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Air Observation GroupGAO 518

Historical

The GAR 518 (Regional Air Group), created on 1 January 1937 at the Mérignac base, became the GAO 518 at the beginning of 1938. On May 10, 1940, the GAO 518 is attached to the 2nd Army of the 1st Air Division of the ZOAN (North Air Operations Area).

Staff

Commanders of the group GAO 518
Commander MONTAUDIE Jean-Paul      

 

Personnel

Pilots and crew of the Group
Names of crew members
Rank
Function
Informations
Civil-statut
Photos
Citations
AMARGER
Sub-Lieutenant
Pilot
 Wounded on May 15, 1940 aboard Potez 63-11 No. 601 attacked by Me109. However, the pilot managed to bring back his aircraft, severely damaged on the ground    
ARINO Joseph
Sub-Lieutenant
  Machine Gunner
Killed on May 15, 1940 aboard Potez 63-11 No. 601 attacked by Me109. The pilot managed to bring back his aircraft, which was badly damaged on the ground.
Born on 24 March 1915 in Saint Savin de Blaye (33 - Gironde)
Killed on 15 May 1940 in Sainte-Menehould (51 - Marne)
  
DELPECH
Staff-Sergent
Pilot
 Wounded May 21, 1940 aboard Potez 63-11 No. 630 shot down by 5 Me109 ..    
DUBOSCQ Marcel - Joseph
Sub-Lieutenant
Pilot
 Disappeared during a trip between Grenoble and Saint Raphael aboard in Breguet 27 nb 34 on 24 November 1939
Born on 14 July 1907 in Barrat (09 - Ariège)
Disappeared on 24 November 1939
    
FRANTZ Robert
Lieutenant
Observer
 Wounded May 21, 1940 aboard Potez 63-11 No. 630 shot down by 5 Me109 ..  
GADOFFRE Marc - Roger
Sergeant
Observer
 Disappeared during a trip between Grenoble and Saint Raphael aboard in Breguet 27 nb 34 on 24 November 1939
Born on 3 February 1918 in Mussidan (24 - Dordogne)
Disappeared on 24 November 1939
    
LEYNAUD Georges - René
Staff-Sergent
Pilot
 Killed aboard the Potez 63-11 No. 382 shot by German Fighters on June 15, 1940.
Born on 6 August 1915 in Frontignan (34 - Hérault)
Killed on 15 June 1940 in Saint-Germain sur Meuse (10 - Aube)
  
MONEL Jean - Joseph
Lieutenant
Observer
 On May 15, 1940 the Potez 63-11 No. 601 is attacked by Me109. The pilot managed to bring back his aircraft, which was badly damaged on the ground. Lieutenant MONEL is unharmed.
Born on 16 April 1911 in Lyon (69 - Rhône)
Died on 24 May 1985 in Lyon
    
MONTAUDIE Jean-Paul - Louis
Commander
Observer
 His aircraft,Breguet 27 No. 64, was destroyed at Landing on 14 September 1939. The crew was unharmed
Born on 16 March 1895 in Nerigean (33 - Gironde)
Died on 30 November 1911 in Villenave-d'Ornon (33 - Gironde)
  
PENCLAUD
Chief Warrant Officer
Pilot
 His aircraft, Breguet 27 No. 64, was destroyed at Landing on 14 September 1939. The crew was unharmed    
RIGAL Marcel - Louis
Staff-Sergent
 Machine Gunner
Killed on May 21, 1940 aboard Potez 63-11 No. 630 shot down by 5 Me109.
Born on 6 November 1903 in Bagnères-de-Bigorre (65 - Hautes-Pyrénées)
Killed on 21 May 1940 in Bras-sur-Meuse (55 - Meuse)
  
ROBERT Marius
Lieutenant
Observer
 Killed aboard the Potez 63-11 No. 382 shot by German fighters on June 15, 1940.
Born on 1 April 1906 in Saint-Étienne (42 - Loire)
Killed on 15 June 1940 in Saint-Germain (10 - Aube)
  
SAINTE-MARIE Rolland - Gaston
Staff-Sergent
 Machine Gunner
Severely burned aboard Potez 63-11 No. 382 shot by German fighters on June 15, 1940.
Born on 25 March 1910 in Bordeaux (33 - Gironde)
Died on 22 February 1989 in Bordeaux
  
TERRAL
Sub-Lieutenant
Pilot
 Seriously wounded on June 15, 1940 following an air fight aboard a Mureaux 115, the pilot still manages to put his aircraft in the field.    
TIXERAND
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
 Wounded on June 15, 1940 following an air fight aboard a Mureaux 115: his pilot, Sub-Lieutenant TERRAL, seriously wounded, still managed to put his camera in the field.    

