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Site in French
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Historical
On May 10,
1940, the GB II / 19 is stationed in North Africa, attached to the
Bombardment Group No. 2.
In September 1940, GB II
/ 19 reproduces GB I / 19, which has just been disbanded. The Group,
however, retains its own traditions.
Staff
|
Commanders
of the group
GB II/19
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| Commander
HOUPERT Pierre |
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Commander
of the 3rd Squadron
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Captain
BONNEFONT
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Commander
of the 4th Squadron
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| Captain
PROVOOST Jean |
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Personnel
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Pilots
and crew of the Group
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Names
of crew members
|
Rank
|
Function
|
Sqn.
|
Informations
|
Civil-statut
|
Photos |
Citations
& Decorations |
| BELLOCQ |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Machine
Gunner
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Injured
in Air Combat May 22, 1940 aboard Douglas DB-7 No. 37
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| BEYNEY
Louis - Albert |
Adjutant
|
Pilot
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The Douglas
DB7 No. 5 was shot down by 9 Me109 on May 31, 1940. The crew
was killed.
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Born on 15 May 1911
at Champagnac de Belair (24 - Dordogne)
Killed on 31 May 1940 at Artemps (02 - Aisne)
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| BEZZINA
Edgar - Ugo |
Staff-Sergeant
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Radio
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Born on 11 January 1916
in Tunis (Tunisia)
Died in Kremlin-Bicêtre (94 - Val-De-Marne) on 19 November
1991
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| BONNEFONT |
Captain
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Cder
3rd Sqn.
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| DEFAYE
Paul - André |
Sub-Lieutenant
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Observer
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The Douglas
DB7 No. 35 was shot down by Fighters on June 13, 1940. Sub-Lieutenant
DEFAYE was killed.
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Born on 10 March 1914
at Boulogne-Billancourt (92 - Hauts de Seine)
Killed on 13 June 1940 at Léchelle (77 - Seine et Marne)
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| DELINEAU
Emile - Roger |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Observer
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The Douglas
DB7 No. 39 was shot down by 7 Me109 on 24 May 1940. Staff
Sergeant DELINEAU parachuted and was taken prisoner.
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Born on 3 May 1916 in
Rouille (86 - Vienne)
Died at Pessac (33 - Gironde) on 9 April 1992
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| ESTEVE
Fernand - Louis |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Pilot
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The Douglas
DB7 No. 35 was shot down by Fighters on June 13, 1940. Staff-Sergeant
ESTEVE was killed.
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Born on 8 December 1916
in Niozelles (04 - Alpes de Haute-Provence)
Killed on 13 June 1940 at Léchelle (77 - Seine et Marne)
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| FOLACCI
Dominique - Antoine |
Staff-Sergeant
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Machine
Gunner
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The Douglas
DB7 No. 26 was shot down by flak on June 8, 1940. Staff-Sergeant
Follaci was killed.
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Born on 9 April 1914
at Mendez (Algeria)
Killed at Soissons (02 - Aisne) on 6 June 1940
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| GUERIN |
Sergeant
|
Machine
Gunner
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|
The Douglas
DB7 No. 29 was shot down by the German Fighters on May 22,
1940. The crew was captured. Sergeant GUERIN is slightly injured.
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| GUNEPIN
Gisèle |
Sub-Lieutenant
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Navigator
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In April-May 1940, Gisdèle
GUNEPIN voluntarily joined the French Air Force, taking advantage
of the new law on female auxiliaries who wished to become
pilots, to train at the Bordeaux-Mérignac Air Force
School with pilots Jean-Marie-Adèle LEYDET and Elisabeth
LION. Of the three, the only one with a transport pilot's
licence and 100 hours' flying time was Elisabeth LION, as
Gisèle GUNEPIN did not meet the conditions laid down
by the law for auxiliaries who wanted to enlist as pilots.
She therefore remained in service at GB II/19 (where she still
was in 1943/1944) as a navigator and Jean-Marie-Adèle
LEYDET was moved as a machine-gunner to GR I/14.
In 1944 Charles Tillon, Minister for the Air, created the
first corps of female military pilots. Gisèle GUNEPIN
was recruited along with twelve other highly experienced female
aviators. After training in Châteauroux and a course
of study in Tours, the 13 candidates, nicknamed ‘The
13 Amazons of the Air’, were all accepted. But the death
of Maryse HILSZ on a mission put an end to this adventure
for women, and it was not until 1996 that recruitment for
women in the Air Force was reopened.
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| HOUPERT
Pierre - Marie |
Commander
|
Cder
of Group
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Born 9 July 1897, Nancy
(54 - Meurthe et Moselle)
Died at Essey lès Nancy (54 - Meurthe et Moselle) on
21 October 1982
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| HYVERT-DE-LIGNAC
Henry - Jean |
Sergeant
|
Machine
Gunner
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The Douglas
DB7 No. 39 was shot down by 7 Me109 on 24 May 1940. Sergeant
HYVERT-DE-LIGNAS was killed.
