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Captain Germain COUTAUD

Biography

Germain Coutaud was born on July 16, 1911 in Ysuf, near Constantine in Algeria.

He entered Polytechnique in 1931 and then at the Air Force School of Applied Sciences in 1934. He graduated with the rank of Lieutenant and an assignment with GC I / 1 of Etampes in 1936.

At the beginning of the Second World War, Captain Coutaud commanded the 1st Squadron of the GC I / 1 which was then equipped with Dewoitine D 510 and was waiting for his new Bloch MB 152. The Group was then based on the Chantilly Racecourse.

Some feats of arm

On May 13, 1940, Captain COUTAUD is commander of a GCI / 1 patrol to cover the Namur sector. The patrol, attracted by a shot of DCA, receives a DORNIER DO17 who tries to disappear in the clouds. Attacked by the patrol, he is seriously damaged, but manages to escape. Victory will be counted as probable to the patrol.

On May 15, 1940, Captain COUTAUD is commander of a GC I / 1 patrol on the cover of an area. The French pilots see a DORNIER DO17 trying to escape to the ground, but he is joined and his right engine catches fire under the attacks of the four Fighters. The German bomber will crash on the ground. The victory is credited to the four members of the patrol.

Also on May 15, 1940, during a second mission, Captain COUTAUD with five other GC I / 1 pilots, attack a DORNIER DO215. The rear gunner is out of action, and the plane seems distraught, but the French Fighters are forced to abandon him to his fate without being sure of his fall, to complete their mission.

On May 18, 1940, he commanded a GC I / 1 patrol. During this mission, Sergeant-Chief TEILLET attacks from behind a HENSCHEL HE126, while Captain COUTAUD, the attack from the front. The enemy apparatus, in flames, crashes near Cateau.

On May 20, 1940, Captain COUTAUD command a cover mission for a railway near Creil. The GC I / 1 patrol receives a DORNIER DO17 pursued by Morane MS406 from GCIII / 1. Staff-Sergeant TEILLET attacks the bomber from behind, while Captain COUTAUD attacks him laterally. The right engine on fire, the DO17, evacuated by its crew, will crash on a football field.

On May 29, 1940, a patrol of the 1st Squadron of GC I / I commanded by Captain COUTAUD intercepts a DORNIER DO17. This one maneuvers to hide in the clouds, but the patrol is waiting for him below and above the cloud layer, and at each reappearance, he is hit to finally dive to the ground, engine burning, and crush near Laon. Victory is awarded to all patrol pilots.

On June 6, 1940, Captain COUTAUD command a quad patrol of GC I / 1. The patrol is first attacked by BF109E, then the fight is complete, she takes the way back. That's when the patrol encounters a German Bombers and BF110 aircrafts. Captain COUTAUD attacks two enemy aircrafts, and succeeds in shooting down one of them that goes into a spin.

On June 20, 1940, returning from a mission south of Romorantin, Captain COUTAUD intercepts a HENSCHEL HE126 with a double patrol of GC I / 1. The enemy aircraft, hit, crashes on the ground. For this flight, Captain COUTAUD uses one of the rare BLOCH 155 No702