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Air Observation Group GAO 552


Historical

On May 10, 1940, GAO 552 is attached to the 7th Army of the 1st Air Division of the ZOAN (North Air Operations Area).


Staff

Commanders of the group GAO 552
Commander CLAUSSE      
Captain CHAUVET
     

 


Personnel

Pilots and crew of the Group
Names of crew members
Rank
Function
Informations
Civil-statut
Photos
Citations
CHAUVET
Captain
Commander of the Group
     
CLAUSSE
Commander
Commander of the Group
     
COCHARD
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
     
COLPIN Paul
Lieutenant
Observer
Killed on May 13, 1940 aboard Potez 63-11 No.689 hit by the Flak. Severely damaged, he failed to reach his land and crashed just 3kms from it      
DE-BORT
Lieutenant
Observer
On May 19, 1940, his aircraft, Potez 63-11 No.637 was damaged by the Flak and crashed on landing. Lieutenant DE-BORT is unharmed.      
DE-VILLANCOURT
Lieutenant
On May 15, 1940, his aircraft, the Potez 63-11 No.606 suffered a motor failure on takeoff and crashes. Staff Sergeant DOMAIN is injured      
DOMAIN
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
On May 19, 1940, his aircraft, Potez 63-11 No.637 was damaged by the Flak and crashed on landing. Staff-Sergeant DOMAIN is unscathed.      
DOUCET
Corporal
Machine Gunner
Injured May 18, 1940 aboard the Potez 63-11 No.226. The aircraft, damaged by German Fighters, crashes to the ground.      
LUX Jean
Chief Warrant Officer
Pilot
Killed on May 13, 1940 aboard Potez 63-11 No.689 hit by the Flak. Severely damaged, he failed to reach his land and crashed just 3kms from it      
MOULS
Lieutenant
Observer
     
PLANTIER
Sergeant
Machine Gunner
On May 19, 1940, his aircraft, Potez 63-11 No.637 was damaged by the Flak and crashed on landing. Sergeant PLANTIER is unscathed.      
RIBEREAU-GAYON
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
On May 18, 1940, his aircraft, Potez 63-11 No.226 was shot down by by German Fighters. Sub-Lieutenant RIBEREAU-GAYON is unharmed      
SACQUEPEE Robert
Adjutant
Machine Gunner
Killed on May 13, 1940 aboard Potez 63-11 No.689 hit by the Flak. Severely damaged, he failed to reach his land and crashed just 3kms from it      
VERSINI
Lieutenant
Pilot
On May 18, 1940, his aircraft, Potez 63-11 No.226 was shot down by German Fighters. Lieutenant VERSINI is unharmed.      

 

 

Stories of crews

Crews of Group
Names of crew members
Rank
Function
Informations
Crew
LUX Jean
Chief Warrant Officer
Pilot
Potez 63-11 n° 689 :Shot down by the Flak on May 13, 1940. The crew is killed.
COLPIN Paul
Lieutenant
Observer
SACQUEPEE Robert
Adjutant
Machine Gunner
Crew
VERSINI
Lieutenant
Pilot
Potez 63-11 n° 226 : Destroyed May 18, 1940 following an aerial combat: Corporal DOUCET is wounded.
RIBEREAU-GAYON
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
DOUCET
Corporal
Machine Gunner
Crew
DOMAIN
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
Potez 63-11 n°637 :Hit by the Flak May 19, 1940. The aircraft crashes on landing. The crew is unscathed: Lieutenant DE-BORT, Staff-Sergeant DOMAIN, and Sergeant PLANTIER.
DE-BORT
Lieutenant
Observer
PLANTIER
Sergeant
Machine Gunner
Crew
COCHARD
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
Potez 63-11 : Participates in an observation mission May 15, 1940 on the axis Antwerp - Breda - Tilburg
MOULS
Lieutenant
Observer
PLANTIER
Sergeant
Machine Gunner

 


Airfield

Airfields
Period of use of airfields
Names
County
Mourmelon
51 - Marne
September 3, 1939
Senon-Spincourt
55 - Meuse
September 20, 1939
Valenciennes La Briquette
59 - Nord
November 11, 1939
Clastres Saint-Simon
02 - Aisne
December 1, 1939
Prouvy Denain
59 - Nord
January 15, 1940
Saint-Omer Wizernes
62 - Pas de Calais
March 28, 1940
Basqueville
27 - Eure
May 20, 1940
Aulnat
63 - Puy de Dôme
May 21, 1940
Caen-Carpiquet
14 - Calvados
May 27, 1940
Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives
14 - Calvados
May 29, 1940
Chartres
28 - Eure et Loir
Juny 5, 1940
Aulnat
63 - Puy de Dôme
Juny 13, 1940
Agen La Garenne
47 - Lot et Garonne
Juny 20, 1940

Click on the map to enlarge :

Itinerary of the GAO 552

 

 


Aircrafts

The GAO 552 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 :

  • 1 Liore & Olivier LeO C30
  • 4 Potez 63-11

 


Casualties

Crewmen killed
3
Lieutenant COLPIN (Combat)
May 13, 1940
Chief Warrant Officer LUX (Combat)
May 13, 1940
Adjutant SACQUEPEE (Combat)
May 13, 1940
Crewmen injured
2
Lieutenant DE-VILLANCOURT (Accident)
May 15, 1940
Corporal DOUCET (Combat)
May 18, 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