Escadron de Chasse 2/30 Normandie-Niemen

The Escadron de Chasse or Fighter Squadron 2/30 Normandie-Niemen (Escadron de Chasse 2/30 Normandie-Niemen) is a fighter unit of the French Air Force. During the dormant phase in 2009, the Escadron was equipped with Mirage F1CT fighters and stationed at Aerial Base 132 Colmar-Meyenheim (BA 132) of Colmar-Meyenheim. This Escadron is the descendent of the famous Fighter Group Normandie (Groupe de Chasse Normandie) created in 1942.

On June 25, 2012, the Normandie-Niémen squadron was officially reactivated with Rafale F3 aircraft at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base.

Since September 3, 2015, the Normandie-Niemen was again attached to the 30e Escadre de Chasse (30e Escadre de Chasse) reformed the same day on BA 118 de Mont-de-Marsan.



Denominations & different designations



 * September 1, 1942 : creation of the Fighter Group - Groupe de Chasse Normandie n° III at Riyaq in Lebanon (G.C Normandie 3).
 * February 7, 1944 : G.C Normandie III was transformed into a Fighter Regiment - Régiment de Chasse Normandie with four Escadrilles (RC Normandie)
 * July 21, 1944 : Fighter Regiment - Régiment de Chasse Normandie - received the designation of Niémen and became the Hunter Fighter Regiment - Régiment de Chasse Normandie-Niémen  (R.C Normandie-Niémen)
 * 1953 : the regiment split into two parts and one became the Hunter Fighter Squadron - Escadron de Chasse 2/6 Normandie-Niémen
 * 1962 : the 6e Escadre de Chasse (6e Escadre de Chasse) was dissolved, the Squadron was attached to the 30e Escadre de Chasse (30e Escadre de Chasse) and took the designation of Hunter Fighter Squadron - Escadron de Chasse 2/30 Normandie-Niémen
 * October 13, 1993 : dissolution of the EC 2/30 and the creation of the Hunter Fighter Squadron - Escadron de Chasse 1/13 Normandie-Niémen
 * July 1, 1995 : the Escadron took the designation of Hunter Fighter Squadron - Escadron de Chasse 2/30 Normandie-Niémen
 * June 27, 2008 : the Escadron readopted the designation of Hunter Fighter Regiment - Regiment de Chasse 1/30 Normandie-Niémen
 * September 1, 2011 : the Escadron assumed the designation of Hunter Fighter Regiment - Regiment de Chasse 2/30 Normandie-Niémem

Creation
During the rallying of général de Gaulle through the Appeal of June 1940 (appel de juin 1940) inviting to join him in London, certain French responded to the call by remaining in France - while forming the French Resistance - while others went on to Great-Britain in order to continue the fight with the Allies. Great-Britain, constituted accordingly the most important military base and politics of aerial, naval and terrestrial forces « Free French ». In 1940, as well, came forth volunteers for the United States to constitute the « Eagle Squadrons » (Eagle Squadron) of the RAF, as well as the placing of Polish and Czech Squadrons, etc.

Following the rupture of the Soviet-German non aggression pact (pacte de non agression germano-soviétique) on June 22, 1941 (22 juin 1941) and in front of the political Collaboration Policy in France (collaborationniste) of the French Government, representatives of Vichy were declared as Persona non grata by Soviet Authorities and were asked to return to France. Colonel Charles Luguet (Charles Luguet), the military Air attaché of Vichy Government at Moscow rallied Free France (France libre), indicating to général Martial Valin (Martial Valin) that the Soviet Union would not be easily defeated contrary to British thought on the matter. Accordingly, général De Gaulle brought up to speed on this analysis, thought to make his legitimacy recognized by this Ally.

In 1942, général de Gaulle, recognizing the importance of French soldiers to serve on all fronts of the war, decided to engage forces on the Eastern Front (World War II). Général de Gaulle envisaged first to send a Mechanized Division (the future 1st Free French Division of général de Larminat) on the Eastern front, however British opposition added to the difficulties of this project and the view of général Valin, commandant of the Free French Air Forces (Forces aériennes françaises libres) (FAFL), made him opt to send an Aerial Unit to the lieu instead of a Division ,.

