FRANCE

Aeronautique Navale pilots victory credits
World War II

NAME                                      VICTORIES     CAMPAIGNS               UNITS          COMMENTS

Du Merle, Jacques                             3         Vichy (Syria)           AC 1
Billotet, Gaston                              3 [2+1]   1940 + 1943-1945        AC 2, GC II/7
De Scitivaux de Greitsche, Philippe C. J. M.  3 [2+1]   1940 + Free French      AC 1, RAF
Sire, Paul                                    3 [0+3]   1943-1945               GC II/7
Bédard, Raymond                               2 [1+1]   Vichy + 1943-1945       AC 2, GC II/7
Domas, Roger                                  2 [1+1]   1940                    AC 2           KIA
Goffeny, Paul                                 2 [1+1]   Vichy (Syria)           AC 1           KIFA
Carmeille, Georges                            2 [0+2]   1940                    AC 3
Helf, Lucien                                  2 [0+2]   1940                    AC 3
Saint-Vanne, René                             2 [0+2]   1940                    AC 3
Andrès, Henri                                 1         1940                    AC 1
Benezet                                       1         Vichy (Syria)           AC 1
Châtel, André                                 1         Vichy (Indochina)       2/596
Dupont, Jean                                  1         1940                    AC 2           KIA
Folliot, Albert                               1         1940                    AC2            1., KIA
Le Bihan, Marcel                              1         1940                    AC 3           KIA
Maulandri, André                              1         1940                    AC 1
Miramond, Jean-Louis                          1         1940                    AC 3
Moulinier, Robert                             1         Vichy (Torch)           AC 1-2 ?       2.
Poncet, Marius                                1         1943-1945               GC I/7
Salomon-Koechlin, Henri                       1         1943-1945               GC I/7         KIFA
Vilbert, Jules                                1         1943-1945               GC II/7
Gleize, Marius                                1 [0+1]   1943-1945               GC II/7
Pirel                                         1 [0+1]   Vichy (Syria)           AC 1
Prévost, Jean                                 1 [0+1]   1940                    AC 2
Prodelles de Latour-Dejan                     1 [0+1]   1943-1945               GC II/7

1. Source: Gleize, Jean-Paul: Aces, http://www.igleize.fr/aces/homeaces.htm.
2. Some sources present that Robert Moulinier achieved two confirmed kill. Pilot of AB2, Flotille 1F & 2AC. Gleize, Jean-Paul: c.d.
3. The aeronautique militaire had several skilled fighter pilots in the beginning of WW2. In fact, every pilot of aeronautique militaire was qualified for fighter planes. The only navy flotilla of fighters, flotilla 1 F (escadrilles AC 1 and AC 2), was supposed to be in the aircraft carrier "B arn", witch was never used in operation. So the two escadrilles fought ground-based, in coastal missions in the north sea. In the south, escadrille AC 3 was created and fought the Italians in june 1940.
4. After the armistice, and after the Mers-El-Kebir incident, almost no navy pilots joined the free French and remained loyal to the Vichy government. Flotilla 1 F participated in most of Vichy campaigns in Syria and North Africa. After operation "Torch", flotilla 1 F remained inactive for one year and was dissolved in early 1944. Its pilots were disbanded among arm e de l'air fighting squadrons and some of them scored victories against Luftwaffe during the last months of the third reich.
5. Contrary to arm e de l'air, the French navy had no homolgation system for his fighter pilots. No pilots reached ace status, but premier ma tre Gaston Billotet was close to this score with 3 victories and two probables.
6. KIA : Killed In Action.
7. KIFA : Killed In A Flying Accident.

Potez 631, AC1, A ronautique Navale.