A Morane Saulnier MS 405, seen here during a trial flight in February 1938. Ordered after success in a competition with the Bloch 150, Loire 250, Dewoitine 513 and Nieuport 161, 15 MS 405s were produced before the improved MS 406 replaced it on the lines.

MS 405

The only Fiat CR.42 captured by the French during the brief campaign of the Italy against the France (10-24 June 1940). The aircraft, military registration, MM.5590, pilot Tenente (Flying Officer/1st Lieutenant) Zuffi, was forced to land for engine troubles on Cuers Pierrefeu, during a strafing mission, 15 June 1940, of this airfield base of the French Aéronautique Navale’s Escadrilles AC3 (11 fighters Bloch MB151) and AB3 (11 dive bombers Vought 156). The aircraft was repainted with the French marking and an all pale-blue finish (but retaining, as showed in the photo, the fuselage’s Fascist emblem!). The plane was turned in Italian authorities on following August while his pilot was released just after the signing of the armistice between Italy and France, Villa Incisa’s Armistice, 24 June 1940. The mission over Piers Cuerrefeu was one of two raid launched by the Italian air forces against French airdrome on 15 June 1940: the other was against Le Luc-Le Cannet des Maures raided by the 53nd Stormo’s 23nd Gruppo took off from Turin-Caselle. Cuers Pierrefeu was strafed by 27 Fiat CR.42 of the 150th Gruppo, of the same 53rd Stormo, took off from Cervere, near Cuneo, split in two groups, one of 15 aircraft, the other of 12, with the cover of other groups each of a dozen of CR.42. Six Vought wad destroyed on the ground, while on the fight with the AC3’s Bloch MB151, scrambled on two sections, the Second-Maître Miramont, aircraft AC3.3, s/n 69, despite various damages downed the CR.42 MM5579 of the Capitano (Flight Lieutenant/Captain) Nino Caselli, KIA, but after few minutes made a forces land at Hyères. The Caselli and Zuffi’s CR.42 was the only Italian planes lost during the Cuers Pierrefeu’s strafing. On the other hand the French losses was heavier: MB151 AC3.15, s/n 51, shot down just after the take-off, pilot Adjudant-Chef Hourcade KIA; MB.151 AC3.1, s/n 77, heavy damaged, crash landed, pilot Lieutenant de Vaisseau Ziegler, AC3’s leader, wounded; Bloch 151 AC3.9 s/n 37, shot down in flames, pilot Second-Maître Le Bihan serious wounded during the crash land (death after 5 hours in hospital); MB.151 AC3.8 s/n 348, heavy damaged and crash landed, pilot Soulimont unhurt. Another clash triggered during the raid over Le Luc-Le Cannet des Maures between the CR.42 of the 23nd Gruppo plus other CR.42 of the 3rd Stormo in combat air patrol and the French fighters, Dewoitine D.520 in this case of the Armée de l’Air’s GC III/6, took off from Luc on 11,45 a.m. and split on two patrol each with three aircraft, the first composed by Adjutant Pierre Le Gloan, with Capitaine Jean Assollant and Capitaine Jacobi (the late turned back because engine troubles), the second by Capitaine Guerrier, Sous-Lieutenant Capdeviolle and Adjutant Japiot. The French claimed in total five planes down by Le Gloan (four CR.42 and a BR.20 in recce mission) all complied by the command of Zone d'Opérations Aériennes Alpes (Alpes Air Operational Region), but the official record of the Italian Air Force confirm for the entire day of 15 June 1940 a total loss of six aircraft, included the two CR.42 lost over Cuers. The other has: Fiat CR.42 MM4361, 23rd Gruppo, pilot Cap. Filippi POW; Fiat CR.42 MM4366, 18th Gruppo, pilot Maresciallo (Warrant Officer) Colombo KIA; Fiat CR.42 MM unknown, 18th Gruppo, pilot Sergente (Flight Sergeant) Parmeggiani, POW; Fiat BR.20M MM2187, 172nd Squadriglia (recce flight after the missions for observe the raid’s results): two crew members KIA, three POW. Very probably this four planes are Le Gloan’s kills. Victor Sierra

French colors for an Italian fighter

Italian airmen surrounding one of the French Aéronavale’s Loire-Nieuport LN-411 dive bomber landed in Sardinia during a ferry flight from the air base of Hyères-Le Palyvestre, Provence, to Bône, Algeria, via Ajaccio, Corse, at the eve of the France’s armistice with the Italy. On 4 June 1940, with a view to the Italy’s entry in the war, the Aéronavale’s Escadrilles AB2 and AB4 was grouped on Hyères-Le Palyvestre airfield, 3ème Région Maritime (Toulon). From 4 to 25 June the LN.411 of this Escadrilles (the LN-411 was a version of the LN-410 without arrester hook) made recce, dive bombardment and maritime convoy escort missions over the Liguria coasts and the Provence’s water. Approaching the France’s surrender, was decided the transfer of the two units in Algeria to avoid his capture by the Italians. On 23 June, evening, 7 p.m. eight LN-411 of the AB2 and AB4 took off from Hyères to Ajaccio, refueling stop before the flight to Bône. The following day, on the sunrise, the planes took off for the ferry flight to Algeria. The flight was disastrous: four aircraft landed safely at Bône, a fifth crashed during the land, the other three experienced some troubles, loss of oil engine pressure, after the departure from the Corse and finished in the hands of the Italians. The aircraft number 2 and number 20, both AB2, landed near Portixeddu, in front to Lion Gulf, North-West Sardinia, the number 8, AB4, landed at the Asinara island, two hours later, for the same problems. The airplanes was disassembled and moved to Cagliari for repair (the plane of the photo has the left wing damaged and is in part disassembled and hoisted over same fuel drums). At least one LN-411 returned in flight conditions was transferred to Guidonia’s experimental center for test and evaluation. Victor Sierra