Beginning 1942, the diplomat of the USSR near the French National Committee (Comité national français), mainly Bogomolov, announced that the Soviet Government welcomed with great care, the project initiative of sending French aviators to combat on the Eastern Front. On February 19, 1942, Charles de Gaulle designated colonel Charles Luguet and Captain Albert Mirlesse to take on practical negotiations with the USSR, under the authority of général Valin. The Soviets studied the proposition with interest, however applicable negotiations consumed the time, colonel Pougatchev, military chief of the mission at London, did not accept of a group whom were all French, detached near the Soviet Army. In addition, parallel negotiations of Captain Mirlesse, by général Ernest Petit (général Petit) in military mission for Free France at Moscow and by Roger Garreau, in diplomatic mission at Kouïbychev, the unfolding city of the Embassies after Operation Barbarossa, provoked some bungling.

Nevertheless, on February 25, 1942, a first list of pilots was communicated to the Soviets. The first commandant, Joseph Pouliquen (Joseph Pouliquen), was designated and tasked by général de Gaulle in person to complete formation and command the future Hunter Fighter Group n°III (G.C. n°III) placed at disposition at the front, the latter would garrison in Lebanon while awaiting the green light from the Soviets. The effective creation of the Hunter Fighter Group Normandie, wasn't dated until the end of 1942 (the first date mentioned in the Marching Journal was September 15, 1942 ), under the designation only of « Normandie ». Joseph Pouliquen (Joseph Pouliquen) suggested the designation of Normandie for the (G.C.n°III), he had preferred to designate the group on the name of his province, Bretagne, but the latter was already in use by a Bombardment Group. Accordingly, the first constitution was formed of a group of hunter fighter pilots and French mechanics, all volunteer. The first group was composed of fourteen hunter fighter pilots and fifty eight mechanics. The group was conjointly joined by seventeen Soviet mechanics.

The first 14 hunter fighter pilots of the G.C.n°III hailed from units of the Royal Air Force or from the Hunter Fighter Group Île-de-France (groupe de chasse Île-de-France) installed in England (The English) and on another part Hunter Fighter Group Alsace (groupe de chasse Alsace) installed in North Africa (The Libyans).

The English (8): aspirant Joseph Risso (Joseph Risso), aspirant Yves Mahé, lieutenant Didier Béguin, aspirant Marcel Albert, aspirant Marcel Lefèvre, aspirant Albert Durand, aspirant Yves Bizien and aspirant Roland de la Poype.

The Libyans (6) : aspirant Noël Castelain, lieutenant Raymond Derville, lieutenant André Poznanski, lieutenant Albert Preziosi, captain Albert Littolff, and commandant Jean Tulasne.

After longue negotiations with colonel Levandovitch, the military chargé of international relations of the general staff headquarters of the Air Ministry of the Soviet Union, the Group left the Military air base of Riyaq, Lebanon, on November 12, 1942 to arrive on November 28, 1942 to the Military air base of Ivanovo (situated at 250 km, north-east of Moscow), via Iraq and Iran. On the Military air base of Ivanovo, a formation course was given to the personnel to handle the first aircraft of the G.C.n°III, the Yakovlev Yak-1.

Engagement during the Second World War
Nevertheless, before this departure on October 24, 1942, commandant Pouliquen and colonel Édouard Corniglion-Molinier, accompanied by commandants Denis and Tuslane, awarded the respectively the fanion of the escadrille and the arms insignias of Normandie to members of the unit. The ceremony was accompanied with the following speech:

"Officiers, Sous-Officiers, Caporaux et Soldats du 3e Groupe de Chasse ! Je vais vous remettre l'insigne de notre groupe aux armes de la Normandie. Vous le porterez avec fierté et dignité. Il représentera pour vous l'image même de la France dans une de ses plus belle et de ses plus riche contrée. Il évoquera pour vous le souvenir d'une campagne de chez nous calme et reposante. En ce moment, la Normandie souffre plus particulièrement de l'occupation allemande. Des bombardements, des combats fréquents ont lieu sur ses côtes et dans son ciel. Notre pensée va vers ce coin de France que le 3e Groupe de Chasse honorera en portant ses Armes et que les pilotes glorifieront par leur victoires."

(" English translation : Officers, Sous-Officiers, Corporals and Soldiers of the IIIrd Hunter Fighter Group ! I will award you with the arms insignia of our Normandie Group. You will wear it with pride and dignity. It will represent for you the image of France in one of its most beautiful and richest encounters. It will evoke for you the souvenir of a campaign which belongs to us which is calm and comforting. In this moment, Normandie suffers particularly from German occupation. Bombardments, and frequent combats have lieu on its coast and in its sky. Our thoughts go to that corner of France which the 3rd Hunter Fighter Group will render honors on behalf of and carry its Arms faithfully, with pilots glorifying the latter with their victories".) ( Marching Journal of Normandie-Niemen ).

