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Dive Bombing Squadrons
AB-4
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Historical
Squadron AB-4 was created
on January 1, 1940 in Lanvéoc-Poulmic under the command of
Lieutenant Francis LAINE. The planned equipment consists of Loire-Nieuport
LN 411, non-naval version of the LN-401. Initially, the LN-411 was
planned for the Air Force, but it didn't want it, and the Navy recovered
them.
But since the aircraft didn't
arrive at Lanvéoc-Poulmic, the entire Escadrille moved on
the Orly airfield to retrieve the new aircraft. These arrived from
March 1940, and the trainings could begin. Almost all the staff
is inexperienced, and just graduated from the Pilot Schools ...
In May, the staffing is now complete, and the unit is transferred
to Querqueville and Berck, where she joins the AB-2 squadron, unit
with which the AB-4 will perform many common missions.
May 19, marks the date of
the deadly attack against a concentration of tanks at the crossroads
of Berlaimont. 9 aircraft of the Squadron participate in this mission.
Two pilots are taken prisoner, and two others are killed, of which
one by ... the French DCA while joining the allied lines.
After these difficult missions,
the AB-4 Escadrille was transferred to Hyères on June 4,
1940. But during the transfer, the unit was attacked by Morane MS406
Poles. A pilot, the Petty-Officer ROCHON must parachute himself,
and was nearly lynched by civilians on the ground ...
On the aircfield of Hyères,
the Squadron receives reinforcement in Men and machines, and carries
out missions against Italy, just entered War. During one of them,
two pilots will be missing.
On June 24, it was decided
to evacuate the unit to Bône, Algeria. Two pilots, victims
of breakdowns, will have to land in Sardinia, where they will be
interned. A third, blocked by a breakdown during the stage in Corsica,
will only restart on June 28, after the planned flight ban in the
conditions of Armistice: which will be rather badly appreciated
by the authorities!
Staff
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Commanders
of the Squadron AB-4
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LAINE
Francis - Lieutenant
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January
1st, 1940
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June
28,1941
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Pilots
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Pilots
of Group
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Names
of pilots
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Rank
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Function
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Informations
|
Civil-statut |
Photo
|
Citations
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| BILLIEN
Marcel - Pierre |
Petty
Officer 1st Class
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Pilot
|
Disappeared
at sea on 19 June 1940 while returning from an attack on the
Italian base at Liguria |
Born
on 25 May 1912
Disappeared on 19 June 1940 in the Mediterranean Sea |
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| DECAIX
Patrice |
Sub-Lieutenant
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Pilot
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May
19, during the attack of a formation of armored, his aircraft,
too damaged, forces him to land: he will be made prisoner |
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| DE-RODELLEC-DU
PORZIC Olivier |
Sub-Lieutenant
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Pilot
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| ELLIOT
Bernard |
Petty-Officer
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Pilot
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He
participates in the transfer of the Squadron to Bône (Algeria),
but the victim of a breakdown, he is forced to stay in Corsica
to repair, and will join the squadron only June 28 .... violating
the ban flight dictated by Armisitice! |
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| GOASGUEN
Auguste - François |
Petty-Officer
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Pilot
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Killed
on May 19, after the attack of a formation of Armored, it manages
to bring back his aircraft above the French lines, but is shot
down by the French DCA. |
Born
on 25 June 1915 at Locquénolé (29 - Finistère)
Killed on 19 June 1940 at Etreux (02 - Aisne) |
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| HABERT
Pierre |
Lieutenant
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Pilot
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Former
test pilot of the SNCAO Company which manufactures the LN 401:
a very useful recruit for the Group! |
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| JAMAIS
Mick |
Petty-Officer
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Pilot
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May
19, during the attack of a formation of armored, his aircraft,
too damaged, forces him to land: he will be made prisoner |
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| KLEIN
Joseph |
Petty-Officer
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Pilot
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May
19, during the attack of a formation of armored, his aircraft,
too damaged, forces him to land: he will manage to join the
French lines
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| LAINE
Francis |
Lieutenant
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Pilot
and Commander of the Squadron
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Commander
of the AB-4 Squadron |
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| MEHAULT
Elie |
Petty-Officer
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Pilot
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On
June 24, 1940, during the fall of the Escadrille to Bône
(Algeria), the Petty-Officer MEHAULT suffered a motor failure
and he must land in Sardinia where he is interned |
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| PRIGENT
Adrien - Louis |
Petty-Officer
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Pilot
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Killed
during a training May 17, 1940: he fails to straighten his aircraft
after a dive and hit the sea. |
Born
on 01 September 1918
Killed on 17 May 1940 at Cherbourg-Octeville (50 - Manche) |
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| RICQUIER
Raymond - Joseph |
Petty-Officer
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Pilot
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Disappeared
on June 19, 1940 during an attack on the Italian Base Ligure |
Born
on January 01, 1918 in Marseille (13 - Bouches-Du-Rhône)
Disappeared on 19 June 1940 over Italy |
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| ROCHON
Marcel |
Petty-Officer
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Pilot
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Wounded
June 4, 1940 during the transfer of the Squadron from Querqueville
to Hyères: The unit is attacked by ... Morane MS406 Poles. |
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| TEOULET
Eloi - Raoul |
Petty
Officer 1st Class
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Pilot
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Killed
in the attack on a concentration of Armor on May 19th. He is
killed in full flight by a 20mm shell. His plane will land,
alone, a few kilometers further ... |
Born
on 09 March 1910 at Puylaurens (81 - Tarn)
Killed on 18 May 1940 at Fontaine-au-bois (59 - Nord) |
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Airfields
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Various
used Airfields
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City
|
Department
or country
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Period
of use
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| Lanvéoc-Poulmic |
29 -
Finistère
|
January
1940
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| Orly |
94 Val-De-Marne
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Beginning
of February to May 11, 1940
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| Querqueville |
50 -
Manche
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May 11
to 18, 1940
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| Berck |
62 -
Pas de Calais
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May 18
to 21, 1940
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| Querqueville |
50 -
Manche
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May 21
to June 4, 1940
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| Hyères |
83 -
Var
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June
4th to 24th, 1940
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| Bône |
Algérie
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From
June 24, 1940
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Aircrafts
The
Squadron AB-4 was equipped since its creation, 1932, following aircrafts:
The used aircrafts
are dSqnribed 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 :
- 16 Loire-Nieuport LN-411
- 3 Loire-Nieuport LN-401
Casualties
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Killed Pilots
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5
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| PRIGENT
Adrien Petty-Officer (Accident) |
May17,
1940
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| GOASGUEN
Auguste Petty-Officer (Air Combat) |
May 19,1940
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| TEOULET
Eloi Petty Officer 1st Class (Air Combat) |
May 19,1940
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| RICQUIER
Raymond Petty-Officer (Air Combat) |
June
19, 1940
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| BILLIEN
Marcel Petty Officer 1st Class (Air Combat) |
June
19, 1940
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Wounded
Pilots
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1
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| ROCHON
Marcel Petty-Officer (Following error of Morane MS406 Polish) |
June
4, 1940
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Prisoners
Pilots
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2
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| DECAIX
Patrice SubLieutenant |
May 19,1940
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| JAMAIS
Mick Petty-Officer |
May 19,1940
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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"
- Hors série AVIONS No1
- "L'Aéronautique Navale Française de Septembre
1940 à Juin 1940" by L. Morareau - Editions LELA Presse
- Aéro-Journal No18
"L'Aéronautique Navale en Guerre 1939-1940": by Christian-Jacques
EHRENGARDT - Editions Aéro-Editions
- ...
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