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Born on 10 February
1916
Killed on 24 May 1940 at Les Essarts (62 - Pas de Calais)
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| LACOURIE
Guy |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Pilot
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|
The Douglas
DB7 No. 29 was shot down by the German Fighters on May 22,
1940. The crew was captured. Staff Sergeant LACOURIE is seriously
injured.
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Born on 24 May 1916
Died 17 February 1953
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| LAJULE
Pierre - Jules |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Machine
Gunner
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|
The Douglas
DB7 No. 5 was shot down by 9 Me109 on May 31, 1940. The crew
was killed.
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Born on 7 June 1913
at Narbonne (11 - Aude)
Killed on 31 May 1940 at Artemps (02 - Aisne)
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| LION
Elisabeth |
Sub-Lieutenant
|
Pilot
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Elisabeth LION obtained
her pilot's licence in 1934, and soon took part in a number
of competitions and record attempts, notably on board her
Caudron Aiglon, registration number F-ANSK.
In April-May 1940, Elisabeth LION voluntarily joined the French
Air Force, taking advantage of the new law on female auxiliaries
who wished to become pilots, and trained at the Bordeaux-Mérignac
Air Force School with pilots Gisèle Gunepin and Jean-Marie
Adèle Leydet. Elisabeth was integrated into the 4th
squadron of the GB II/19 bomber group. Of the three, she was
the only one with a transport pilot's licence and 100 flying
hours, the minimum requirements to be a pilot. But the debacle
quickly contradicted her plans.
Élisabeth Lion did not accept defeat and joined the
Resistance. In 1943, she was promoted to lieutenant for the
duration of the war in the Free French Air Force (FAFL) before
heading for Morocco.
In 1944 Charles Tillon, Minister for the Air, created the
first corps of female military pilots. Elisabeth LION was
recruited along with twelve other highly experienced female
aviators. After training in Châteauroux and a course
of study in Tours, the 13 candidates, nicknamed ‘The
13 Amazons of the Air’, were all accepted. But the death
of Maryse HILSZ on a mission put an end to this adventure
for women, and it was not until 1996 that recruitment for
women in the Air Force was reopened.
|
Born on 11 December
1904 in Balan (08 - Ardennes)
Died in Magnanville (78 - Yvelines) on 9 January 1988
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| MALLE
Jean - Auguste |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Machine
Gunner
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Wounded in Air Combat
May 22, 1940 aboard Douglas DB-7 No. 23
Jean MALLE was killed
on 3 June 1942 in an accident in Algiers.
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Born on 15 March 1914
in Fougères (35 - Ille et Vilaine)
Killed on 3 June 1942 in Algiers
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| MAYER
Richard |
Chief
Warrant Officer
|
Pilot
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The Douglas
DB7 No. 39 is shot down by 7 Me109 on May 24, 1940. Adjutant
MAYER is killed.
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Born in Courbevoie (92
- Hauts de Seine)
Killed on 24 May 1940 at Les Essarts (62 - Pas de Calais)
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| MAZON
Louis |
Sub-Lieutenant
|
Observer
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|
The Douglas
DB7 No. 29 was shot down by the German Fighters on May 22,
1940. The crew was captured. Sub-Lieutenant MAZON, is injured.
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| MONTROZIER
François - Joseph |
Adjutant
|
Observer
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The Douglas
DB7 n ° 26 is shot down by the flak on June 8, 1940. Adjutant
MONTROZIER parachutes, but this one does not open and he is
killed while arriving on the ground.
|
Born on 18 March 1911
at Serrain (34 - Herault)
Killed on 6 June 1940 at Mercin et Vaux (02 - Aisne)
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| PICART
Joseph - Marcel |
Adjutant
|
Observer
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The Douglas
DB7 No. 5 was shot down by 9 Me109 on May 31, 1940. The crew
was killed.
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Born on 1 May 1910 at
Lambézellec (29 - Finistère)
Killed on 31 May 1940 at Artemps (02 - Aisne)
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| PROVOOST
Jean - Marie |
Captain
|
Cder
4th Sqn.
Pilot
|
|
The Douglas
DB7 n ° 26 is shot down by flak on June 8, 1940. Captain PROVOOST
is unharmed.
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Born in Angoulème
(16 - Charente) on 24 February 1910
Died 8 June 1996 in Paris (75)
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| SCALEGEL
André |
Lieutenant
|
Observer
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| VINCENT
Jean |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Machine
Gunner
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The Douglas
DB7 No. 35 was shot down by Fighters on June 13, 1940. Staff
Sergeant VINCENT seriously injured, was taken prisoner.