It was general Valin who validated, on September 1, 1942, the proposed designation of the G.C.3 of « Normandie ».

This choice, following consultation, was taken due to the sufferance endured by that region (occupation, bombardment, etc.) and naturally, it is the emblem of « Normandie » which was adopted : « Red adorned, with 2 Golden topped Leopard Style Lions Passant Guardant » (Passing Full face on Guard on top of a White Thunderbolt) (surnamed in Norman : Vles P’tits Cats). The insignias were realized by Armenian silversmiths of the markets of Damascus.

The three Escadrilles forming composition were :


 * « Rouen » for the first,
 * « Le Havre » for the second,
 * « Cherbourg » for the third.

The list of officers, sous-officiers and men (Marching Journal of Normandie-Niemen) feature:

This list was established, then submitted by Captain Mirless to the Soviet Authorities, on September 1, 1942.

Arrived to the U.S.S.R on November 28, the training instruction of the French on the Yakovlev Yaks-7 and 1 lasted from December 2 until March 14, 1943. On the following March 20, général Ernest Petit, French mission military chief to Moscow in company with colonel Schoumoff, commandant of the Aerial Base of Ivanovo and colonel Levandovitch of the superior command of the Russian Aerial Forces, passed revue of the group during two days.

Following that inspection, the result statement added that: "By its military qualities and moral, this unit is ready to be sent to the front

First Campaign (March 22, 1943 - November 6, 1943)
The Group was engaged as of March 22, 1943, in the 1st Aerial Soviet Army (1re Armée Aérienne Soviétique), and illustrated capability in the Battle of Kursk (Koursk-Orel) during the month of July. The Commandant of the Group Jean Tulasne (Jean Tulasne) and his deputy Albert Littolff (Albert Littolff) were killed during this battle. Commandant Pierre Pouyade (Pierre Pouyade), who joined Normandie after his evasion in Indochina, assumed commandment. In August, the French mechanics commanded by Alex Michel and Louis Duprat, the two officer mechanics, were directed to the Middle East (Moyen-Orient) and definitely replaced by Soviet mechanics at the order of Engineer-Captain Sergueï Agavelian. Here again, formation considerations on Soviet material has prevailed. In May 1943, Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel gave the order upon which captured French pilots on the Eastern Front should be immediately shot on site.

Retrieved bloodless (Retiré exsangue) during winter, the Normandie Group was transformed into a Regiment with four Escadrille, owing to the reinforcement of numerous pilots hailing from North Africa.

Second Campaign
Joseph Stalin attributed to the unit the name Niémen on July 21, 1944 for the participation of the unit to the Battles of the Neman River. The unit received numerous military distinctions, both Soviet and French, and at the end of 1944, the aviators of Normandie-Niémen were the first French to enter militarily into Germany.

On October 16 and 17, Normandie, engaged in operation Gumbinnen - dreadful offensive on Oriental-Prussia - beat a record by beating down 41 German aircraft without losses.

At the end of November 1944, colonel Pierre Pouyade gave the order to repaint on the Yaks the emblems of Normandie-Niemen by adding the White Thunder which was the emblem of 303rd Aerial Division to which the Regiment Normandie-Niemen belonged to.

Retrieved from the front at the approach winter, the regiment went to Moscow in order to accompany the diplomatic visit of général de Gaulle to Staline, and accordingly received the respective medals and rendered honors. A quarter of the pilots received a break in France, reducing the Group to three escadrille.

Third Campaign
From January to May 1945, Normandie participated to the invasion of Oriental-Prussia and to the siege of Kaliningrad.

It was decided in December to transform the regiment Normandie in an Aerial Division France by the reinforcement of a Hunter Fighter Group (Groupe de Chasse) known as Aquitaine, as well as a Bombardiers Group, however, the end of the war put a term on this project.

Beginning June 1945, a decree by Stalin accorded a legal right to the concerned combatants to return with their arms. He gave a sort of gift to each of his Yak-3 at a personal title. This point gave lieu to contestations. On June 20, 1945, the French aviators went back to France while landing at Bourget, were they were welcomed like heroes.

The chronology of the return is as follows:

« On June 15, at the orders of général Georgi Zakharov, the 40 equipment of Normandie Niemen flew to Posen
 * On the 16, the pilots were at Prague
 * On the 17, they were at Stuttgart where they were received by général de Lattre de Tassigny
 * On the 20, they arrived to St Dizier and went back to Paris le Bourget where they were welcomed with enthusiasm »

As indicated by the chronology, the pilots were received by général de Lattre at Stuttgart ( a little gap between the 17 and 20 ) at the occasion of a layover.

