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Bomber Group GB I/25

1st Squadron
2nd Squadron


Historical

The 1st Group of the 25th Bombardment Wing was originally a Naval Aviation Squadron: 4 B3. It was transferred from the Navy to the Air Force and became GB I/25 on 1 January 1936.

On May 10, 1940, the GB I / 25 is stationed in North Africa, attached to the Groupement No. 8. From June 10, 1940, the Group will participate in the fighting against Italy.


Staff

Commanders of the group GB I/25
Commander LAMBERT  
Commander of the 1st Squadron
Captain STEFF Eugène
March 25, 1938
November 5, 1941
 
Commander of the 2nd Squadron
 

 


Pilots

Pilots and crew of the Group
Names of crew members
Rank
Function
Sqn.
Informations
Etat Civil
Photos
Citations
ARCHAUX Jean-Jacques
Chief-Warrant Officer
Pilot
  Jean Archaux was killed on 24 June 1943 in Tunis while flying LéO 451 n°323. He wanted to make a low pass over the city of Tunis to greet his family, as was his custom, but when he went on the throttle, his aircraft hit a building and crashed. All 10 crew members and three civilians were killed.
Born on 29 June 1911 in Meaux (77 - Seine et Marne)
Killed on 24 June 1943 in Tunis (Tunisia)
   
BONNEMAISON
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
     
BONNET
Sergeant
Pilot
     
BOUVALLET
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
1st Squ..
   
BOYRON
Sergeant
Flight Mechanic
1st Squ..
Roger BOYON was killed on 24 June 1943 in Tunis as a passenger in LéO 451 n°323. Jean ARCHAUX, the pilot, wanted to make a low pass over the city of Tunis to greet his family, as was his custom, but when the throttle was released, the aircraft hit a building and crashed. All 10 crew members and three civilians were killed.
Born on 3 July 1918 at Saint-Martin en Vercors (01 - Ain)
Killed on 24 June 1943 in Tunis (Tunisia)
   
CANONE
Adjudant-Chef
Machine-Gunner
     
CAPDEGELLE Gustave
Lieutenant
Observer
  After the armistice, he joined the Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur. Arrested, he was deported and killed on 12 March 1945 in the Dachau concentration camp.
Born on 19 September 1902 in Dax (40 - Landes)
Killed on 12 March 1945 in Dachau (Germany)
   
CARROUE Louis - Philippe
Adjudant-Chef
Machine-Gunner
 
Born on 18 March 1901 at Saint-Amand en Puysaye (58 - Nièvre)
Died 17 April 1973

 
CHARBONNEL
Sergeant
Pilot
1st Squ.
   
CHUNEAU
Adjutant
Machine-Gunner
     
COTANNEC
Captain
Observer
     
DAMPENON
Adjutant
Pilot
     
DAPAGNERC
Sergeant
Pilot
1st Squ.
   
DELAPORTE Fernand - Victor
Sub-Lieutenant
Observer
 
Born in Ailly Sur Noye (80 - Somme) on 16 February 1916
Died in Paris (75) on 13 May 1984
   
DE PHILIP Jehan - Marie
Lieutenant
Crew-Chief
 
Born 13 January 1911 in Aix en Provence (13 - Bouches du Rhône)
Died 20 August 1992 in Corsica (20)
   
DIGUET Jean - Pierre
Master Corporal
Machine-Gunner
On June 15, 1940, the Leo 451 No. 3011 crashed accidentally. Corporal Chief DIGUET is killed.
Born in Lyon (69 - Rhône) on 25 May 1910
Killed on 15 June 1940 at Istres (13 - Bouches du Rhône)
   
DOUMERC Jean
Sergeant
Pilot
  Jean Doumerc, a brilliant aeronautical engineer who graduated from ENSA, obtained his Military Pilot's Licence and became a test pilot and flight engineer. From 1927 to 1933, he became an instructor pilot and then a test pilot with the aircraft manufacturer Morane-Saulnier, then the Compagnie Française d'Aviation, and the Société des avions Bernard before joining the Société Lioret and Olivier, the future S.N.C.A.S.E. in 1935. Jean Doumerc made the first flight of the production Dewoitine 510 and the first prototype LéO 45 in January 1937.

