The main "modern"
appliances in units are the Morane-Saulnier
MS406 , with 10 equipped Fighter groups. If they play
an equal game with the Messerschmitt 109D at the beginning of the
conflict, they will be largely outclassed as soon as the ME 109E
arrives. Worse still, the Morane will often be unable to catch up
with the German Bombers.
Four groups of fighters are
equipped with Curtiss
H75 , machines bought dear to the Americans. These planes
are modern and robust, but still lack power to compete with the
ME109E.
The Air Ministry, however,
is counting on the reprieve given by the "Funny war" to
upgrade the French Aviaition, via the multiple plans of war hurriedly
launched. Thus, it is expected for the beginning of 1940, promising
Dewoitine
D520 , Bloch
MB152 and Arsenal
VG33 .
But these aircrafts, launched
too quickly, will encounter many problems of development.
Thus, the Dewoitine D520, delivered
for experimentation in January 1940 to the GC I / 3, was only
operational on May 1940.
The Bloch 152 was victim, from
the beginning, of a problem of chronic heating of the engine,
It will only be able to get rid of it at the price of a hood
of greater dimension which will penalize dramatically its already
modest performances ...
The Arsenal VG33 will be delivered
only a few copies before the armistice without being able
to participate in the fight. But it is probable that the development
would have required several weeks : one can think in particular
that the enormous ventral radiator would have posed worries
on the dusty and stony tracks.
The lack of equipment, propellers,
collimator, armament, ... will not allow the provision of
many aircrafts and many of them will be delivered in unit
with wooden conveyor propellers, or without armament, which
makes them unusable in combat
In fact, he missed a year
at the Fighter Aviation to catch up. New high-performance aircrafts
were in preparation by the year 1941. The Dewoitine
D551 ,derived from the D550 racing, announced for a speed
of more than 650 km / h or the Bloch
MB157 , capable of reaching 670km / h with its engine
Gnome Rhone R14 of 1580ch. Captured by the Germans, it will make
its first flight under their colors and leaving a strong impression
... Moreover, the deliveries of the planes bought to the Americans
could have been completed, and France would have then disposed of
recent machines with 230 Curtiss P40, 165 Bell P400 Airacobra, or
417 Loockheed P38
But the History decided on
it otherwise...