 

 

Stories of crews

Crews of Group
Names of crew members
Rank
Function
Informations
Crew
 PENCLAUD
Chief Warrant Officer
Pilot
 Breguet 27 n° 64 : Destroyed at Landing on September 14, 1939. His crew is unharmed
MONTAUDIE Jean-Paul
Commander
Observer
Crew
 DUBOSCQ Marcel
Sub-Lieutenant
Pilot
 Breguet 27 n° ? : Aircraft disappeared on November 24, 1939 during a trip between Grenoble and Saint-Raphael: The crew is missing.
GADOFFRE Marc
Sergeant
Observer
Crew
 AMARGER
Sub-Lieutenant
Pilot
 Potez 63-11 n° 601 : Destroyed following an aerial combat on May 15, 1940. The pilot managed to land, but the ARINO Sub-Lieutenant was killed. Sub- Lieutenant AMARGER is injured, and Lieutenant MONEL is unharmed
MONEL Jean
Lieutenant
Observer
ARINO Joseph
Sub-Lieutenant
  Machine Gunner
Crew
 DELPECH
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
 Portez 63-11 n° 630 : Shot down by the German Fighters May 21, 1940. Sergeant RIGAL is killed. Lieutenant FRANTZ and Staff Sergeant DELPECH are injured
FRANTZ Robert
Lieutenant
Observer
RIGAL Marcel
Staff-Sergeant
 Machine Gunner
Crew
 LEYNAUD Georges
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
 Portez 63-11 n° 382 : Shot down by German Fighters on June 15, 1940. Staff-Sergeant LAYNAUD and Lieutenant ROBERT are killed. Staff-Sergeant SAINTE-MARIE is seriously injured.
ROBERT Marius
Lieutenant
Observer
SAINTE-MARIE Rolland
Staff-Sergeant
  Machine Gunner
Crew
 TERRAL
Sub-Lieutenant
Pilot
 Mureaux 115 n° ? : Severely damaged by German Fighters on June 15, 1940, the pilot poses it in campaign. Sub-Lieutenant TIXERAND and TERRAL are injured, the latter more seriously.
TIXERAND
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer

 

Airfield

Airfields
Period of use of airfields
Names
County
Bordeaux
33 - Gironde
September 3, 1939
Chambley-Bussières Hageville
54 - Meurthe et Moselle
September 14, 1939
Grenoble Eybens
38 - Isère
October 21, 1939
Sardieu
38 - Isère
March 28, 1940
Challerange
08 - Ardennes
April 20, 1940
Chatel-Chéhéry
08 - Ardennes
May 14, 1940
Remicourt
Belgique
May 17, 1940
La Perthe
51 - Marne
Juny 11, 1940
Châtillon-sur-Seine
21 - Côte d'Or
Juny 13, 1940
Agen La Garenne
47 - Lot et Garonne
Juny 16, 1940
Moissac
82 - Tarn et Garonne
Juny 19, 1940
Montpellier Fréjorgues
34 - Hérault
Juny 21, 1940

Click on the map to enlarge :
Itinerary of the GAO 518

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aircrafts

The GAO 518 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 Breguet 27
  • 6 Potez 63-11

 

Casualties

Crewmen killed
6
Sub-lieutenant DUBOSCQ (Disparu)
November 24, 1939
Sergant GADOFFRE (Disparu)
November 24, 1939
Sub-Lieutenant ARINO (Combat)
May 15, 1940
Staff-Sergeant RIGAL (Combat)
May 21, 1940
Staff-Sergeant LEYNAUD (Combat)
Juny 15, 1940
Lieutenant ROBERT (Combat)
Juny 15, 1940
Crewmen injured
6
Sub-Lieutenant AMARGER (Combat)
May 15, 1940
Lieutenant FRANTZ (Combat)
21 Mai 1940
Staff-Sergeant DELPECH (Combat)
May 21, 1940
Sergeant SAINTE-MARIE (Combat)
Juny 15, 1940
Sub-Lieutenant TERRAL (Combat)
Juny 15, 1940
Sub-Lieutenant TIXERAND (Combat)
Juny 15, 1940

 

Sources

- 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