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Site in French
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Historical
On May 10, 1940, the GR II
/ 52 is attached to the 9th Army of the 1st Air Division of the
ZOAN (North Air Operations Area).
Staff
|
Commanders
of the group
GR II/52
|
| Commander
GOURILLON Alphonse |
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|
Commander
of the 3rd Squadron
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|
Lieutenant
TISSIER Joseph
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Commander
of the 4th Squadron
|
| Captain
BELBEZE Henri |
|
October
161939
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Personnel
|
Pilots
and crew of the Group
|
|
Names
of crew members
|
Rank
|
Function
|
Sqn.
|
Informations
|
Civil-statut
|
Photos
|
Citations
|
| AMARRE |
Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
3rd Sqn.
|
On
September 25, 1939, Potez 637 No.31 was hit by the Flak, before
being attacked by 6 Me109. The Aircraft crashes into flames.
The three crew members are injured |
|
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| APERCE |
Master-Corporal
|
Machine-Gunner
|
|
On
May 15, 1940, the Potez 63-11 No.439 is severely hit by the
Flak and must land, train back, campaign. The aircraft is destroyed,
but the crew is unscathed. |
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| BAUD
Hippolyte |
Captain
|
Pilot
|
|
On
May 13, 1940, his aircraft, a Potez 63-11, crashes, for unknown
reasons, into a forest shortly after his departure for a night
mission. The crew is killed. |
Born June 8, 1904 at
Fouras (17 - Charente-Maritime)
Killed May 13, 1940 at Couvron (02 - Aisne)
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|
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| BELBEZE
Henri - Marc |
Captain
|
Observer
|
Staff
4th Sqn.
|
On
October 16, 1939, Potez 637 No.42 was shot down by 5 Me109.
Captain BELBEZE is killed. |
Born December 28, 1904,
Saint-Etienne (42 - Loire), France
Killed on October 16, 1939 in Hensterberg (Germany)
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| BIOLETTI
Jean - louis |
Master-Corporal
|
Machine-Gunner
|
|
On
September 27, 1939, the Potez 637 No.4 is shot down by 9 Me109:
The crew is killed |
Born June 9, 1917 at
Saint-Laurent (88 - Vosges)
Killed on September 27, 1939 at Tenteling (57 - Moselle)
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| BOUR
Georges - Edouard |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Machine-Gunner
|
|
On
May 13, 1940, his aircraft, a Potez 63-11, crashes, for unknown
reasons, into a forest shortly after his departure for a night
mission. The crew is killed. |
Born August 17, 1913
in Hô-Chi-Minh-Ville (Vietnam)
Killed May 13, 1940 at Couvron (02 - Aisne)
|
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| BOURHIS
Jean - Marie |
Sub-Lieutenant
|
Pilot
|
|
On May 15, 1940, the
Potez 63-11 No.439 is severely hit by the Flak and must land,
train back, campaign. The aircraft is destroyed, but the crew
is unscathed.
He was killed on April
18, 1943 in Algeria while serving with Groupe de Bombardement
GB 2/52.
|
Born July 19, 1906 in
Pont-Croix (29 - Finistère)
Killed on April 18, 1943 at Valmy (Algeria)
|
|
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| CHARLIER
André |
Chief
Warrant Officer
|
Observer
|
|
On May 19, 1940, his Aircraft,
a Potez 637 is attacked by 9 Me109 and, in flames, must land
in campaign. Adjutant CHARLIER is injured.
André
CHARLIER was killed on July 6, 1944 in England while serving
with GB I/25 of the FAFL.
|
Born
December 1, 1910 in Broque (67 - Bas Rhin)
Killed July 6, 1944 in Thorne Colliery (United Kingdom)
|
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| COLIN
Marcel - Alphonse |
Sub-Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
|
After
being severely hit by the Flak, Potez 63-11 No.163 was forced
to land train returned to the field May 11, 1940. Sub-Lieutenant
COLIN is seriously injured. |
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|
|
| DUGNAT
Georges - Benoist |
Sergeant
|
Machine-Gunner
|
|
Georges DUGNAT joined
the French Air Force on November 10, 1938.
