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Fighter Group GC I/2

1st Squadron (Ex SPA 03)
2nd Squadron (Ex SPA 103)


Historical

The GC I / 2 is created in September 1933. It gathers two prestigious Squadrons : SPA 3 (Stork wings low) and SPA 103 (Stork high wings) which belonged GUYNEMER or FONCK.

First equipped with D500 and D501, he received his MORANE MS406 in the spring of 1939.

On the date of the outbreak of the German attack of May 10, 1940, the GC I / 2 is attached to the Group No. 22 of the "Reserved Air Forces" of the ZOAE (East Air Operations Area).

He was to receive the promising ARSENAL VG33, but finally, following the delays, he made his campaign on MORANE MS406 with a good track record before being dissolved on August 20, 1940.

It will be recreated in July 1941 in Chateauroux to reinforce the Fighter in North Africa. But after many delays, it will be transferred to Algeria after the landing of the Allies in North Africa. He will finally resume the fight in the new Free Air Army under the name of GC I / 2 "Cigognes".


Staff

Commanders of the group GC I/2
Captain DARU Pierre
September 1, 1939
June 12, 1940
 
Captain SARAULT
June 13, 1940
August 07, 1940
 
Commander FLEURQUIN
July 1, 1941
July 4, 1944
 
Commander COADOU Marcel
(Deputy commandert)
End of 1937
August 1940
Commanders of the 1st Squadron
Captain WILLIAME Robert
September 11, 1937
August 07, 1940
Captain OZANNE Jean
July 16, 1941
July 4, 1944
Commanders of the 2nd Squadron
Captain PATUREAU-MIRAND Raoul
November 1, 1938
June 17, 1940
Lieutenant PROVENSAL Luc
June 18, 1940
August 7, 1940
 
Lieutenant LACOMBE
July 16, 1941
 
Other Members of the Military Staff
Lieutenant BOUCHON Administrative Officer  
Sus-Lieutenant CLEMENT Accountant  
CUCHE Auxiliary Doctor - joins the Group on 31 January to replace Captain Froment who will leave on 3 February.  
Captain FROMENT Doctor - Leaves the Group on February 3rd.  
Captain GONSAUD Mechanical Officer  
Captain Vidal Transmission Officer  


Pilots

Pilots of Group
Names of pilots
Rank
Squadron
Victories
Informations
Civil Statut
Photo
Citations
Sure
Prob.
AUDEBERT Louis Alexandre
Sub-Lieutenant
1st Sqn.
2
Joined the Group on 13 May 1940

He will join later the GC II/6 and will be killed in air combat on 16/10/1942

Born on 29/10/1916 at Queaux (86 - Vienne)
Died on 16/10/1942 at Tivouane (Senegal)
 
BEDA Antoni
Sergeant
1st Sqn.
1
2
Polish pilot assigned to the Group on March 29, 1940. Wounded in aerial combat on Jun. 11 1940  
BERTROU Marie
Captain
Captain BERTROU will join the GC II/2 on January 12th 1940 as Group Commander. He will be killed in air combat on 12/05/1940 Born 06/08/1902 at Tarbes (65 - Hautes Pyrénées)
Died 05/12/1940 at Regniowez (08 - Ardennes)
   
BRAGEOT
Sergeant
1st Sqn.
   
BRUCKERT Henri
Adjutant
1st Sqn.
1
Killed in aerial combat on April 2, 1940 Born 03/23/1912 at Illkirch (?) (67 - Bas-Rhin)
Died 04/02/1940 at Ernstein (67 - Bas-Rhin)
 
BRZEZINSKI Jozef
Lieutenant
1st Sqn.
Polish pilot assigned to the Group on March 29, 1940.    
CHABERT Jean
Adjutant
2nd Sqn.
1
 
CHALUPA Stanislaw
Sub-Lieutenant
1st Sqn.
3
1
Polish pilot assigned to the Group on March 29, 1940. Wounded in aerial combat May 17, 1940  
COADOU Marcel
Commander
Staff Group
   

Major COADOU, World War I ace was reinstated in the Air Force in December 1937, at the age of 40 and joined the GC I/2 as Deputy Commander.

