The Free French Air Force in Bomber Command
- Sean Strange
- Aug 9
- 8 min read
With the outbreak of the Second World War, France stood right on the frontline against Fascism heading in it's direction from Germany. In 1940 French General Charles de Gaulle established the 'Free French Forces' which included an air arm and with that we find the Free French Air Force in Bomber Command.
By 1943 RAF Elvington was the only home to bomber squadrons of the Free French Forces, they brought a strength of around 2,300 men in both aircrew and ground crew. There were to be two squadrons stationed here, 346 'Guyenne' Sqn and 347 'Tunisie' Sqn by the 1st June of 1944 both were both operational.
Operationally they would be flying the Halifax Mk.III on bombing missions over Europe, capable of carrying 5,900kg of bombs, it had range to hit out of targets deep into occupied Europe. Over the course of the next couple of years the Free French Air Force would loose 30 aircraft and 190 men. Amongst their battle experience were attacks against V1 & V2 rocket sites and the Battle of the Ruhr amassing 2,834 sorties delivering 8,621 tonnes of bombs. By October 1945 both squadrons returned to Bordeaux after the liberation of France and for most of the men had not seen their families in over 6 years. During their time operating from Elvington the Free French had lost 50% of all their aircrews during actions taken.
Losses:
346 Squadron 'Guyenne'
95 crew & 18 aircraft
Squadron | Aircraft | Names |
346 | LW443 | Sergent-Chef Henri Joseph Meyer (Wireless Operator) Adjutant Lucien Charles Mabille (Pilot) Sous-Lieutenant Andre Robert Petit (Air Bomber) Sergent Francois Saytour (Flight Engineer) Lieutenant Henri Georges Conde (Navigator) |
MZ738 | Sergent Jean Nicolas Leroy (Flight Engineer) Sergent-Chef Maurice Jospeh Schilling (Air Bomber) Lieutenant Jean Andre Rouvel (Navigator) Sergent Fernand Charles Houdelot (Wireless Operator) Sergent Jean Joseph Gorias (Air Gunner) Sous-Lieutenant Abel Fonteix (Pilot) Sergent Roland Lucien Farnier (Air Gunner) | |
MZ741 | Sergent-Chef Guy Marie Patris Flight Engineer Sous-Lieutenant Pierre Jean Capdeville (Navigator) Sergent Louis Roger Hellmuth (Air Gunner) Lieutenant Andre Francois Gonthier (Pilot) Sergent-Chef Alfred Auguste Dussaut (Air bomber) | |
MZ742 | Lieutenant Marcel Adolphe ( Navigator) Lieutenant Pierre Jean Zeiller (Air Bomber) Sergent-Chef Edmund P. Vielle (Wireless Operator) Commandant Jean Jospeh Simon (Pilot) Sergent-Chef Robert Jean Roiron (Air Gunner) Adjutant-Chef Roger Marcel Brigaland (Flight Engineer) Sergent-Chef Pierre Francois Fournier (Pilot) Sergent Gabriel Havier Fernandez (Air Gunner) | |
MZ830 | Sergent Pierre Louise Touzart (Air Gunner) Sergent Gabriel Amie Lacaze (Pilot) Sergent Maxime Gabriel Tartarin (Air Gunner) Leitenant Jacques Philippe Deplus (Navigator) Sergent James Robert Charpentier (Wireless Operator) Aspirant Francois Louis Dufresnoy (Air Bomber) Adjutant Jean Eugene Gribouva (Flight Engineer) | |
NA121 | Sergent-Chef Henri Lelong (Flight Engineer) Sergent Emmanuel Marcel Vega (Air Gunner) Sous- Lieutenant Alfred Henri Pothuau (Air Bomber) Lieutenant Alphonse Maurice Dabadie (Navigator) Adjutant Raymond Eugene Guise (Pilot) | |
NA166 | Sergent Louis Georges Lourdeaux (Pilot) Lieutenant Henri Eugene Lamontagne (Air Bomber) Sergent Georges Alain Brulet (Air Gunner) Sergent Francois Marcel Hautcoeur (Flight Engineer) | |
NA511 | Lieutenant Raymond Marie Pasquier (Flight Engineer) | |
