French Forces

In the hands of Italians

italie1935-45.forumactif.org

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