French Naval Air Service (Aeronautique navale)

Ceci est un test.

"Lucien Morareau" a écrit dans le message de news:c0v7r5$tg9$ snipped-for-privacy@news-reader3.wanadoo.fr...

Yes, I have my fair share of Etendards and Crusaders to build.

Bill Banaszak, MFE

very interested in french navy , royal navy is my main thing but have been collecting any aeronavale that i can . Colours are a problem , have the azur kit of the cierva c30 but cant work out what shade of blue it should be ken

I am more "specialized" in prewar a/c but if I can help you, do not hesitate.

LM "Bill Banaszak" a écrit dans le message de news: snipped-for-privacy@veriz> >

From 1925 to 1940, most of the Aéronautique navale a/c were painted dark blue grey on the upper surfaces and light blue grey under. Unfortunately, to my knowledge, there is no record or color pictures available to give the exact shade and one has to make approximation. Attached is a color profile of a Lioré et Olivier 258 (to be open with Photoshop 6.0 or above) which will give you an idea of what "it could have been"...

Regards.

LM

PS : System does not accept attached documents... So I send it separately "allenx3" a écrit dans le message de news: snipped-for-privacy@magma.ca...

Do you know if any of their aircraft operated in Madagascar or anywhere in the western Indian Ocean prior to or during the Second World War?

Merci....

John Hairell ( snipped-for-privacy@erols.com)

Yes and no... Aviation maritime as it was know before becoming Aéronautique navale in

1937, had no permanent stations in Madagascar or Indian ocean prior WW II. However, the French navy had some colonial sloops which were equiped with a small flying boat (Potez 452) or flying plane (Gourdou-Leseurre 832). As a couple of those ships were permanently stationeds in either Djibouti or Diego-Suarez, their a/c flew almost everywhere in the Indian Ocean.

Regards

LM "John Hairell" a écrit dans le message de news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

Yes, very much so.

I am interested in the flying boats. Specifically the Latecoere 630 series and the Bleriot 5102(?)

I suscribe to Avions and have some issues of Icare, but Le Fana de L'Aviation is impossible to get in the USA - and they have the best articles.

Regards Keith Walker Philadelphia, PA

Lucien,

Thank your for the information. I have lots of background information on l'Armee de l'air in Madagascar at Diego/Arrachart and Tananarive but never could find anything on any other services. I used to live in Madagascar and have been researching "Operation Ironclad", the Allied invasion of Madagascar in 1942.

I think that at least one French colonial sloop was strafed and sunk by British aircraft off of Diego - I'll have to check my documentation again.

Thanks,

John Hairell ( snipped-for-privacy@erols.com)

Yes the colonial sloop D'Entrecasteaux was hit by RN gunfire and RAF or SAAF aicraft in May 1942 and finally scutled in Diego-Suarez harbour. Although she had her Aéronautique navale complement on board, she had no aircraft. A Gourdou-Leseurre 832 was planned tp be delivered from Port-Lyautey in Marocco by cargo ship.

LM

"John Hairell" a écrit dans le message de news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

Just a little alone this topic, but what is the modeling scene like in France..... I wil be staitioned in Istres for about a year in 18 months, so I have time to mentaly prepare.

rich

Do a google search on the Latecore 631. IIRC, it was a 6 engine project broadly in the Boeing 314 class. One prototype was started around 1940, and was finished after the war and used by Air France on a France-Indochina route. Very streamlined for its day, easily the most beautiful flying boat ever made. Contrail made a kit, that if you can find it, goes for over $100.00. Kim M

The same as the rest of the world I presume... Istres is not very far from Marseille which is the second largest town in France. No doubt that there is plenty of modelling groups there. One point however, try to enhance your French, although friendly, the natives are not renowed to know and use foreign languages...

LM "Rich" a écrit dans le message de news:fFwZb.1663$ snipped-for-privacy@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...

As far as I know, 11 Latécoère 631 have been built of which 3 were destroyed in crashes. The other being witdrawn from use in the early 50s.

LM "Royabulgaf" a écrit dans le message de news: snipped-for-privacy@mb-m14.aol.com...

I always thought the French Crusaders were too plain. I prefer the colorful USN/USMC planes instead. Of course, I usually choose subjects to model based on aesthetics rather than historical significance.