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Air Observation Group GAO 543


Historical

Created as G.A.R. 543 in June 1937 in Valdahon, he becomes G.A.O. 543 on January 1, 1938

On the date of the outbreak of the German attack of May 10, 1940, the GAO 543 is attached to the 8th Army of "Air Force Cooperation" of the ZOAS (South Air Operations Area).


Staff

Commanders of the group GAO 543
Captain SACQUIN
(Cder GAR 543 then GAO 543)
December 1938
 
Commander GARRABOS
January 1st, 1939
August 1939
 
Captain DUBOSCQ
August 1939
 

 


Personnel

Pilots and crew of the Group
Names of crew members
Rank
Function
Informations
Civil-statut
Photos
Citations
BARRIBERE
Sergeant
Flight Mechanic
       
BAUDIN
Sergeant
Machine-gunner
       
BERVEILLER Fran�ois
Captain
Pilot
- On June 8, 1940, he managed to put Potez 63-11 No336 in the field after being damaged by the Flak.
- He will be killed June 9, 1940 in aerial combat aboard Potez 63-11 No. 682. This Potez was equipped with a reinforced armament, 7 machine guns of 7.5 in hunting, and the pilot succeeds in shooting down 3 ME109E before being himself shot.
     
DELORME Joseph
Master-Corporal
Machine Gunner
Killed aboard Potez 63-11 No. 682 shot down by German Fighters on June 9, 1940. Before succumbing, the pilot managed to kill 3 Me109, thanks to the reinforced armament of his Potez.      
DUBOSQ
Captain
Commander of the group
     
FAUGERAS Joseph
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
Seriously injured June 8, 1940 landing on the Potez 63-11 No336 damaged by the Flak.      
FRANCOIS
Sergeant
Radio
       
GARDEN
Sub-Lieutenant
Pilot
On May 30, 1940, he must put his Potez 63-11 No. 677 in campaign following a power failure. The Sub-Lieutenant
GARDEN is unharmed.
     
GONZALES-LUCAS Fernand
Lieutenant
Observer
Killed aboard Potez 63-11 No. 682 shot down by German fighters on June 9, 1940. Before succumbing, the pilot managed to kill 3 Me109, thanks to the reinforced armament of his Potez.      
LE-BLEVENNEC
Sub-lieutenant
Observer
       
MOLLE
Staff-Sergeant
Machine Gunner
On June 8, 1940, his aircraft, Potez 63-11 No 336 was destroyed on landing after being damaged by the Flak. Lieutenant GONZALES is unharmed.      
ORSAT
Sergeant
Machine Gunner
Injured on May 30, 1940 following an engine failure aboard the Potez 63-11 No 677: The pilot managed to land in the field, but Sergeant ORSAT had already jumped, and was injured during the evacuation of the aircraft.      
PERRET
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
On May 30, 1940, his Potez 63-11 No 677 was forced to land in the field following an engine failure: the
Sub-Lieutenant PERRET is unharmed.
     
SAINT-BONNET Aimé
Sergeant
Pilot
       

 

 

Stories of crews

Crews of Group
Names of crew members
Rank
Function
Informations
Crew
GARDEN
Sub-Lieutenant
Pilot
Potez 63-11 n° 677 : Put in campaign on May 30, 1940 following an engine failure. Sergeant ORSAT gets injured while parachuting.
PERRET
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
ORSAT
Sergeant
Machine Gunner
Crew
BERVEILLER
Captain
Pilot
Potez 63-11 n° 336 : Damaged by the Flak on June 8th, 1940, it is destroyed on landing: Sub-Lieutenant FAUGERAS is seriously injured
FAUGERAS
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
MOLLE
Staff-Sergeant
Machine Gunner
Crew
BERVEILLER François
Captain
Pilot
Potez 63-11 n° 682 : Shot down by German Fighterson June 9, 1940: the crew is killed. This aircraft was equipped with a reinforced weapon with 7 machine guns on the hunt, and the pilot managed the feat of shooting down 3 BF 109E before being himself shot.
GONZALES Fernand
Lieutenant
Observer
DELORME Joseph
Master-Corporal
Machine Gunner

 


Airfield

Airfields
Period of use of airfields
Names
County
Belfort Chaux
90 - Territoire de Belfort
September 3, 1939
Chambran Marcilloles
38 - Isère
November 1939
Saint-Etienne De Saint-Geoirs
38 - Isère
Luxeuil saint-Sauveur
70 - Haute-Saône
April 1940
Montbéliard
25 - Doubs
Villeneuve-Renneville-Chevigny
51 - Marne
May 27, 1940
Romilly sur Seine
10 - Aube
Juny 1940
Gisy-les-Nobles
89 - Yonne
Briare
45 - Loiret
Le Subdray
18 - Cher
Cognac Segonzac
16 - Charente
Toulouse Francazal
31 - Haute-Garonne
Perpignan La Salanque
66 - Pyrénées Orientales
Béziers
34 - Hérault
Sisteron Thèse
04 - Alpes Haute Provence
Juny 24, 1940

Click on the map to enlarge :

Itinerary of the GAO 543

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Aircrafts

The GAO 543 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 :

  • 5 Potez 63-11

 


Casualties

Crewmen killed
3
Lieutenant GONZALES (Combat)
Juny 9, 1940
Captain BERVEILLER (Combat)
Juny 9, 1940
Master-Corporal DELORME (Combat)
Juny 9, 1940
Crewmen injured
2
Sergeant ORSAT (Accident)
May 30, 1940
Sub-Lieutenant FAUGERAS (Combat)
Juny 8, 1940

 


Sources

- Mr Dominique SAINT-BONNET : The Sergeant Aimé SAINT-BONNET was his Father
- 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