NA546 | Sergent-Chef Louise Rene Maxerat (Wireless Operator) Sergent Henri Louis Martin (Air Gunner) Sergent-Chef Jean Baptiste Laherrere-Souivirra (Flight Engineer) Sergent Guy Ulysse Roca (Pilot) Sergent Jean Laurent Reynal (Air Gunner) Adjudant-Chef Jean Antoine Chabroud (Air Bomber) Lieutenant Auguste Marie Hyenne (Navigator) | |
NA547 | Sergent Louis Charles Martrou (Air Gunner) Sergent Guy Jean Bourreau (Wireless Operator) Sous-Lieutenant Pierre Albert Bayle (Pilot) Sergent Etienne Francoise Barde (Flight Engineer) Lieutenant Edouard Joumas (Navigator) Sergent Andre Marie Esquilat (Air Gunner) Sergent-Chef Benoit Georges Dugnat (Air Bomber) | |
NA549 | Lieutenant Pierre Henri Raffin (Air Bomber) Capitaine Jospeh Alphonse Beraud (Pilot) | |
NA551 | Sous-Lieutenant Emile Petiot (Navigator) Adjudant-Chef Roger Louis Vogel (Air Bomber) Sergent-Chef Camille Philippe Verdier (Air Gunner) Sergent Rene Pierre Serra (Air Gunner) Adjutant Andre Maurice Cusin (Wireless Operator) Capitaine Jean Louis Gaubert (Pilot) | |
NA557 | Captain Claude Jean-Jacques (Navigator) Adjutant Francois Jean-Jacques Lafont (Air Gunner) Adjutant Georges Eugene Thiery (Flight Engineer) Sergent Andrew Marie Boutillier (Wireless Operator) Sergent Jean Armedee Godefroy (Air Bomber) Adjutant Andrew Fleck (Air Gunner) Sergent-Chef Louis Andre Fauges (Pilot) | |
NA558 | Sergent-Chef Henri Leon Olive (Air Gunner) Sergent-Chef Roger Lucien Limacher (Air Gunner) Sous-Lieutenant Jean Gustave Lambert (Air Bomber) Lieutenant Jean Claude Vles (Navigator) Sergent-Chef Norbert Leon Beauvoit (Flight Engineer) | |
NA561 | Sergent-Chef Jean Le Guillou (Air Gunner) | |
NA585 | Sergent-Chef Gabriel Lhomond (Wireless Operator) Adjutant Jules Jospeh Kipperle (Air Bomber) Sergent-Chef Marcel Louis Coupeau (Air Gunner) Sergent-Chef Dominique Francois Biaggi (Air Gunner) Lieutenant Louis Robert Guillocheau (Navigator) Sergent-Chef Wilson Georges Finale (Flight Engineer) | |
NR181 | Adjutant Jospeh Guy Vigneron (Air Bomber) Lieutenant-Colonel Noel Andre Dagan (Passenger) Sergent-Chef Charles Georges Cormier (Flight Engineer) Sergent Louis Paul Bourelly (Air Gunner) Capitaine Robert Louis Baron (Pilot) | |
PN179 | Sergent-Chef Jean Lemaire (Wireless Operator) Sergent Lucien Zavaterro (Air Gunner) Adjutant Pierre Jean Soucille (Pilot) Sergent-Chef Paul Chiericci (Air Gunner) Commandant Raoul Breard (Navigator) Adjutant Jean Andre Acquaviva (Flight Engineer) Sous-Lieutenant Jacques Marcel Fauvet (Air Bomber) |
347 Squadron 'Tunisie'
95 crew & 23 aircraft
Squadron | Aircraft | Names |
347 | LK728 | Sous-Lieutenant Jean Vieules (Air Bomber) Sous-Lieutenant Gilbert Charles Varlet (Pilot) Adjutant Andre Charlier (Flight Engineer) Adjutant Rene Louis Charaudeau (Wireless Operator) Lieutenant Gerrard Maurice Chapron (Navigator) Sergent Pierre Georges (Air Gunner) Adjutant Paul Alphonse Echardt (Air Gunner) |
LL557 | Sergent Pierre Meau (Air Gunner) Sous-Lieutenant Jean Henri Vezolle (Air Bomber) | |
LL587 | Sergent Roland Gilbert Tribert (Flight engineer) Lieutenant Charles Marcel Petus (Pilot) | |
LL590 | Sergent-Chef Robert Paul Malterre (Air Gunner) Adjutant Edmond Jean Jouzier (Pilot) Capitaine Robert Brachet (Navigator) | |
MZ489 | Lieutenant Jacques Andre Leroy (Navigator) Sergent-Chef Louis Desrie Baillon (Pilot) Adjutant Henri Fernand Granier (Wireless Operator) Sous-Lieutenant Pierre Louis Gautheret (Air Bomber) Sergent Yves Jean Even (Air Gunner) | |