From GAO544, he was transferred to GR II/52 on May 13, 1940.
He was killed in February 1945 while serving with Groupe de
Bombardement 2/33 "Guyenne".
|
Born August 25, 1920
in Saint-Dier-d'Auvergne (63 - Puy de Dôme)
Killed February 21, 1945 in Lollbach (Germany)
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| DU
PARC Guillaume - Henri |
Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
|
On
September 27, 1939, the Potez 637 No.4 is shot down by 9 Me109:
The crew is killed |
Born March 4, 1908 in
Cognac (16 - Charente)
Killed on September 27, 1939 at tenteling (57 - Moselle)
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| DUDEZERT
Roger - Simon |
Captain
|
Observer
|
|
Roger DUDEZERT, admitted
to the Ecole Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr in 1924,
was promoted to lieutenant in 1928. Fluent in Arabic and Berber
dialects, he was appointed platoon leader in the Compagnie
Saharienne du Hoggar.
The Potez 637 No.54
is attacked on September 30, 1939 by 3 Me109 and crashes into
flames. Captain DUDEZERT, unscathed, parachutes.
On May 15, 1940, the
Potez 63-11 No.439 is severely hit by the Flak and must land,
train back, campaign. The aircraft is destroyed, but the crew
is unscathed.
After the war, Roger
DUDEZERT was appointed Colonel, and took command of the Colomb-Béchat
zone. He was awarded the Légion d'Honneur in 1949.
Faced with developments
in Algeria, he retired.
|
Born January 7, 1906
in Rouen (76 - Seine-Maritime)
Died February 16, 1978, Biarritz (64 - Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
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| ESCOFFIER |
Lieutenant
|
Pilot
|
|
On
May 19, 1940, the Potez 637 No.10 is attacked by 3 Me109 and,
in flames, must land in the countryside. The crew managed to
evacuate the aircraft before it exploded. Lieutenant ESCOFFIER
is unharmed. |
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| FARELACCI |
Sergeant
|
Pilot
|
|
From
the GAO544, it is transferred to the GR II/52 on May 13, 1940. |
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| GENTY |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Machine-Gunner
|
|
On
September 25, 1939, Potez 637 No.31 was hit by the Flak, before
being attacked by 6 Me109. The Aircraft crashes into flames.
The three crew members are injured |
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| GEORGEON |
Chief-Warrant-Officer
|
Pilot
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| GOURILLON
Alphonse - Charles |
Commander
|
Commander
of the Group
|
Staff
Group
|
|
Born September 9, 1895,
Saint-Gervais en Vallière ( 71 - Saône et Loire)
Died January 11, 1978, Chalon-sur-Saône ( 71 - Saône
et Loire)
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| KUEHN
Georges - Marie |
Sub-Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
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Born November 12, 1914
in Granvillars (90 - Territoire de Belfort)
Died February 29, 1998, Malzéville (54 - Meurthe et
Moselle)
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| MALLE |
Aspirant
|
Pilot
|
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| MARTIN |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Pilot
|
|
After
being hit severely by the Flak, the Potez 63-11 No.163 is forced
to land train returned to the campaign May 11, 1940. Staff-Sergeant
MARTIN is unscathed. |
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| MARTIN
André |
Captain
|
|
|
André
MARTIN was a student at the École spéciale militaire
de Saint-Cyr before being seconded to the École militaire
et d'application de l'armée de l'Air in 1933. He was
posted to the 32nd Air Wing in 1935. He moved to the Versailles
training centre in 1939. He was transferred to group II/52 in
1940.
He took command of the 2nd squadron in 1943 and was put in charge
of operations at GR 11/33 in 1944. He took part in the Italian
and French campaigns. He was appointed second-in-command of
the GR 11/33 in 1944 and seconded to the 33rd Wing staff in
1945.
