Site in French

Bomber Group GB I/63

1st Squadron
2nd Squadron


Historical

On May 10, 1940, GB I / 63 is attached to Group No1 of the Southeast Bombing Aviation Training Group of the ZOAA (Alpine Air Operations Area).


Staff

Commanders of the group GB I/63
Commander TESTARD Roger  
Commander TRUCHEMENT Jean
 
Commander of the 1st Squadron
Captain NODET Maurice
 
Commander of the 2nd Squadron
Captain MADELIN Michel

 
Captain WATRIN Jacques
May 24, 1940
 
Lieutenant LE-CORRE Jean
May 25, 1940
 
Captain JOBERT Marcel  

 


Personnel

Pilots and crew of the Group
Names of crew members
Rank
Function
Sqn.
Informations
Civil-statut
Photos
Citations
ASTRE Robert - Antoine
Chief-Warrant-Officer
Chief of Board
Born in Peyriac-de-Mer (11 - Aude) on 24 March 1907
Died at Chalon-sur-Saône (71 - Saône et Loire) on 30 June 1999
 
CARRERA Kléber - Félicien
Adjutant
Machine Gunner
On 22 May 1940, Glenn Martin 167 F No 117, damaged by flak, managed to land at Chartres. Warrant Officer CARRERA was killed.
Born on 10 February 1910 at Novion Porcien (08 - Ardennes)
Killed on 22 May 1940 at Coudry (59 - Nord)
 
CHIEUSSE Raymond - Léonce
Staff-Sergeant
Machine Gunner
On 5 June 1940, Glenn Martin 167 F No 68 was shot down by 7 Me109s. Staff Sergeant CHIEUSSE is killed.
Born on 20 January 1916 in Avignon (84 - Vaucluse)
Killed on 5 June 1940
 
EAUCLAIRE Georges - Charles
Sergeant
Pilot
On 24 May 1940, during a cross-country transport mission, the Glenn Martin 167 F No 38 was mistakenly shot down by...British anti-aircraft fire: the crew was killed. The body of Georges EAUCLAIRE could not be identified by the British, who buried the crew. It would be identified a few years later by Madame L'Herbier-Montagnon thanks to a written document found in the wreckage of the aircraft.
Born in Blida (Algeria) on 16 August 1915
Killed on 23 May 1940 at Lille (59 - Nord)
 
GRISONI Louis - Antoine
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
2nd Sqn.
On 24 May 1940, during a cross-country transport mission, Glenn Martin 167 F No 61 was mistakenly shot down in flames by British anti-aircraft fire. Staff Sergeant GRISONI was killed.
Born on 13 August 1913 in Algeria
Killed on 24 May 1940 at Lezennes (59 - Nord)
 
HABOURDIN Jules - Jupiter
Chief Warrant Officer
Machine Gunner
Glenn Martin 167 F No 71 is damaged by flak on 8 June 1940. Chief Warrant Officer HABOURDIN is killed.
Born on 15 February 1907 at Labourse (62 - Pas de Calais)
Killed on 10 June 1940 at Alençon (61 - Orne)
 
JOBERT Marcel - Paul
Captain
Cder 2nd Sqn.
Born on 1 March 1907 in Paris (75)
Died in Paris on 9 July 1998
 
LE-CORRE Jean - Louis
Lieutenant
Cder 2nd Sqn.
Born in Quimper (29 - Finistère) on 5 May 1901
Died August 2nd 1978 at Quimper
   
LE-GALL François - Marie
Staff-Sergeant
Machine Gunner
2nd Sqn.
On 24 May 1940, during a cross-country transport mission, Glenn Martin 167 F No 61 was mistakenly shot down by British anti-aircraft fire. Unhurt, Staff Sergeant LE-GALL parachuted out.
Born in Plouguin (29 - Finistère) on 9 January 1904
Died at Brest (29 - Finistère) on 1st November 1977
 
MADELIN Michel - Henri
Captain
Cder 2nd Sqn.
Michel Madelin's father, a Great War veteran, was killed in action in May 1915. Léon Madelin, an officer in a Chasseur à Pied battalion, was close to General Philipp Pétain, who had been his ibstructeur. Michel Madelin joined the Saint-Cyr Military School and the Air Force School, where he became an instructor. Between the two wars, he was posted mainly to Morocco.
On mobilisation, he joined the GB I/63 based in Algeria and became Commander of the 2nd Escadrille.
After the Armistice, he joined General de Gaulle, with whom he became close. Michel Madelin stood in the 1948 senatorial elections in the Vosges, without ever having held a local office. He was elected senator and sat on the benches of the Rassemblement du peuple français (RPF), proving to be a particularly active parliamentarian on defence issues. Charles de Gaulle visited him on this occasion. He was not re-elected in 1952.
Recalled during the Algerian War, he ended his career at the rank of Colonel, with recognition as a ‘quart-de-place’ General. He was made Commander of the Legion of Honour. After retiring from the army, he taught mathematics at the École Saint-Sigisbert in Nancy.
Born on 15 July 1908 at Châmons-en-Champagne (51 - Marne)
Died at Avon (77 - Seine et Marne) on 27 April 1985
   
MARTIN
Sergeant
Machine Gunner

On 9 June 1940, Glenn Martin 167 F No 140 was shot down by fighter aircraft. Sergeant MARTIN, unhurt, parachuted out and was taken prisoner.
He was repatriated in 1941.