MZ909 | Aspirant Paul Juliene Trollard (Air Bomber) Sergent Jean Eugene Miller (Wireless Operator) Sergent Pierre Lugaro (Flight Engineer) Capitaine Clement Bertrad Brunet (Pilot) Sergent Bernard Georges Giraudon (Air Gunner) Sous-Lieutenant Gaston Jean Fauchet (Navigator) Sergent Maurice Aime Delauzun (Air Gunner) | |
MZ984 | Sergent Jacques Philippe Leclercq (Pilot) | |
MZ986 | Captitaine Xavier Yves Marin (Pilot) Adjutant Gabriel Louis Vuillemont (Wireless Operator) Adjutant Andre Marius Villeneuve (Flight Engineer) Sergent-Chef Pierre Albert Dargenton (Air Gunner) | |
NA174 | Private Rene Maupetit (Ground Crew) Leading Aircraftsman Gilbert Miles (Ground Crew) Corporal Reginald Chalres Martin (Ground Crew) Corporal Donald Ashley Clarke (Ground Crew) Aircraftsman Royston Clifford Barrow (Ground Crew) Private Paul Antonio (Ground Crew) Corporal Jean Baptiste Andreu (Ground Crew) Corporal Georges Jeannelle (Ground Crew) Corporal Seraphin Antonio Gomez (Ground Crew) Corporal Fernand Gimenez (Ground Crew) Corporal Albert Cowin (Ground Crew) Corporal Gabriel Adrien Consentino (Ground Crew) Corporal Lucien Honore Baptiste Stsleng (Ground Crew) | |
NA197 | Lieutenant Bernard Louis Pelliot (Navigator) Sergent Paul Marie Le Mithouard (Air Gunner) Sergent Jean-Marie Bagot (Pilot) | |
NA260 | Sergent-Chef Raymond Gaston Patry (Flight engineer) Sous-Lieutenant Cozentin Pierre Rognant (Air Bomber) Sergent Maurice Jules Bordier (Air Gunner) Sergent Roger Emile Bordelais (Air Gunner) Sergent-Chef Henri Andre Berdeaux (Wireless Operator) Adjutant-Chef Jean-Marie Georges Aulen (Pilot) | |
NA515 | Sous-Lieutenant Oliver Charles Rotte (Air Bomber) | |
NA529 | Adjutant Leonce Norbert Millet (Pilot) Adjutant-Chef Jean Henri Meyer (Air Bomber) Adjutant Andre David Sire (Flight Engineer) Lieutenant Antoine Louis Balas (Navigator) Adjutant Georges Henri Flament (AirGunner) Sergent Louis Georges Acezat (Air Gunner) Sergent Jacques Jules Desruneaux (Wireless Operator) | |
NA572 | Adjutant R. Rabier (Wireless Operator) Sergent Roger Pierre Poilbout (Air Gunner) Capitane Jospeh Francois Bresson (Pilot) | |
NA606 | Lieutenant Pierre Maris Paturle (Navigator) Adjutant Jean Marius Madaule (Flight Engineer) Lieutenant Georges Henri Berthet (Pilot) Sergent-Chef Rodolphe Camille Jenger (Wireless Operator) Capitaine Alain Georges Hilaire (Air Bomber) Sergent-Chef Julien Eyraud (Air Gunner) | |
NA616 (Friday13th) | Sergent Pierre Armand Moreau (Flight Engineer) Sergent-Chef Henri Jean Witzmann (Air Gunner) Sergent-Chef Rene August Souillard (Wireless Operator) Adjutant Henri Rene Rouillay (Pilot) Lieutenant Paul Marius Allegre (Air Bomber) | |
NA680 | Sergent Pierre Le Masson (Flight Engineer) Capitaine Pierre Jean Laucou (Pilot) | |
NA681 | Adjutant Louis Leonard Portesseau (Flight Engineer) | |
NP921 | Sergent-Chef Roger Louis Mercier (Pilot) Sergent Marcel Eugene Mennetre (Flight Engineer) Sergent Gerard Guy Leduc (Air Gunner) Sergent-Chef Albert Arthus Bariteau (Wireless Operator) Capitaine Julien Jean Jacquot (Air Bomber) Capitaine Pierre Jacques Hautecoeur (Navigator) Sergent Pierre Albert Ferrero (Air Gunner) | |
NR153 | Capitaine Jean Feancois Person (Pilot) Sous-Lieutenant Andre Simon Adnet (Wireless Operator) | |
NR287 | Commandant Georges Camille Ostre (Pilot) Sergent Rene Maurius Ramond (Air Gunner) Capitaine Raymond Julien Chevalier (Flight Engineer) Lieutenant Antoine Lcharie Chemin (Air Bomber) Adjutant Henri Chabres (Wireless Operator) | |