In 1931, he created the first flying club of Brittany on the St-Michel en Grèves, which is now the ACCG of LANNION, street of Commandant COADOU.
On September 13, 1937, he was decorated, on the airfield of St Michel en Grève, with the order of Commander of the Legion of Honour.
After the war, Marcel COADOU and his wife, Mrs Sabine COADOU became instructor pilots at the Aero Club of Frejus-St-Raphael.

Marcel COADOU was also an inventor, with notably a double fuel supply system that allowed him to fly on his back or the installation of a machine gun borrowed from the armoury, above the wing of his Caudron G3 to double the firepower.
After the First World War, his inventiveness didn't stop there: he made many inventions including cars (Aerolythe, Vélolythe,...).
A street in Lannion and a square in Saint-Raphael bear his name, as well as a stele in Fréjus (Rue des Batteries).

Source Mrs COADOU Michelle - Daughter of Commandant COADOU

Born February 7, 1897 in Saint Brieuc (22 - Côtes d'Amor)
Died on 22 October 1985
 
COUBE Raymond François
Chief-Warrant Officer
1st Sqn.
He later joined the GC II/1 and was killed in air combat on 21/04/1941 Born 02/04/1909 at Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy (54 Meurthe et Moselle)
Died 04/21/1941 at Cannet des Maures (83 - Var)
   
COUDERC
Sergeant
1st Sqn.
Joined the Group at the end of September 1939: Potez 631 pilot. Moved on March 27, 1940.    
DARDAINE Henri
Adjutant
2nd Sqn.
Joined the Group in September 1939 from GC II / 4  
DARU Pierre
Captain
Staff Group
Transferred to CIC on June 13, 1940.    
DE-CHASTEIGNER Guy
Adjutant
1st Sqn.
Accidentally killed on October 21, 1939 (rifle shooting ...) Born May 21st 1908 at Léognan (33 - Gironde)
Died at Beauvais (60 - Oise) on 22/10/1939
   
DE-LA-BRETONNIERE Jacques
Lieutenant
1st Sqn.
2
1
Reservist, he joined GC I / 2 in August 1939. Transferred to GC III / 1 on 10 Juny 1940.  
DE-PUYBUSQUE Jacques
Sergeant
1st Sqn.
7
Joined the Group on August 7th 1939.
He will be killed in Command on 27/06/1941 in Vietnam
Born on 22/10/1919 at Saint-Sulpice de Lézat (31 - Haute garonne)
Died on 27/06/1941 in Vietnam
DE-VILLARS Abel Marie
Sub-Lieutenant
2nd Sqn.
2
He was killed in air combat on 05/12/1942 Born 04/25/1915 at Toulon (83 - Var)
Died at Meknès (Morocco) on 05/12/1942
 
DIAZ Jean
Staff-Sergeant
Leaves the Group on April 15 to join GC III / 6    
FRANCOIS
Sergeant
2nd Sqn.
1
   
GIVELET Fernand
Staff-Sergeant
2nd Sqn.
1
Joined the Group in mobilization, August 1939    
GLOANEC
Sergeant
2nd Sqn.
Joined the Group on August 7, 1939. Wounded in aerial combat May 24, 1940  
GOILE Alexis Clement
Staff-Sergeant
2nd Sqn.
1
He was killed on 11/06/1943 in air combat Born 23/08/1914 at Teilhède (63 - Puy-de-Dôme)
Died on 11/06/1943 at Marrakech (Morocco)
 
HUSSON Guy Paul
Sub-Lieutenant
1st Sqn.
1
1
Second Lieutenant HUSSON joined the GC I/4 and was killed on 07/03/1944 in air combat Born at Haiphong (Tonkin) on 01/07/1916
Died March 7th 1944 at Ain Defla (Algeria)
 
