Bell P-39N Airacobra's (Armee de l'Air) ...
Sat Feb 09, 2019 8:59 pm
Short History: In January 1943, following the Anfa conference, the Allied headquarters decided to re-equip all the Armee de l'Air squadrons stationed in North Africa (under Plan VII). On 13 May, 1943, the first Airacobras were delivered to GC II/6 Roussillon in Ain Sefra where they replaced the aging Dewoitine D.520s. In June 1943, this group moved to Berkane, then Tafaraoui where GC I/5 Champagne was stationed with its new Airacobras. Both groups were then used on Coastal Command missions. Meanwhile, in La Reghaia, the GC I/4 Navarre re-equipped with P-39s and began operations on 7 September.
Most of the P-39Ns were second-hand aircraft and during the lengthy Coastal Command missions several accidents occurred due to engine failure. At one time all flights had to be stopped but soon brand new P-39Qs were delivered. In May 1944, P-39s were delivered to the fighter school in Meknes. In August, the GC II/6 Travail was commissioned, GC I/4 re-equipped with P-47s and the newly created GC II/9 Limousin took on charge its first P-39Qs. In September, a new unit was commissioned on P-39s, the GC II/9 Auvergne.
In December, the GC II/9 received its first P-39Qs and GC II/6 gave up its Airacobras for Thunderbolts. The French P-39s operated mainly in the Alps area and northern Italy. At the end of the war, one of the groups received P-63s (GC II/6), others were decommissioned for budgetary reasons (GC I/9 and II/9).
The very last French Airacobras were used by the fighter school (CIC) in Meknes and the flight test centre (CEV) at Bretigny at the beginning of the fifties. In all, the Armee de l'Air took on charge 247 P-39s, most of them being P-39Ns and P-39Qs.
Most of the P-39Ns were second-hand aircraft and during the lengthy Coastal Command missions several accidents occurred due to engine failure. At one time all flights had to be stopped but soon brand new P-39Qs were delivered. In May 1944, P-39s were delivered to the fighter school in Meknes. In August, the GC II/6 Travail was commissioned, GC I/4 re-equipped with P-47s and the newly created GC II/9 Limousin took on charge its first P-39Qs. In September, a new unit was commissioned on P-39s, the GC II/9 Auvergne.
In December, the GC II/9 received its first P-39Qs and GC II/6 gave up its Airacobras for Thunderbolts. The French P-39s operated mainly in the Alps area and northern Italy. At the end of the war, one of the groups received P-63s (GC II/6), others were decommissioned for budgetary reasons (GC I/9 and II/9).
The very last French Airacobras were used by the fighter school (CIC) in Meknes and the flight test centre (CEV) at Bretigny at the beginning of the fifties. In all, the Armee de l'Air took on charge 247 P-39s, most of them being P-39Ns and P-39Qs.