 

Born in Paris (75) on 8 February 1903
Died at Viella (32 - Gers) on 18 June 1980
   
DUPUY Jean
Adjutant
Radio
1st Squ.
   
FOURNIOL Gaston - Emile
Sub-Lieutenant
Navigator
Emile FOURNIOL was killed by British troops on 24 June 1941 in Palmyra, during the Syrian Campaign between the Allied Forces and the Vichy troops.
Born on 30 October 1918 in Villefranche sur Mer (06 - Alpes-Maritimes)
Killed on 24 June 1941 in Palmyra (Syria)
 
GUINLE Hubert - Jean
Master-Corporal
Machine-Gunner
Hubert GUINLE was killed by British troops on 24 June 1941 in Palmyra, during the Syrian Campaign between the Allied Forces and the Vichy troops.
Born on 19 June 1919 in Marsac (65 - Hautes-Pyrénées)
Killed on 24 June 1941 in Palmyra (Syria)
 
HERROU Pierre - Marie
Adjutant
Machine-Gunner
1st Squ.

Pierre HERROU, Seaman 2nd Class, joined the Vaisseau Ecole Armorique in October 1929. At the end of his training, he joined the Navy for 5 years, first as Quartermaster Ordnance Surveyor, then as Second Master, before re-enlisting for 3 years in 1935. He was transferred to the brand new Air Force in January 1936.
On 15 January 1943, LéO 45 No. 424 was involved in an accident: Chief Warrant Officer HERROU was unhurt.

Born on 22 March 1913    
HOSPITAL Lucien - Honoré
Adjutant
Radio
Lucien HOSPITAL was killed on 30 October 1940 at Blandan (Algeria).
Born on 1 July 1911 in Montauban (82 - Tarn et Garonne)
Killed on 30 October 1940 at Blanban (Algeria)
 
HUYLESVOCEK
Corporal
Machine-Gunner
     
JACOB
Chief-Warrant Officer
Pilot
     
JANSEN Angel
Adjudant
Machine-Gunner
  Born on 1 November 1910    
JOURDAN Roger
Lieutenant
Crew Chiel
  Roger JOURDAN was killed in the accidental crash of a Vickers-Wellington on 25 September 1944 at Rehamma (Morocco). The aircraft crashed while on a training mission. The investigation report indicated that the fire had started in the right engine, which would have triggered the release of the dinghy which, hitting the control surfaces, would have rendered the aircraft uncontrollable. The aircraft continued on course, setting itself on a slight glide path, as if it wanted to land on the plain after the line of high hills. The plane continued its descent. When it reached an altitude of 50 or 100m, the plane turned sharply to the right, banking steeply before hitting the ground after a 120° change of direction, exploding on impact, flipping over completely and spreading over 150m. All the crew were killed instantly. They had all stapled on their parachutes (Source: MANGIN@MARRAKECH).
Born on 5 December 1910 in Sainte-Marie (64 - Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
Killed on 25 September 1944 at Rehamma (Morocco)
   
KAFKA
Sergeant
Machine-Gunner
     
LACAULT Albert
Chief-Warrant Officer
Flight Mechanic
     
LACOMBE Albert - Raymond
Sergeant
Pilot
Albert LACOMBE was killed on 30 October 1940 in Douar Ouled Diel (Algeria).
Born on 9 July 1917 in Viroflay (78 - Yvelines)
Killed on 30 October 1940 at Douar Ouled Diel (Algeria)
 
LAMBERT
Master-Corporal
Flight Mechanic
     
LAMBERT
Commander
Cder of Group
   
LATOMBE
Captain
Crew Chief
     
LEFORT Henri
Staff-Sergeant
Pilot
     
LERAT Maurice - Victor
Sub-Lieutenant
Pilot
Maurice LERAT was killed by British troops on 24 June 1941 at Palmyra, during the Syrian Campaign pitting Allied Forces against Vichy troops. His aircraft was hit by British flak and Maurice LERAT died trying to land his aircraft near a French post to save the crew.
Born on 7 December 1905 in Nantes (44 - Loire-Atlantique)
Killed on 24 June 1941 in Palmyra (Syria)
 