   
MAURY Fernand - Roger
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
On 24 May 1940, during a cross-country transport mission, Glenn Martin 167 F No 38 was mistakenly shot down by... British anti-aircraft fire: the crew was killed. Fernand MAURY's body could not be identified by the British, who buried the crew. It would be identified a few years later by Madame L'Herbier-Montagnon thanks to a written document found in the wreckage of the aircraft.
Born on 13 January 1912 (11 - Aude)
Killed on 24 May 1940 at Lille (59 - Nord)
 
MONTHOIS Georges
Staff-Sergeant
Machine Gunner
On 24 May 1940, during a cross-country transport mission, Glenn Martin 167 F No 38 was mistakenly shot down in flames by... British anti-aircraft fire: the crew was killed. Georges MONTHOIS was the only body identified by the British, who buried the crew.
Born at Villefranche (69 - Rhône) on 10 January 1914
Killed at Lille (59 - Nord) on 24 May 1940
 
MONY Eugène - Alexis
Adjutant
Pilot
On 5 June 1940, Glenn Martin 167 F No 68 was shot down by 7 Me109s. Warrant Officer MONY was wounded and badly burned.
Born at Grenoble (38 - Isère) on Decembre 6th, 1905
Died at La Tronche (38 - Isère) on July 19th,1984
 
NODET Maurice - Robert
Captain
Pilot and Cder 1st Sqn.

On 22 May 1940, the Glenn Martin 167 F No 117 of which he was the pilot, was damaged by flak: a direct hit to the nose of the aircraft. Captain NODET managed to bring the aircraft back to Chartres airfield, but Warrant Officer CARRERA, the machine-gunner, was killed.
Maurice NODET, then Colonel, became Commander of the 102 Tactical Air Base.

Born in Lyon (69 - Rhône) on 18 February 1910
Died at Bron (69 - Rhône) on 6 May 1979
 
POLLET Georges - Charles
Lieutenant
Observer
On 9 June 1940, Glenn Martin 167 F No 140 was shot down by hunters. Lieutenant POLLET was killed.
Born on 8 January 1913 at Tourcoing (59 - Nord)
Killed on 9 June 1940 at Chivres (02 - Aisne)
 
REY Marie - Albert
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
On 9 June 1940, Glenn Martin 167 F No 140 was shot down by hunters. Staff Sergeant REY was killed.
Born in Lyon (69 - Rhône) on 6 January 1916
Killed on 9 June 1940 at Chivres (02 - Aisne)
 
TESTARD Roger
Commander
Cder of Group
Appointed Inspector of Bombing Aviation in 1943, he was killed on 3 March 1945 in a plane crash near Isangi, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Born on 12 May 1898 in Grenoble (38 - Isère)
Killed on 3 March 1945 at Isangi (Democratic Republic of Congo)
   
TRUCHEMENT Jean - Marie
Commander
Cder of Group
Before joining GB I/63, Jean TRUCHEMENT, then Captain, commanded the Division d'Instruction Aérienne (DIA) in Marrakech. He was in this post in January 1940.
Born on 31 May 1894
Died 11 October 1960
 
VAUX Robert
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer

On 5 June 1940, Glenn Martin 167 F No 68 was shot down by 7 Me109s. Second Lieutenant VAUX was wounded and badly burned.
Robert VAUX was killed on 5 May 1943 in Tunisia while serving with GB II/23.

Born 24 June 1909, Paris (75)
Killed on 5 May 1943 at Djerissa (Tunisia)
 
WATRIN Jacques
Captain
Observer et Cder 2nd Sqn.
2nd Sqn.
On 24 May 1940, during a cross-country transport mission, Glenn Martin 167 F No 61 was mistakenly shot down by English flak....Anglaise. Captain WATRIN was killed.
Born on 10 November 1911 at Stenoy (55 - Meuse)
Killed on 24 May 1940 at Lezennes (59 - Nord)
 

 

 

