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Air Observation Group GAO 547

Historical

GAR 547 was created in October 1937; it became GAO 547 on 2 September 1938.
On May 10, 1940, GAO 547 is attached to the 9th Army of the 1st Air Division of the ZOAN (North Air Operations Area).
The GAO 547 was disbanded after the Armistice on 1 July 1940.

Staff

Commanders of the group GAO 547
Commander LAMEY Henry      

 

Personnel

Pilots and crew of the Group
Names of crew members
Rank
Function
Informations
Civil-statut
Photos
Citations
ALGLAVE Abel - Pierre
Lieutenant
Observer

Abel ALGLAVE was an engineer who graduated from the École des Arts et Métiers in civilian life.
On 14 May 1940, the Potez 63-11 No. 401, piloted by Second Lieutenant MATHIVAT, struck an obstacle on landing after returning from a mission. The aircraft was destroyed.
On 16 May 1940, the Potez 63-11 piloted by Second Lieutenant Georges MATHIVAT suffered a double engine failure. Unable to find a suitable landing site, the pilot landed on the River Oise. The crew were rescued unharmed.
Abel ALGLAVE joined the Resistance after the Armistice.
Born on 1 January 1909 in Reims (51 - Marne)
Died on 31 May 1990 in Les Rousses (39 - Jura)
    
BENECH Auguste - Raymond
Staff-Sergent
Pilot
 Killed aboard Potez 63-11 No. 381, shot down by fighter aircraft on 14 May 1940.
Born on 8 October 1916 in Paris (75)
Killed on 14 May 1940 in Monthermé (08 - Ardennes)
 
BERTHEUX Charles - Antoine
Lieutenant
Observer
 Killed aboard Potez 63-11 No. 381, shot down by fighter aircraft on 14 May 1940.
Born on 24 November 1909 in Lyon (69 - Rhône)
Killed on 14 May 1940 in Monthermé (08 - Ardennes)
 
DENIS Pierre - Marius
Lieutenant
Pilot
 Born on 30 August 1896  
GERBET Pierre - Louis
Adjudant
Machine Gunner

On 14 May 1940, the Potez 63-11 No. 401, piloted by Second Lieutenant MATHIVAT, struck an obstacle on landing after returning from a mission. The aircraft was destroyed.
Pierre GERBET was placed on leave from flying duty in 1948 for five years and retired in 1954 with the rank of Captain.
He worked as a restaurateur in Boufarik (Algiers) from 1950 to 1956 before being called back to active duty at his request in June 1956. He was assigned to P.C.A. 17/540 S.P. 87 500E (Air Command Post 17/540 based in Algeria). He flew many more hours as a flight commander and radio navigator during the Algerian War.
Born on 11 December 1910 in Belfort (90 - Territoire de Belfort)
Died on 22 August 1974 in Toulon (83 - Var)
 
LAMEY Henry - Adolphe
Commander
Commander of the Group
 Commander LAMEY will leave GAO 547 to take command of GR I/14. Date to be confirmed.
Born on 13 May 1901 in Paimpol (22 - Côtes-d'Armor)
Died on 18 January 1982 in Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy (54 - Meurthe-et-Moselle)
    
LARDENNOIS Henri - Marie
Lieutenant
Pilot
 Henri LARDENNOIS was a winegrower in civilian life.
Born on 10 November 1909 in Sedan (08 - Ardennes)
Died on 5 July 1989 in Montauban (82 - Tarn-et-Garonne)
    
LEVASSEUR Claude - Marie
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer

Claude LEVASSEUR enrolled at the École Centrale des Arts et Manufactures in Paris. He was appointed Reserve Second Lieutenant in November 1938.
Killed aboard Potez 63-11 No. 579, shot down by four Me110s on 14 May 1940.
Claude LEVASSEUR was posthumously made a Knight of the Legion of Honour.
Born on 10 November 1911 in Esmailea (Egypt)
Killed on 14 May 1940 in Fagnon (08 - Ardennes)
  
MARRAST Marcelin - Henri
Captain
Pilot

Marcellin MARRAST attended the Saint-Cyr Military Academy from 1931 to 1933, graduating in the ‘TAFILALET’ class.
He was severely burned aboard the Potez 63-11 No. 579, which was shot down by four Me110s on 14 May 1940. Marcelin MARRAST walked 5 km before being transported to the Foch Hospital in Semilly-sous-Laon after giving the information gathered during the mission. He died from his injuries the following day.
Marcelin MARRAST was posthumously made a Knight of the Legion of Honour.
Born on 29 October 1911 in Auch (32 - Gers)
Killed on 15 May 1940 in Laon (02 - Aisne)
MARTIN Dominique - Antoine
Master-Corporal
Machine Gunner

