Site in French

Bomber Group GB II/38

3rd Squadron
4th Squadron


Historical

On the date of the outbreak of the German attack of May 10, 1940, the GB II / 38 is attached to the Group No. 10 of the "Reserved Air Forces" of the ZOAE (East Air Operations Zone).


Staff

Commanders of the group GB II/38
Commander BODET
 
Captain DESTANNES
May 16, 1940
 
Captain DU-BESSAY-DE-CONTENSON Gérard
May 17, 1940
 
Captain FLEURIAU
 
Commander of the 3rd Squadron
Captain DU-BESSAY-DE-CONTENSON Gérard
May 16, 1940
 
Commander of the 4th Squadron
Lieutenant JACOB
 

 


Personnel

Pilots and crew of the Group
Names of crew members
Rank
Function
Sqn.
Informations
Civil-statut
Photos
Citations
BARRAU De LORDE Joseph
Adjutant
Pilot
On May 30, 1940, an Amiot 143, probably damaged by the Flak, crashes on landing. Adjutant BARRAU-DE-LORDE is killed.
   
BAUER
Staff-Sergeant
Machine Gunner
On May 16, 1940, at the start of a mission, the Amiot 143 No 136 crashes after a power failure. Staff Sergeant BAUER is unharmed.
     
BECK Joseph
Chief-Warrant-Officer
Pilot
   
BENOIT
Lieutenant
     
BODET
Commander
Cder of Group
     
BOUSSICUT
Chief-Warrant Officer
Pilot
On 10 May 1940, during the Assault on the Sedan Bridges, he managed to land his aircraft in the countryside with one engine on fire.      
CHERY
Sergeant
Pilot
         
CHRISTOPHE
Lieutenant
Crew Chief
         
DESHOGUES Paul
     
DESTANNES Louis
Captain
Cder of Group
and Crew Chief
On May 16, 1940, at the start of a mission, the Amiot 143 No 136 crashes after a power failure. Captain DESTANNES is killed.
   
DORANGEON Ernest
Chief-Warrant-Officer
Crew Chief
     
DU-BESSEY-DE-CONTENSON Gérard
Captain
Cder of 3rd Sqn
then
Cder of Group
   
FERRY
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
         
FLEURIAU
Captain
Cder of Group
     
GAUSSEN
Sub-Lieutenant
Pilot
         
HAMEL
Lieutenant
Crew Chief
     
JACOB
Lieutenant
Crew Chief
and
Cder 4th Sqn.
     
JEAN Henri
Lieutenant
Crew Chief
  See dedicated page in the "Stories" section below Born in Toulon on 17 March 1915.
Died on 9 May 2000
JEANNE
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
Présence confirmée au Groupe en Janvier 1940
     
LECLERC
Chief Warrant Officer
Radio
On May 16, 1940, at the start of a mission, the Amiot 143 No 136 crashes after a power failure. Chief Warrant Officer LECLERC is injured.
     
MAREY
Lieutenant
Crew Chief
         
MULTRIER
Sergeant
Pilot
         
PERONNE
Lieutenant
Observer
         
PONS
Sub-Lieutenant
Pilot
On May 16, 1940, at the start of a mission, the Amiot 143 No 136 crashes after a power failure. Sub-Lieutenant PONS is unscathed.
     
ROY
Aspirant
Radio
  Présence confirmée au Groupe en Avril 1940      
VIAL Louis
Lieutenant
Navigateur
On May 16, 1940, at the start of a mission, the Amiot 143 No 136 crashes after a power failure. Lieutenant VIAL is killed.
   
VIVIER
Sergeant
Pilot
         

 

 


Stories

Names
Photos
Descriptive
Lieutenant Henri JEAN
Source Mrs Sonia FRELOT, daughter of Lieutenant Henri JEAN

 

 

 

 


Stories of crews

Crews of Group
Names of crew members
Rank
Function
Sqn.
Informations
Crew
PONS
Sub-Lieutenant
Pilot
Amiot 143 No 136 : Following an engine failure, he crashed on May 16, 1940. Captain DESTANNES and the VIAL VIAL are killed, the Chief Warrant Officer LECLERC is injured.
DESTANNES
Captain
Crew Chief
VIAL
Lieutenant
Navigateur
LECLERC
Chief Warrant Officer
Radio
BAUER
Staff-Sergeant
Machine Gunner

 


Airfield

Airfields
Period of use of airfields
Names
County
Troyes Barberey
42 - Loire
October 15, 1939
Chaumont
52 - Haute-Marne
May 5, 1940
Nuits-Saint-Georges
21 - Côte D'Or
June 13, 1940
Feurs
42 - Loire
June 15, 1940
Avignon Pujaut
84 - Vaucluse
June 16, 1940
Perpignan
66 - Pyrénées-Orientales
June 18, 1940
Avignon Châteaublanc
84 - Vaucluse
June 19, 1940
Arles Mas-de-Rus
13 - Bouche du Rhône
June 21, 1940

Click on the map to enlarge :

Itinerary of the GB II/38

 


Aircrafts

The GB II/38 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 :

  • 12 Amiot 143

 


Casualties

Crewmen killed
3
Captain DESTANNES (Accident)
May 16, 1940
Lieutenant VIAL (Accident)
May 16, 1940
Adjutant BARRAU-DE-LORDE (Combat)
May 30, 1940
Crewmen injured
1
Chief Warrant Officer LECLERC (Accident)
May 16, 1940

 


Sources

- Mrs Sonia FRELOT, daughter of Lieutenant Henri JEAN
- Mr Adrien LEBOUT, Great Grandson of Chief Warrant Officer Joseph BECK
- 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
- Book : "Amiot 143 " byJérome RIBEIRO / Michel LEDET - Editions LELA-PRESSE (Immatriculations of Amiot 143 of the aircraft list)