According to official sources, the 38 Yak-3 paraded underneath the Champs-Élysées.

Controversy on the future of the aircraft
The aircraft and pilots belonged to the French Air Force out of which the Normandie-Nièmen was one of the regiments. The aircraft were transferred to Toussus-le-Noble at the beginning of February 1946, by decision of the general staff headquarters of the Air Force. It was a civilian base where a zone was reserved for the Air Force. Serving as training aircraft, without detached pieces, the aircraft were cannibalized little by little. A unique restored specimen is at the Musée de l’air et de l’espace of the Bourget.

A Soviet author wrote on this subject:

"« Le don au régiment Normandie-Niémen de tous les avions sur lesquels ils avaient volé fut une manifestation de l'amitié sincère entre les peuples français et soviétiques »" ("English translation: The gift of the Regiment Normandie-Niémen of all the aircraft upon which he flew on was a manifestation of the sincere friendship between the French and Soviet people".)

- Maréchal Alexander Novikov, Revue Icare, n° 62, Spring-Summer 1972, p.73.

and "« En faisant aux pilotes du Normandie-Nièmen l'honneur de leur laisser l'arme qui leur a servi pendant la guerre et en leur permettant de rentrer chez eux sur leurs avions de combat, l'Union Soviétique leur a offert la plus haute récompense. »" ("English translation : While rendering the pilots of Normandie-Nièmen the honor to keep their arms which served them during the war and allowing them to return to their homeland on their combat aircraft, the Soviet Union offered them the highest compensation.")

- Maréchal Novikov, Revue Icare n° 62, Spring-Summer 1972, p. 73.

When the number of Yak-3 was too weak to constitute a combat unit, the Normandie-Nièmen used the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 whose factories were installed in France by the Germans. This caused a problem to certain pilots, who saw their brother in arms beaten down by FW-190 of the Jagdgeschwader 51.

A considerable notoriety
The presence of this French unit near by the Soviets against the Germans, even if id had a symbolic part, had a considerable notoriety. In its grand combat accomplishments, it was of such that the Escadrille rapidly gained a grand Esteem by the Russians. The gest has never been forgotten, and since, Russian citizens come often to flower regularly the tombs of French pilots which fell or where buried on site.

After the Second World War


After a posting at Bourget then Toussus-le-Noble (Toussus-le-Noble), in 1947 the Hunter Regiment (Régiment de chasse) « Normandie-Niémen » was assigned in Morocco on the Aerial Base de Rabat-Salé. During the Indochina War, the regiment was stationed at Saigon. Then, the Regiment returned to North Africa, in Algeria. In 1953, the regiment was split in two: one of the two adopted the designation of Escadron de Chasse 2/6 Normandie-Niémen.

Following the dissolution of the 6e Escadre de Chasse (6e Escadre de Chasse), the Escadron was attached to the 30e Escadre de Chasse (30e Escadre de chasse), where the appropriation of Escadron de Chasse 2/30 Normandie-Niémen was issued from. The Escadron returned to France, at Orange (Vaucluse), on March 13, 1962, the joined Reims in June 1966 to be deployed on the Aerial Base 112 Reims-Champagne(base aérienne 112), where the latter remained for near 30 years while being assigned all time to the 30e Escadre de Chasse. On September 18, 1992, the 2/30 « Normandie-Niemen » celebrated the 50th Anniversary. The event organized by Pierre Joxe, Ministre de la Défense, and the chief of the general staff of the Russian Air Force, gave lieu to important manifestations, notably the arrival of Sukhoï 27 « Preux Russes » and a delegation of former military veteran combats of the ex-Soviet Union.

On October 13, 1993, the Escadron was dissolved to be renamed as Escadron de Chasse 1/13 Normandie-Niémen. The later left then Reims to be based on Aerial Base 132 Colmar-Meyenheim (base aérienne 132) at Meyenheim, near Colmar (Alsace).

In 1994, the Escadron participated to Opération Turquoise (Turquoise), in Rwanda, and Opération Crécerelle (Crécerelle), in Bosnia and Herzegovina

On July 1, 1995, the Escadron was newly designated Escadron de Chasse 2/30 « Normandie-Niemen ».

In 1999, the later took part in Operation Allied Force (Opération Allied Force).

On October 10, 2007, Presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and Vladimir Putin inaugurated a monument, sculpted by Russian artist Andrey Kovalchuk, for the memory of the French Escadrille Normandie-Niemen at Moscow, in Lefortovo Park.