HYVERNAULT Pierre René
Captain
Staff Group
3
1
Assigned to the Group on March 23, 1940. Killed in aerial combat on May 11, 1940 Born 07/26/1908 at Cluis (36 - Indre)
Died May 11th 1940 at Blénoud-lès-Toul (54 - Meurthe et Moselle)
 
JOST
Sergeant
1st Sqn.
Joined the Group on October 18, 1939. Left GC I / 2 on November 16, 1939 for assignment to CIC.    
JOUSSELIN
Master-Corporal
1st Sqn.
   
LAURANT Michel
Lieutenant
2nd Sqn.
1
Joined the Group on May 13, 1940 from the CIC de Chartres  
LE-MARTELOT Emile
Adjutant
2nd Sqn.
1
Injured in aerial combat on April 2, 1940  
LEMOINE
Staff-Sergeant
1st Sqn.
Assigned to the Group on March 23, 1940. Assigned June 13, 1940 to CIC de Cazaux.    
MARCHELIDON Jacques
Sub-Lieutenant
2nd Sqn.
1
1
MEUNIER René Eugène
Sergeant
1st Sqn.
1
1
Joined the Group on August 7th 1939.

still in the GC I/2, he will be killed in command service on 24/03/1947 in Ba Qued (Cochinchina)

Born on 03/11/1919 at Cholet (49 - Maine et Loire)
Died 03/24/1947 at Ba Qued (Indochina)
 
MONTY André
Lieutenant
2nd Sqn.
4
Reservist, he joined GC I / 2 in August 1939. Killed in aerial combat on June 8 1940 Born 06/12/1910 at Paris (75)
Died 06/08/1940 at Corcy (02 - Aisne)
PAMULA Léopold
Lieut.-Colonel
Polish driver    
PATUREAU-MIRAND Raoul Marie
Captain
Staff. 2° Sqn.
4
Killed by the flak on June 17 1940 Born on 22/02/1913 at Chateauroux (36 - Indre)
Died 06/17/1940 at La Charité-sur-loire (58 - Nièvre)
PERSON
Sergeant
1st Sqn.
Joined the Group on September 25, 1939. Left GCI / 2 on November 16 for assignment to a Recognition Group.    
PICHON
Sub-Lieutenant
1st Sqn.
2
1
Joined the Group on September 17, 1939  
PINCE
Sub-Lieutenant
2nd Sqn.
Joined the Group in Juny 1940.    
PROVENSAL Luc
Lieutenant
2nd Sqn.
1
 
ROGER
Sergeant
2nd Sqn.
Joined the Group in September 1939 from GC I / 3. Leaves GC I / 2 on November 16 for CIC assignment.    
SARRAULT
Captain
Staff Group
   
STREIFF
Adjutant
2nd Sqn.
3
 
TOURET
Sergeant
2nd Sqn.
Assigned to the Group in September 1939 from GC I / 3. Leaves GC I / 2 on November 16 for CIC assignment.    
TRINCANO
Staff-Sergeant
1st Sqn.
Joined the Group on September 17, 1939. Leaving GC I / 2 in December for GC I / 9, he returned to the Group on June 21 1940    
VIDAL Maurice Marie
Captain
Staff Group
Killed in aerial combat on April 7, 1940 Born 05/04/1906 at Saumur (49 - Maine et Loire)
Died 04/07/1940 at Saverne (67 - Bas-Rhin)
   
WEBER
Sergeant
1st Sqn.
2
 
WILLIAME Robert
Captain
Staff . 1° Sqn.
8
1
Joined the Group on October 1, 1939 Born February 24th 1911 at Saint-Martin-Boulogne (62 - Pas de Calais)
Died at Salon-en-Provence (13 - Bouches-du-Rhône) on 31/10/1940
ZINNICKER Pierre
Sergeant
1st Sqn.
Joined the Group on October 18, 1939
 

