Under French Skies

Caudron CR.714 belonging to GC I/145 at Billancourt France, May 1940. Because of the aircraft's identification number "13" on the fin, it is more probable that the aircraft is part of a group of training aircraft that were abandoned in June 1940 at Guyancourt. The upper surface camouflage pattern for this aircraft can be seen on this page.

   Most propably GC I/145 was fighting with the Bf-109Es from II/JG27. Hauptmann (Hptm., Captain) Werner Anders and Feldwebeln (Technical Sergeant) Karl Witzel, Erich Krenzke and Karl-Heinz Bendert each claimed one aircraft destroyed. The German unit lost three Bf-109s, belonging to: Unteroffizier (Staff Sergeant) Lothar Hettner kiled in action, Feldwebel Karl-Heinz Kranich was listed as missing and Leutnant (Ltn. Lieutenant) Hans Bosch went to a POW camp.
   On 10th of June, at 8 a.m., twelve Caudrons scrambled because of an air-raid alarm. Just south of Dreux, the Poles met about fifteen Do-17 bombers and twelve Bf-109E fighters. Captain Piotr Laguna claimed a single Bf-109 destroyed, while Sec. Lt.s Jerzy Czerniak and Aleksy Zukowski claimed one Do-17 each deatroyed. Major Jozef Kepinski was badly injured in this battle and was sent to the hospital in Chartes. The unit's new leader became Cpt. Laguna.
   Major Kepinski never returned to the GC I/145, and as a result of this injury. Kepinski was considered unfit for combat operations when he arrived in Great Britain. After being released from the hospital in Chartes, one of Kepinski's legs was a little shorter after this battle.
   On 2 June the I/145 GC was transferred to the newly created command of the Z.O.A.N. (Air Operations Area North) under the command of the French General d'Astier de la Vigerie. During the very intense fighting that the GC I/145 was engaged in between 2 and 13 June 1940, they were credited with twelve confirmed victories. Unfortunately for GC I/145, combat attrition in pilots and aircraft were taking their toll. The GC I/145 needed replacement aircraft, pilots, and a rest.
   Another change of aerodrome was ordered on 11 June. The squadron was assigned to Semaises. Because of combat attrition, the GC I/145 had only eleven serviceable aircraft remaining. With the change in aerodrome operations, and the depleted quantity of serviceable aircraft, the GC I/145 was ordered to change aircraft types. Only fifty-three CR.714 fighters had been delivered between January and the beginning of June 1940. This delivery rate was not sufficient to keep even GC I/145 operational. There were sufficient pilots, with a rather large reserve, the only problem was associated with the insufficient numbers of Caudrons.
   Training was started on the Bloch MB.152 fighter when the squadron received three of this type of aircraft. While they were training the GC I/145 received new orders, to be sent to different French squadrons for short practice on the new aircraft type. There was only one group of this squadron's pilots who accomplished this type training. On 12 June eight pilots of GC I/145, led by Cpt. Antoni Wczelik, were transferred to GC I/1 for aircraft type retraining.

   The author Grzegorz Slizewski can be reached at his e-mail address.