Stories of crews

Crews of Group
Names of crew members
Rank
Function
Sqn.
Informations
Crew
NODET Maurice Captain Pilot
Glenn Martin 167 F No 117 :It was damaged by flak on 22 May 1940 when a direct hit was made to the nose of the aircraft. Captain NODET, the pilot, managed to bring the aircraft back to Chartres, but Warrant Officer CARRERA was killed.
CARRERA Kléber
Adjutant
Machine Gunner
Crew
GRISONI Louis
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
Glenn Martin 167 F No 61 : On 24 May 1940, during a cross-country transport mission with Glenn-Martin 167F no. 38, it was mistakenly shot down by British anti-aircraft fire and crashed in flames. The two aircraft were carrying around 5 million Francs. Approximately two hundred thousand Francs escaped the fire in the two aircraft, but did disappear... Captain WATRIN and Staff Sergeant GRISONI were killed. Sergeant-Chef LE-GALL, unhurt, parachutes out.
WATRIN Jacques
Captain
Observer
LE-GALL François
Staff-Sergeant
Machine Gunner
Crew
EAUCLAIRE Georges
Sergeant
Pilot
Glenn Martin 167 F No 38 : On 24 May 1940, during a cross-country transport mission with Glenn-Martin 167F no. 61, it was mistakenly shot down by British anti-aircraft fire and crashed in flames. The two aircraft were carrying around 5 million Francs. Approximately two hundred thousand Francs escaped the fire in both aircraft, but did disappear... The crew was killed. The British buried the bodies but only managed to identify Sergeant-Chef MONTHOIS. Sergeant EAUCLAIRE and Lieutenant MAURY were identified a few years later by Madame L'Herbier-Montagnon thanks to a written document found in the wreckage of the aircraft.
MAURY Fernand
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
MONTHOIS Georges
Staff-Sergeant
Machine Gunner
Crew
MONY Eugène
Adjutant
Pilot
Glenn Martin 167 F No 68 : Shot down by hunters on 5 June 1940. Staff Sergeant CHIEUSSE was killed. Sub-Lieutenant VAUX and Warrant Officer MONY were seriously burned.
VAUX Robert
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
CHIEUSSE Raymond
Staff-Sergeant
Machine Gunner
Crew
HABOURDIN Jules
Chief Warrant Officer
Machine Gunner
Glenn Martin 167 F No 71 : It was damaged by Flak on 8 June 1940. Chief Warrant Officer HABOURDIN was killed.
Crew
REY Marc
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
Glenn Martin167 F No 140 : Shot down by hunters on 9 June 1940. Lieutenant POLLET and Staff Sergeant REY were killed. Sergeant MARTIN parachuted and was taken prisoner.
POLLET Georges
Lieutenant
Observer
MARTIN
Sergeant
Machine Gunner

 


Airfield

Airfields
Period of use of airfields
Names
County
Alger Maison-Blanche
Algeria
August 26, 1939
Sétif
Algeria
September 2, 1939
Canrobert
Algeria
September 6, 1939
Sétif
Algeria
September 17, 1939
Blida
Algeria
November 2, 1939
Marrakech
Morocco
November 16, 1939
Alger Maison-Blanche
Algeria
April 26, 1940
Marignane
13 - Bouches Du rhône
May 1, 1940
Orange Plan-De-Dieu
84 - Vaucluse
May 6, 1940
Cormeilles-En-Vexin
95 - Val d'Oise
May 12, 1940
Evreux-Fauville
27 - Eure
May 18, 1940
Saint-André-De-L'Eure
27 - Eure
June 1, 1940
Châteauroux Déols
36 - Indre
June 10, 1940
Jonzac
17 - Charente-Maritime
June 14, 1940
Lézignan / Oran
11 - Aude
June 17, 1940
Nouvion
Algeria
June 18, 1940
Ain-Beida
Algeria
June 19, 1940

Click on the map to enlarge :

Itinerary of the GB I/63

 


Aircrafts

The GB I/63 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 :

  • 9 Glenn Martin 167F

 


Casualties

Crewmen killed
10
Adjutant CARRERA (Combat)
May 22, 1940
Captain WATRIN (Méprise)
May 24, 1940
Staff-Sergeant GRISONI (Méprise)
May 24, 1940
Sub-Lieutenant MAURY (Méprise)
May 24, 1940
Sergeant EAUCLAIRE (Méprise)
May 24, 1940
Staff-Sergeant MONTHOIS (Méprise)
May 24, 1940
Staff-Sergeant CHIEUSSE (Combat)
June 5, 1940
Chief Warrant Officer HABOURDIN (Combat)
June 8, 1940
Staff-Sergeant REY (Combat)
June 9, 1940
Lieutenant POLLET (Combat)
June 9, 1940
Crewmen injured
2
Sub-Lieutenant VAUX (Combat)
June 5, 1940
Adjutant MONY (Combat)
June 5, 1940
Prisoner Crewmen
1
Sergeant MARTIN
June 9, 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
- ...