He took command of the GR 11/33 ‘Savoie’ in 1945 and
then the 33rd Wing in 1946. He was transferred to the General
Staff of the French Air Force in the general studies section
in 1947. He was a trainee at the CESA (Centre d'Etudes Stratégiques
Aérospatiales) in 1948. He joined the permanent staff
of the President of the Council for National Defence in 1949,
the combined staff of the armed forces in 1950, the staff of
the 1st Air Division at Lahr in 1951, and the Armed Forces General
Staff in 1954. He was appointed Chief of the Private Staff of
the Minister of the Armed Forces in 1959. He was appointed Commander
of the 5th Air Region in 1959, Major General of the Armed Forces
in 1960, Chief of the Joint Staff in 1961, Inspector General
of the Air Force in 1962, and finally Chief of Staff of the
Air Force in 1963. A member of the Conseil Supérieur
de l'Air from 1962 to 1967, André MARTIN retired from
active service in 1967 with the rank of Air Force General. |
Born
27 February 1911 in Paris (75)
Died in Paris on 21 March 2001 |
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| MERCY
Antoine - Joseph |
Adjutant
|
Pilot
|
|
The
Potez 637 No.54 is attacked on September 30, 1939 by 3 Me109
and crashes into flames. Warrant Officer MERCY, with burns to
his hands and face, was seriously injured. |
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| MILLET |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Machine-Gunner
|
|
After
being severely hit by the Flak, Potez 63-11 No.163 was forced
to land train returned to campaign May 11, 1940. Staff Sergeant
MILLET is seriously injured. |
|
|
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| PELTRIAUX |
Adjutant
|
Machine-Gunner
|
|
On
May 19, 1940, his Aircraft, a Potez 637 is attacked by 9 Me109
and, in flames, must land in campaign. Adjutant PELTRIAUX is
injured. |
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| PINCZON
DU SEL Jean-Marie - Hippolyte |
Lieutenant
|
Pilot
|
4th Sqn.
|
Jean-Marie PINCZON-Du-SEL
entered the air force school at Salon en Provence in November
1935.
On October 16, 1939,
Potez 637 No.42 was shot down by 5 Me109. Lieutenant PINCZON
DU SEL is killed
|
Born October 14, 1914
in Paris
Killed on October 16, 1939 at Pirnasens Kaiserlautern (Germany)
|
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| RITUIT
Bernard |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Machine-Gunner
|
|
The
Potez 637 No.54 is attacked on September 30, 1939 by 3 Me109
and crashes into flames. Staff Sergeant RITUIT is killed |
Born November 14, 1910
in Tours (37 - Indre et Loire)
Killed on September 30, 1939 at Berg (67 - Bas-Rhin)
|
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| ROUILLON
Lucien - René |
Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
|
On
May 13, 1940, his aircraft, a Potez 63-11, crashes, for unknown
reasons, into a forest shortly after his departure for a night
mission. The crew is killed. |
Born March 7, 1904 at
Tomblaine (54 - Meurthe et Moselle)
Killed May 13, 1940 at Couvron (02 - Aisne)
|
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| SAUDRY
Kléber |
Chief
Warrant Officer
|
Pilot
|
|
On
September 27, 1939, the Potez 637 No.4 is shot down by 9 Me109:
The crew is killed |
Born May 17, 1896 at
Mousseaux le Bray (77 - Seine et Marne)
Killed on September 27, 1939 at Tenteling (57 - Moselle)
|
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| THIEBAULT
Paul - Benoit |
Adjutant
|
Machine-Gunner
|
|
On
May 19, 1940, the Potez 637 No.10 is attacked by 3 Me109 and,
in flames, must land in the countryside. The crew managed to
evacuate the aircraft before it exploded. Adjutant THIEBAULT
is injured. |
|
|
|
| THIERRY |
Sergeant
|
Pilot
|
|
On
May 19, 1940, his Aircraft, a Potez 637 is attacked by 9 Me109
and, in flames, must land in campaign. Sergeant THIERRY is unharmed. |
|
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| TINLAND
Maurice - Félix |
Sub-Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
|
Before being mobilised
in 1939, Maurice TINLAND worked as a lawyer,
From GAO544, he was transferred to GR II/52 on 13th May 1940.
But on 22 May 1940, he joined GR II/55.
Demobilised in August 1940, he resumed his work as a lawyer.
He joined the "Combat" group of the Resistance and
was arrested on 28 January 1944 with his father and father-in-law.