 


Mechanics

Group Mechanics
Name
Rank
Function
Sqn.
Informations
Photo
BALLAND
Sergeant
Mechanic
BOQUILLON
Sergeant
Mechanic
1st Sqn.
Sergeant WEBER's mechanic
BRULE
Master Workman
Mechanic
CAZAUBON
Sergeant
Mechanic
CRETEAU
Staff-Sergeant
Mechanic
1st Sqn.
Sergeant DE-PUYBUSQUE's Mechanic
CROIDIEU
Chief-Warrant Officer
Mechanic
Specialist of the Hispano Firm
DESGRANGES
Staff-Sergeant
Mechanic
1st Sqn.
Captain Williame's mechanic
DUBOST
Sergeant
Mechanic
DUVOID
Sergeant
Mechanic
1st Sqn.
In order to try to remedy the machine gun freezes at altitude, Sergeant DUVOID suggested plugging up part of the air intake located at the leading edge of the Morane 406.
HERBERT
Sergeant
Mechanic
LE-CREN
Soldat
Mechanic
MAZIN
Staff-Sergeant
Mechanic
PATARIN
Soldat
Mechanic
SAOUT
Sergeant
Mechanic
TECHENEY
Staff-Sergeant
Mechanic

 


Airfields

Airfields
Period of use of airfields
Names
County
Beauvais-Tillé
60 - Oise
August 27, 1939
Velaine-en-Haye
54 - Meurthe et Moselle
February 13, 40
Xaffévillers
88 - Vosges
February 27, 40
Toul Ochey
54 - Meurthe et Moselle
April 12, 40
Damblain
88 - Vosges
May 14, 40
Dijon-Longvic
21 - Côte d'Or
June 13, 40
Chalon-Sur-Saône
71 - Saône et Loire
June 15, 40
Saint-Symphorien d'Ozon
69 - Rhône
June 16, 40
Montpellier-Fréjorgues
34 - Hérault
June 17, 40
Nimes-Courbessac
30 - Gard
June 22, 40

Click on the map to enlarge :

Itinerary of the GC I/2

 


Aircrafts

The GC I/2 was equipped since its creation in September 1933, 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 Nieuport-Delage 622
  • 1 Dewoitine D500
  • 3 Dewoitine D501
  • 2 Potez 630
  • 3 Potez 631
  • 89 Morane MS406
  • 29 Dewoitine D520

Records

1/2 or 1/3 of victories were obtained in association with another Group.

Confirmed Victories
23.5
Messerschmitt BF109
9
Henschel Hs 126
3
Junkers JU 88
3
Junker JU 87
6
Heinkel He111
2.5
Likely Victoires
8
Messerschmitt BF109
2
Messerschmitt BF110
1
Junkers JU 88
1
Heinkel He111
3
Dornier Do 17
1

 


Casualties

Killed Pilots
6
Adjutant DE-CHASTEIGNER Guy (Accident : Rifle Shooting...) October 21, 1939
Adjutant BRUCKERT (Combat) April 2, 1940
Captain VIDAL (Combat) April 7, 1940
Captain HYVERNAUD (Combat) May 11, 1940
Lieutenant MONTY (Combat) June 8, 1940
Captain PATURAUD-MIRAND (Combat) June 17, 1940
Wounded Pilots
4
Adjutant LE-MARTELOT (Combat) April 2, 1940
Sub-Lieutenant CHALUPA (Combat) May 17, 1940
Sergeant GLOANEC (Combat) May 24, 1940
Sergeant BEDA (Combat) June 11, 1940

 


Sources

- Mrs. COADOU Michelle: Elder daughter of Commander Marcel COADOU
- 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 : "Le GC I/2 dans la Campagne de France" - 1st et 2nd Part - From : Alain COSTE / Bernard PHILIPPE" Editions LELA-PRESSE
- ...