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Stories
of crews
|
Crews
of Group
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|
Names
of crew members
|
Rank
|
Function
|
Sqn.
|
Informations
|
|
Crew
|
LACOURIE
Guy |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Pilot
|
|
Douglas
DB7 No 29 : Shot down by German Fighters on May
22, 1940. The crew is taken prisoner. Sub-Lieutenant MAZON,
and Staff Sergeant LACOURIE are seriously wounded, Sergeant
GUERIN more lightly. |
| MAZON
Louis |
Sub-Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
| GUERIN |
Sergeant
|
Machine
Gunner
|
|
Crew
|
MAYER
Richard |
Chief
Warrant Officer
|
Pilot
|
|
Douglas
DB7 No 39 : Shot down by German Fighters May 24, 1940.
Adjutant MAYER and Sergeant HYVERT-DE-LIGNAS are killed. Staff
Sergeant DELINEAU parachutes and is taken prisoner. |
| DELINEAU
Emile |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Observer
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| HYVERT-DE-LIGNAC
Henri |
Sergeant
|
Machine
Gunner
|
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Crew
|
BEYNEY
Louis |
Adjutant
|
Pilot
|
|
Douglas
DB7 No 5 : Shot down by the fighters May 31, 1940.
The crew is killed. |
| PICART
Joseph |
Adjutant
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Observer
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| LAJULE
Pierre |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Machine
Gunner
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Crew
|
PROVOOST
Jean |
Captain
|
Pilot
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|
Douglas
DB7 No 26 : Shot down by flak on June 8, 1940. Adjutant
MONTROZIER and Staff-Sergeant FOLLACI are killed. The latter
parachutes, but it does not open. Captain PROVOOST is unscathed |
| MONTROZIER
François |
Adjutant
|
Observer
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| FOLACCI
Dominique |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Machine
Gunner
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Crew
|
ESTEVE
Fernand |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Pilot
|
|
Douglas
DB7 No 35 : Shot down by Fighters on June 13, 1940.
Staff Sergeant ESTEVE and Sub-Lieutenant DEFAYE are killed.
Staff Sergeant VINCENT seriously injured, is taken prisoner. |
| DEFAYE
Paul |
Sub-Lieutenant
|
Observer
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| VINCENT
Jean |
Staff-Sergeant
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Machine
Gunner
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Airfields
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Period
of use of airfields
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Names
|
County
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Sétif
|
Algeria
|
August
26, 1939
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Kalaa-Djerda
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Tunisia
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September
2, 1939
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Blida
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Algeria
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September
20, 1939
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Biskra
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Algeria
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October
31, 1939
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Oran-La-Sénia
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Algeria
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April
2, 1940
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Médiouna
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Morocco
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April
3, 1940
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Alger
Maison-Blanche
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Algeria
|
May
17, 1940
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Cazaux
|
33
- Gironde
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May
18, 1940
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Saint-Martin
La-Campagne
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27
- Eure
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May
20, 1940
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Evreux
Damville
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27
- Eure
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May
25, 1940
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Pithiviers
Bléville
|
45
- Loiret
|
June
2, 1940
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Bourges
Le Subdran
|
18
- Cher
|
June
11, 1940
|
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Agen
La Garenne
|
47
- Lot et Garonne
|
June
15, 1940
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Lézignan
|
11
- Aude
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June
17, 1940
|
| Blida |
Algeria
|
June
17, 1940
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Souk
El-Arba
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Morocco
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June
21, 1940
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Click
on the map to enlarge
:
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Itinerary
of the GB II/19
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Aircrafts
The GB II/19 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 :
- 3 Bloch MB210
- 12 Douglas DB7
Casualties
|
Crewmen
killed
|
9
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|
Chief
Warrant Officer MAYER (Combat)
|
May 24,
1940
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Sergeant
HYVERT-DE-LIGNAC (Combat)
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May 24,
1940
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Adjutant
PICART (Combat)
|
May 31,
1940
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Adjutant
BEYNET (Combat)
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May 31,
1940
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Staff-Sergeant
LAJULE (Combat)
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May 31,
1940
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Adjutant
MONTROZIER (Combat)
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June
8, 1940
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Staff-Sergeant
FOLLACI (Combat)
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June
8, 1940
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Staff-Sergeant
ESTEVE (Combat)
|
June
13, 1940
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Sub-Lieutenant
DEFAYE (Combat)
|
June
13, 1940
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Crewmen
injured
|
6
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Sub-Lieutenant
MAZON (Combat)
|
May 22,
1940
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Sergnet
GUERIN (Combat)
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May 22,
1940
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Staff-Sergeant
LACOURIE (Combat)
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May 22,
1940
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Staff-Sergeant
MALLE (Combat)
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May 22,
1940
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Staff-Sergeant
BELLOCQ (Combat)
|
May 24,
1940
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Staff-Sergeant
VINCENT (combat)
|
June
13, 1940
|
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Prisoner
Crewmen
|
5
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Sub-Lieutenant
MAZON
|
22-May-40
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Sergnet
GUERIN
|
22-May-40
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Staff-Sergeant
LACOURIE
|
22-May-40
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Staff-Sergeant
DELINEAU
|
24-May-40
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Staff-Sergeant
VINCENT
|
13-juin-40
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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 Jacqueline and Paul MARTIN - Editions Aéro-Editions
- ...
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