He was imprisoned in Moulins and tortured by the Gestapo.
He was released on 25 August 1944.
After the war, Maurice TINLAND stood in the municipal elections
in Moulins and was elected on 26 October 1947 at the age of
just 32. He stepped down in 1959 and devoted himself to his
career as a lawyer.
|
Born 20 March 1915 in
Valence (Drôme)
Killed March 29, 1963 at Moulins (Alliers)
|
|
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| TISSIER
Joseph |
Lieutenant
|
Pilot
|
Staff
3rd Sqn.
|
On
September 25, 1939, Potez 637 No.31 was hit by the Flak, before
being attacked by 6 Me109. The Aircraft crashes into flames.
The three crew members are injured |
Born October 28, 1899
in Morey (71 - Saône et Loire)
Died February 19, 2001 at Clamecy (58 - Nièvre)
|
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| VAUTHIER |
Sub-Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
|
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|
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| VERGE
André |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Machine-Gunner
|
4th Sqn.
|
On
October 16, 1939, Potez 637 No.42 was shot down by 5 Me109.
Staff Sergeant VERGNE, badly wounded, parachutes and is taken
prisoner when arriving on the ground. |
|
|
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| VUATRIN |
Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
|
On
May 19, 1940, the Potez 637 No.10 is attacked by 3 Me109 and,
in flames, must land in the countryside. The crew managed to
evacuate the aircraft before it exploded. Lieutenant VUATRIN
is wounded. |
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Stories
of crews
|
Crews
of Group
|
|
Names
of crew members
|
Rank
|
Function
|
Informations
|
|
Crew
|
DUGNAT
Georges |
Sergeant |
Machine-Gunner |
Potez
63-11 n°439 :On May 11, 1940, the aircraft and crew
of GAO 544 were seconded to GR II/52, before being transferred
to this group on May 13, 1940. |
| TINLAND
Maurice |
Sub-Lieutenant |
Observer |
| FARELACCI |
Sergeant |
Pilot |
| Crew |
MALLE |
Candidate
Officer
|
Pilot
|
Potez
637 n° 52 |
| VAUTHIER |
Sub-Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
| BIOLETTI
Jean |
Master-Corporal
|
Machine-Gunner
|
|
Crew
|
TISSIER
Joseph |
Lieutenant
|
Pilot
|
Potez
637 n° 31 : Destroyed in air combat on September
25, 1939. All three crew members are wounded |
| AMARRE |
Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
| GENTY |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Machine-Gunner
|
|
Crew
|
SAUDRY
Kléber |
Chief
Warrant Officer
|
Pilot
|
Potez
637 n° 4 : Destroyed in aerial combat on September
27, 1939 in Moselle: The crew is killed |
| DU
PARC Guillaume |
Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
| BIOLETTI
Jean |
Master-Corporal
|
Machine-Gunner
|
|
Crew
|
MERCY
Antoine |
Adjutant
|
Pilot
|
Potez
637 n° 54 : Destroyed in aerial combat on September
30, 1939. Captain DUDEZERT parachutes, Adjutant MERCY is seriously
injured and Staff-Sergeant RITUIT is killed |
| DUDEZERT
Roger |
Captain
|
Observer
|
| RITUIT
Bernard |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Machine-Gunner
|
|
Crew
|
PINCZON
DU SEL Jean-Marie |
Lieutenant
|
Pilot
|
Potez
637 n° 42 : Destroyed in air combat on October 16,
1939. Lieutenant PINCZON DU SEL and Captain BELBEZE are killed
and Staff-Sergeant VERGNE, wounded, is taken prisoner. |
|
BELBEZE Henri
|
Captain
|
Observer
|
| VERGNE
André |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Machine-Gunner
|
|
Crew
|
MARTIN |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Pilot
|
Potez
63-11 n° 163 :Destroyed on landing May 11, 1940
after an air fight: Staff-Sergeant MILLET and Sub-Lieutenant
COLIN are wounded |
| COLIN
Marcel |
Sub-Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
| MILLET |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Machine-Gunner
|
|
Crew
|
BAUD
Hippolyte |
Captain
|
Pilot
|
Potez
63-11 n° ? : Destroyed by accident on May 13, 1940.