LORIOT
Lieutenant
Crew Chief
     
MARIN Xavier - Yves
Lieutenant
Crew Chief
  Xavier MARIN was killed on 16 January 1945 in Calvorde (Germany). His aircraft, the Halifax III MZ986, was hit head-on by flak during a raid on Magdeburg. Xavier MARIN died at the controls of the aircraft, which crashed in the Rebenberg forest.
Born on 3 December 1914 in Saint-Malo (35 - Ille et Vilaine)
Killed on 16 January 1945 in Calvorde (Germany)
   
MARZIN Alexandre
Chief-Warrant Officer
Pilot
  Alexandre MARZIN joined the Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur. Arrested, he was deported and died in Dachau concentration camp on 10 April 1945.
Born on 24 January 1906 in Morlaix (29 - Finistère)
Killed on 10 April 1945 in Dachau (Germany)
   
MATMOBEL
Sergeant
Pilot
1st Squ.
   
NOVION
Chief-Warrant Officer
Flight Mechanic
     
OULES André
Staff-Sergeant
Flight Mechanic
1st Squ.
André OULES was killed on 27 July 1943 at Kherba in Algeria aboard Glenn Martin No 42 of the SSLA (Section Spéciale de Liaisons Aériennes) at Boufarik.
Born on 3 June 1914 in Bayonne (64 - Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
Killed on 27 July 1943 at Kherba (Algeria)
   
PAGANELLI Jean - Paul
Master-Corporal
Radio
Jean PAGANELLI was killed by British troops on 24 June 1941 in Palmyra, during the Syrian Campaign between the Allied Forces and the Vichy troops.
Born on 22 January 1921 in Montjoie (63 - Puy de Dôme)
Killed on 24 June 1941 in Palmyra (Syria)
 
PAUNE
Captain
     
PELLOUX
Sergeant
Flight Mechanic
     
PIERRE Jules - Isidore
Sergeant
Flight Mechanic
Jules PIERRE was killed on 30 October 1940 at Douar Ouled Dieb in Algeria.
Born on 3 March 1919 in Toulon (83 - Var)
Killed on 30 October 1940 at Douar Ouled Diel (Algeria)
 
SAMPONT
Captain
Crew Chief
     
STANREVICH
Adjutant
Flight Mechanic
     
STEFF eugène
Captain
Cder 1st Squadron and
Pilot
1st Squ.
Born on 6 June 1906
Died 29 June 1951
   
STEPHAN
Chief-Warrant Officer
Machine-Gunner
     
THIRRIER
Adjutant
Pilot
     
THUMIER
Adjutant
Pilot
     
THUNLAN
Sergeant
Machine-Gunner
1st Squ.
   
THUSSEAU
Adjutant
Machine-Gunner
     
TIBLE
Adjutant
Flight Mechanic
1st Squ.
   
TIERCET
Sergeant
Flight Mechanic
     
VIGUIER Jean - Adam
Sergeant
Flight Mechanic
Jean VIGUIER was killed on 30 October 1940 in Blandan, Algeria.
Born on 7 March 1918 in Toulon (83 - Var)
Killed on 30 October 1940 at Blandan (Algeria)
 

 

 

Stories of crews

Crews of Group
Names of crew members
Rank
Function
Sqn.
Informations
           

 


Airfield

Airfields
Period of use of airfields
Names
County
Sid Ahmed
Tunisia

Click on the map to enlarge :

Itinerary of the GB I/25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Aircrafts

The GB I/25 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 :

  • 4 Lioré & Olivier LéO451

 


Casualties

Crewmen killed
1
Master Corporal DIGUET
Juny 15, 1940

 

 


Sources

- Mr Joel-Pol STEFF, Grandson of Captain Eugène STEFF
- Mr Xavier SAUREL, Grandson of Captain Eugène STEFF
- http://halifax346et347.canalblog.com/archives/2008/10/18/10998357.html
- 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
- ...