Seriously wounded on 14 May 1940 aboard Potez 63-11 No. 381, shot down by fighter planes. Corporal Martin, seriously wounded, was taken prisoner.
He was interned at Stalag II-A in Neubrandeburg, among other places. He was repatriated for medical treatment on 22 September 1941.
Born on 29 February 1920 in Marseille (13 - Bouches-du-Rhône)
Died on 17 June 2008 in Colmar (68 - Haut-Rhin)
  
MATHIVAT Georges - Léon
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer

Georges MATHIVAT was a hotelier in civilian life.
On 14 May 1940, the Potez 63-11 No. 401 piloted by Second Lieutenant MATHIVAT struck an obstacle on landing after returning from a mission. The aircraft was destroyed.
On 16 May 1940, his Potez 63-11 suffered a double engine failure. Unable to find a suitable landing site, Georges MATHIVAT landed on the River Oise. The crew were rescued unharmed.
After the Armistice, he joined the Resistance and was awarded the Resistance Medal on 24 April 1946.

Born on 4 February 1904 in Chambon-Sur-Voueize (23 - Creuse)
Died on 17 December 1990 in Crosne (91 - Essonne)
  
MOUGNE André - Paul
Sergeant
Machine Gunner
Killed aboard Potez 63-11 No. 579, shot down by four Me110s on 14 May 1940.
Born on 1 March 1914 in Avallon (89 - Yonne)
Killed on 14 May 1940 in Fagnon (08 - Ardennes)
  

 

 
Group mechanics and non-flying personnel
Name
Rank
Function
Informations
Civil-Statut
Photo
DUFOUR
Sergeant
Mechanic
 On 16 May 1940, the Potez 63-11 piloted by Second Lieutenant Georges MATHIVAT suffered a double engine failure. Unable to find a suitable landing site, the pilot landed on the River Oise. The crew were rescued unharmed.    

 

Stories of crews

Crews of Group
Names of crew members
Rank
Function
Informations
Crew
 BENECH Auguste
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
 Potez 63-11 n° 381 : Shot down by German Fighters on May 14, 1940. Lieutenant BERTHEUX and Sergeant-Chief BENECH are killed. Master Corporal MARTIN, seriously injured, is taken prisoner.
BERTHEUX Charles
Lieutenant
Observer
MARTIN Paul
Master-Corporal
Machine Gunner
Crew
 MARRAST Marcelin
Captain
Pilot
 Potez 63-11 n° 579 : Shot down byGerman Fighters on May 14, 1940 as he returns to his base. The crew are killed.
LEVASSEUR Claude
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
MOUGNE André
Sergeant
Machine Gunner

 

Airfield

Airfields
Period of use of airfields
Names
County
Gap - Tallard
05 - Hautes Alpes
September 3, 1939
La Malmaison
02 - Aisne
September 6, 1939
Gap - Tallard
05 - Hautes Alpes
October 17, 1939
Valence Chabeuil
26 - Drôme
February 28, 1940
Tournes Belval
08 - Ardennes
April 15, 1940
Vivaise
02 - Aisne
May 12, 1940
Compiègne
60 - Oise
May 16, 1940
Tours Parçay-Meslay / Mettray
37 - Indre et Loire
May 17, 1940
Moizay - Le Grand Pressigny
37 - Indre et Loire
May 22, 1940
Amboise
37 - Indre et Loire
Juny 14, 1940
Poitiers
86 - Vienne
Juny 15, 1940
Cère
40 - Landes
Juny 17, 1940
Abos
64 - Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Juny 19, 1940

Click on the map to enlarge :
Itinerary of the GAO 547

 

 

Aircrafts

The GAO 547 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 Potez 63-11

 

Casualties

Crewmen killed
5
Lieutenant BERTHEUX (Combat)
May 14, 1940
Staff-Sergeant BENECH (Combat)
May 14, 1940
Captain MARRAST (Combat)
May 14, 1940
Sergeant MOUGNE (Combat)
May 14, 1940
Sub-Lieutenant LEVASSEUR (Combat)
May 14, 1940
Crewmen injured
1
Master-Corporal MARTIN (Combat)
May 14, 1940
Crewmen prisoner
1
Master-Corporal MARTIN
May 14, 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