The crew is killed. |
| ROUILLON
Lucien |
Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
| BOUR
Georges |
Staff-Sergeant
|
Machine-Gunner
|
|
Crew
|
BOURHIS
Jean |
Sub-Lieutenant
|
Pilot
|
Potez
63-11 n° 439 : Damaged by the Flak May 15, 1940,
it is destroyed by posing in the countryside: the crew is unscathed. |
| DUDEZERT
Roger |
Captain
|
Observer
|
| APERCE |
Master-Corporal
|
Machine-Gunner
|
|
Crew
|
ESCOFFIER |
Lieutenant
|
Pilot
|
Potez
637 n° 10 : Destroyed in aerial combat on May 19,
1940. The crew is unscathed. |
| VUATRIN |
Lieutenant
|
Observer
|
| THIEBAULT
Paul |
Adjutant
|
Machine-Gunner
|
|
Crew
|
THIERRY |
Sergeant
|
Pilot
|
Potez
637 n° ? : Destroyed in aerial combat on May 19,
1940. Chief Warrant Officer CHARLIER and Adjutant PELTRIAUX
were wounded. |
| CHARLIER |
Chief
Warrant Officer
|
Observer
|
| PELTRIAUX |
Adjutant
|
Machine-Gunner
|
|
Airfields
|
Period
of use of airfields
|
|
Names
|
County
|
| Herbéviller |
54
- Meurthe et Moselle
|
September
3, 1939
|
| Couvron |
02
- Aisne
|
February
9, 1940
|
| Château-Thierry |
02
- Aisne
|
May
16, 1940
|
| Etrépagny |
27
- Eure
|
May
18, 1940
|
| Caen
Rocquancourt |
14
- Calvados
|
May
22, 1940
|
| Troarn |
14
- Calvados
|
June
1, 1940
|
| Bordeaux
Mérignac |
33
- Gironde
|
June
2, 1940
|
| Perpignan
La Salanque |
66
- Pyrénées Orientales
|
June
18, 1940
|
| Oran
La-Sénia |
Algeria
|
June
20, 1940
|
|
|
Click
on the map to enlarge :
|
|
Itinerary
of the GR II/52
|
|
|
|
Aircrafts
The GR II/52 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 :
- 3 Potez 542
- 8 Potez 637
- 2 Potez 63-11
- 1 Bloch MB175
Casualties
|
Crewmen
killed
|
9
|
| Lieutenant
DU PARC (Combat) |
September
27, 1939
|
| Adjudant-Chef
SAUDRY (Combat) |
September
27, 1939
|
| Caporal-Chef
BIOLETTI (Combat) |
September
27, 1939
|
| Sergent-Chef
RITUIT (Combat) |
September
30, 1939
|
| Capitaine
BELBEZE (Combat) |
October
16, 1939
|
| Lieutenant
PINCZON DU SEL (Combat) |
October
16, 1939
|
| Lieutenant
ROUILLON (Accident) |
May 13,
1940
|
| Capitaine
BAUD (Accident) |
May 13,
1940
|
| Sergent-Chef
BOUR (Accident) |
May 13,
1940
|
|
Crewmen
injured
|
9
|
| Lieutenant
AMARRE (Combat) |
September
25, 1939
|
| Lieutenant
TISSIER (Combat) |
September
25, 1939
|
| Sergent-Chef
GENTY (Combat) |
September
25, 1939
|
| Adjudant
MERCY (Combat) |
September
30, 1939
|
| Sergent-Chef
VERGNE (Combat) |
October
16, 1939
|
| Sous-Lieutenant
COLIN (Combat) |
May 11,
1940
|
| Sergent-Chef
MILLET (Combat) |
May 11,
1940
|
| Adjudant-Chef
CHARLIER (Combat) |
May 19,
1940
|
| Adjudant
PELTRIAUX (Combat) |
May 19,
1940
|
|
Crewmen
prisoner
|
1
|
| Sergent-Chef
VERGNE |
October
16, 1939
|
Sources
- 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 Jacqueline and Paul MARTIN - Editions Aéro-Editions
|
