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Bomber Group GB I/23
1st Squadron
2nd Squadron

Historical

At the outbreak of the conflict, the GB I/23 is equipped with Bloch MB210 and the first LeO 451 will arrive at the Group from March 15, 1940. They will however be sold to the GB II/23 May 18 and they will be replaced by old Bloch MB210 ...

On May 10th, 1940, the GB I/23 belongs to the Groupement N ° 7 of the Southeast Bombardment Aviation Control Group of the ZOAA (Air Operations Zone of the Alps)

Staff

Commanders of the group GB I/23
Commander BORDES  
Commander of the 1st Squadron
Captain MEIFFREN
 
Commander of the 2nd Squadron
Captain MENARD  
Captain DE-PAMPELONNE

 

 

Personnel

Pilots and crew of the Group
Names of crew members
Rank
Function
Sqn.
Informations
Etat Civil
 Photos
Citations & Décorations
BORDES
Commander
Cder of Group
     
DE-PAMPELONNE
Captain
Cder 2nd Sqn.
     
FICHEUX
Sergeant
Machine Gunner
On May 24, 1940, on the return of a mission, the Bloch MB 210 No.170 struck a LeO451 GB I/11 on landing and ignited. Sergeant FICHEUX is injured.
      
GARDIOL
Master Corporal
Machine Gunner
On May 24, 1940, on the return of a mission, the Bloch MB 210 No.170 struck a LeO451 GB I/11 on landing and ignited. The Corporal Corporal GARDIOL is injured.
      
GAUTIER Henri
Staff-Sergeant
Machine Gunner
At the start of a mission, the Bloch MB 210 No.25 hit the take off an Amiot 143 down in the field. The device ignites and its bombs explode. Staff Sergeant GAUTIER is wounded.
      
GUILLOTEAU
Lieutenant
Pilot
On the 25th of May, at the start of a mission, he hit Amiot 143 on his takeoff. His aircraft, a Bloch MB210, damaged, however, fulfilled his mission, but he could not return to his ground and would have to land on a closer terrain.
      
KALENSKY
Sergeant
Co-Pilot
At the start of a mission, the Bloch MB 210 No.25 hit the take off an Amiot 143 down in the field. The device ignites and its bombs explode. Sergeant KALENSKY (Czech) is injured.
      
LAROCHE Robert
Chief Warrant Officer
Pilot
At the start of a mission, the Bloch MB 210 No.25 hit the take off an Amiot 143 down in the field. The device ignites and its bombs explode. Chief Warrant Officer LAROCHE is killed.
      
LAVENNE Pierre
Sub-Lieutenant
�
At the start of a mission, the Bloch MB 210 No.25 hit the take off an Amiot 143 down in the field. The device ignites and its bombs explode. Sub-Lieutenant LAVENNE is killed.
      
MEIFFREN
Captain
Cder 1st Sqn.
     
MENARD
Captain
Cder 2nd Sqn.
     
N'GUYEN
Sub-Lieutenant
Crew Chief
On the night of June 17 to 18, 1940, during a bombing mission on the Fiat factories in Italy, his aircraft suffered a motor failure over the Alps, and must turn around. Its engine catches fire and the crew must evacuate the aircraft that will crash on Mont Ventoux. Sub-Lieutenant N'GUYEN is unharmed.
      
ROURE
Sub-Lieutenant
Crew Chief
On May 24, 1940, on the return of a mission, the Bloch MB 210 No.170 struck a LeO451 GB I/11 on landing and ignited. Sub-Lieutenant ROURE is killed.
      
SUAU
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
On May 24, 1940, returning from a mission, the Bloch MB 210 No.170 struck a LeO451 GB I/11 on landing and ignited .. Staff Sergeant SUAU is wounded.
      
TERRIEN
Lieutenant
Observer
On May 24, 1940, on the return of a mission, the Bloch MB 210 No.170 struck a LeO451 GB I/11 on landing and ignited. Lieutenant TERRIEN is injured.
      
VERNERET Charles
Sergeant
Radio
At the start of a mission, the Bloch MB 210 No.25 hit the take off an Amiot 143 down in the field. The device ignites and its bombs explode. Sergeant VERNERET is killed.
      

 

 

Stories of crews

Crews of Group
Names of crew members
Rank
Function
Sqn.
Informations
Crew
 SUAU
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
Bloch MB 210 No170 : On May 24, 1940, returning from a mission, Bloch MB 210 No.170 struck a LeO451 GB I/11 on landing and ignited. Sub-Lieutenant ROURE was killed. The other members of the crew are injured.
ROURE
Sub-Lieutenant
Crew Chief
TERRIEN
Lieutenant
Observateur
FICHEUX
Sergeant
Machine Gunner
GARDIOL
Master Corporal
Machine Gunner
Crew
 LAROCHE Robert
Chief Warrant Officer
Pilot
Bloch MB 210 No 25 : At the start of a mission, the Bloch MB 210 No.25 hit the take off an Amiot 143 down in the field. The aircraft ignites and its bombs explode. Sub-Lieutenant LAVENNE, Chief Warrant Officer LAROCHE and Sergeant VERNERET are killed. Staff-Sergeant GAUTIER and Sergeant KALENSKY (Czech) are injured.
LAVENNE Pierre
Sub-Lieutenant
�
VERNERET Charles
Sergeant
Radio
GAUTIER Henri
Staff-Sergeant
Machine Gunner
KALENSKY
Sergeant
Co-Pilot

 

Airfield

 

Airfields
Period of use of airfields
Names
County
Istres Le-Paty
13 - Bouches du Rhône
September 3, 1939
Gisy-Les-Nobles
89 - Yonne
May 18, 1940
Chaumont Semoutiers
52 - Haute-Marne
May 24, 1940
Toulouse-Francazal
31 - Haute-Garonne
May 31, 1940
Orange Plan-De-Dieu
84 - Vaucluse
June 2, 1940
Blida
Algérie
June 19, 1940

Click on the map to enlarge :
Itinerary of the GB I/23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aircrafts

The GB I/23 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 :

  • 4 Bloch MB210

 

Casualties

Crewmen killed
4
Sub-Lieutenant ROURE (Accident)
May 24, 1940
Sub-Lieutenant LAVENNE (Accident)
May 25, 1940
Chief Warrant Officer LAROCHE (Accident)
May 25, 1940
Sergeant VERNERET (Accident)
May 25, 1940
Crewmen injured
6
Staff-Sergeant SUAU (Accident)
May 24, 1940
Lieutenant TERRIEN (Accident)
May 24, 1940
Sergeant FICHEUX (Accident)
May 24, 1940
Master Corporal GARDIOL (Accident)
May 24, 1940
Staff-Sergeant GAUTIER (Accident)
May 25, 1940
Sergeant KALENSKY (Accident)
May 25, 1940

 

 

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 Mr Jacqueline and Paul MARTIN - Editions Aéro-Editions
- ...