NR235 | Lieutenant Jean Marie Terrien (Pilot) | |
RG561 | Sous-Lieutenant Jacques Wellard (Navigator) Sergent Henry Jacques Prades (Air Bomber) |
RG561 Crew 
MZ489 Crew
You will notice that on airframe NA174 of 346 Squadron the list of casualties is not normal. After a small amount of digging I found that NA174 was involved in a very serious incident whilst on the ground at Elvington. On 28th December 1944 the aircraft was being loaded with bombs ready for a forthcoming raid on Monchengladbach when one of the bombs slipped from its racking position triggering the detonation of a further 4 bombs. This incident was the worst incident throughout Bomber Command in 1944 resulting in the deaths of 13 members of ground crew.
On their departure from Elvington in October 1945 the Free French were addressed by Air Chief Marshal Sir Norman Bottomley:
“As chief of Bomber Command, I have the honour of wishing you farewell on behalf of the RAF on your return to your country after such a long exile. In a way it is a sad duty for me because we will greatly regret the departure of those who have been our colleagues for so long in times of great peril. But like you, we are happy that you are returning to your country basked in the glory you deserve; for this marks the realisation of a goal long contemplated and sought by you.
In these farewell words, I wish to convey our deep appreciation to Tunisie and Guyenne, whom we know as “346 and 347 Squadrons”, for their heroic and generous spirit. You courageously undertook advanced training courses in our schools, and you committed to learning our methods, thus gaining the admiration of all.
In the end, you fought with us, taking off from English stations, from the beginning of the summer of 1944, taking war all the way to the enemy’s territory. I would like to record here the debt that we and you both owe to Colonel Bailly, your first Chief, who, with his brave aircrew, have earned our admiration and respect. I must add a word of appreciation to those of you who worked on the ground to keep “Tunisie” and “Guyenne” in the air. Your work was essential and you can be proud of the exceptional performance standard you maintained.
Now that the links have been forged between our two Air Forces, we are happy to believe, even to know that the close collaboration of the French Air Force and the RAF will continue in the future.
Finally, in this moment, we have a special thought for those brave airmen who gave their lives for the allied cause. They died for France, and not only for France but also for all the allies, for all those who suffered oppression and aggression from the enemy. We will never forget them. Their sacrifices and names are forever part of the Royal Air Force’s history.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Goodbye ! Long Live France!”
And with those words the Free French returned home leaving their brave and heroic legacy at RAF Elvington, today kept intact and in the conciousness of those who visit by the Yorkshire Air Museum.
I would just like to acknowledge the contributions for this shoot, firstly to the Yorkshire Air Museum for hosting the event and allowing the access to the Halifax. Secondly to the Irvin Squadron for travelling all the way from Belgium to enable us to get a small sense of what a Free French crew may look and sound like. And last but not least to the Centre of a Aviation Photography for organising the event.
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