-Gunner
Crew GERAUD Pierre
Adjutant
Pilot
Breguet 691 n° 39 :Shot down by German fighters on May 18, 1940. The crew unscathed is taken prisoner  
ARTOLA
Lieutenant
Machine-Gunner
Crew SIMON Joseph
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
Breguet 691 n° 60 : Destroyed by accident on June 3, 1940 during a training flight: the crew is killed.  
POULITOU André
Staff-Sergeant
Machine-Gunner
Crew BELOGROTE Raymond
Sergeant
Pilot
Breguet 691 n° 57 : On June 8, 1940, the Breguet 691 n° 57 crashes by accident during a training flight : At take-off, Sergeant BELOGROTE, a young pilot just out of the Istres School, has switched his propeller from low pitch to high pitch too quickly, thus choking his engines : the aircraft crashes to the ground.
The unreliable Breguet 691 n°57 was in the process of being reformed. Sergeant BELOGROTE asked to make a last test, and asked that the machine gunner be replaced by sandbags. Sergeant BELOGROTE was the only victim of the accident.
At the time of his burial, his comrades flew over the Church and the cemetery for a last homage...
Source Mme M MOINDREAU and Mr A. BELOGROTE
 
Crew TODOLI René
Chief Warrant Officer
 
Breguet 691 n° 49 : Crashes accidentally on landing during a trip: the crew is killed.  
ANTOINE Louis
Lieutenant
THOUIN André
Sergeant

 


Airfield

Airfields
Period of use of airfields
Names
County
Pontarlier
25 - Doubs
September 3, 1939
Marigny-Le-Grand
51 - Marne
January 17, 1940
Briare
45 - Loiret
March 21, 1940
Châteauroux-La-Martinerie
36 - Indre
May 21, 1940
Bourgneuf La Rochelle
17 - Charente-Maritime
June 16, 1940
Bordeaux-Mérignac
33 - Gironde
June 19, 1940
Landes-De-Bussac
17 - Charente-Maritime
June 19, 1940
Mont-De-Marsan
40 - Landes
June 23, 1940
Toulouse-Francazal
31 - Haute-Garonne
June 26, 1940
Istres-Pt de Buc
13 - Bouches du Rhône
June 29, 1940

Click on the map to enlarge :

Itinerary of the GBA II/35

 


Aircrafts

The GBA II/35 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 Amiot 143
  • 1 Mureaux 115
  • 4 Breguet 691
  • 5 Breguet 693


Casualties

Crewmen killed
10
Sub-Lieutenant LEBRUN Roger (Accident)
December 3,1939
Sergeant PASQUIER Armand (Accident)
December 3,1939
Staff-Sergeant FAUCARD Robert (Accident)
December 3,1939
Sergeant MOISSELIN Gérard (Accident)
December 3,1939
Staff-Sergeant POULITOU André (Accident)
June 3, 1940
Staff-Sergeant SIMON Joseph (Accident)
June 3, 1940
Sergeant BELOGROTE Raymond (Accident)
June 8, 1940
Lieutenant ANTOINE Louis (Accident)
June 16, 1940
Chief Warrant Officer TODOLI René (Accident)
June 16, 1940
Sergeant THOUIN André (Accident)
June 16, 1940
Crewmen injured
1
Sergeant CHARBONNIER Marcel (Accident)
December 3,1939
Crewmen prisoners
2
Lieutenant ARTOLA
May 18, 1940
Adjutant GERAUD Pierre
May 18, 1940

 


Sources

- Mrs Josyane ROUSSEL, daughter of Sergeant Marcel CHARBONNIER
- Mrs Martine MOINDREAU and Mr Arnaud BELOGROTE, respectively niece and little cousin of Sergeant Raymond BELOGROTE
- 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 Mr Jacqueline and Paul MARTIN - Editions Aéro-Editions