On July 3, 2009, the Escadron was officially placed in a dormant phase. The last aircraft lift off for Reims and Châteaudun mid-July. Since July 17, 2009, no aircraft was flying out of Aerial Base Colmar-Meyenheim. A part of the aircraft, pilots, and regimental colors of the regiment, joined the Aerial Base 11 « commandant Marin la Meslée ».

Veterans of the Escadron participated the Armistice celebration of 1945 on Red Square, at Moscow on May 9, 2010.

On August 25, 2011, the first Rafale with colors of the 2/30 Normandie-Niemen took off from Aerial Base 118 Mont-de-Marsan (base aérienne 118 colonel Constantin Rozanoff de Mont-de-Marsan). This fourth Escadron Rafale which was officially recreated on September 1, 2011 wouldn't be operational until starting June 25, 2012 (year which would mark the 70th Anniversary of the prestigious "Neu-Neu"). The later received the traditions of Escadrille SPA 91 (Escadrille SPA 91), Escadrille SPA 93 (Escadrille SPA 93), Escadrille SPA 97 (Escadrille SPA 97) which replaced the Escadrilles FAFL.

From August 31, 2015 until September 18, 2015, fifteen Rafale of Escadron de Chasse 1/7 Provence (1/7 Provence), of the 2/30 Normandie-Niemen and the Escadron de Chasse 1/91 Gascogne (1/91 Gascogne) were deployed on Aerial Base 126 Solenzara (BA126 Solenzara) for a campaign of air-to-air fire.

From April 13 to April 25, 2016, two Rafale of the 2/30 Normandie-Niémen and two Rafale from the Escadron de Chasse 1/7 Provence (1/7 Provence) were deployed on the Aerial Base of the RAF within the cadre of the exercise Griffin Strike 2016.

70th Anniversary (1942-2012)


In 2012, the Escadron de Chasse 2/30 Normandie-Niemen of the French Air Force celebrated passage of their 70th Anniversary with pilots reflecting the Squadrons' insignia in Passant Guardant.

75th Anniversary (1942-2017)
On June 9, 2017, the Escadron de Chasse 2/30 Normandie-Niémen of the French Air Force celebrated passage of their 75th Anniversary.

Commandants and Chiefs

 * Chiefs of the Groupe de Chasse Normandie n° III (IIIrd Fighter Hunter "Group" Normandie):
 * September 1, 1942 - February 22, 1943 : Commandant Joseph Pouliquen (Joseph Pouliquen)
 * February 22, 1943 - July 17, 1943 : Commandant Jean Tulasne (Jean Tulasne) KIA
 * July 17, 1943 - February 7, 1944 : Commandant Pierre Pouayade (Pierre Pouayade)
 * Commandant of the Régiment de Chasse Normandie (Fighter Hunter "Regiment" Normandie):
 * February 7, 1944 - July 21, 1944 : Commandant Pierre Pouyade (Pierre Pouyade)
 * Commandants of the Régiment de Chasse Normandie-Niémen (Fighter Hunter "Regiment" Normandie-"Niemen"):
 * July 21, 1944 - December 12, 1944 : Commandant Pierre Pouyade (Pierre Pouyade)
 * December 12, 1944 - June 20, 1945 : Commandant Louis Delfino (Louis Delfino)

1st Escadrille « Rouen »

 * August 8, 1943 - September 4, 1943 : lieutenant Gérald Léon (Gérald Léon) KIA
 * March 1944 - December 1944 : Captain Marcel Albert (Marcel Albert)
 * December 12, 1944 - January 17, 1945 : Captain René Challe (René Challe)
 * January 17, 1945 - February 20, 1945 : Captain Charles de la Salle
 * February 20, 1945 : dissolution.

2nd Escadrille « Le Havre »

 * August 8, 1943 - September 4, 1943 : Captain Didier Béguin (Didier Béguin)
 * March 1944 - December 12, 1944 : Lieutenant Yves Mourier (Yves Mourier)
 * December 12, 1944 : Captain Gaston Baugnies de Saint-Marceaux

3rd Escadrille « Cherbourg »

 * February 7, 1944 - May 28, 1944 : Lieutenant Marcel Lefevre (Marcel Lefevre) KIA
 * May 28, 1944 : Captain Pierre Matras (Pierre Matras)
 * February 20, 1945 - June 20, 1945 : Captain Charles de la Salle

4th Escadrille « Caen »

 * April 28, 1944 - December 12, 1944 : Captain René Challe (René Challe)
 * December 12, 1944 : dissolution.

Following the last casualties beginning February 1945, commandant Louis Delfino decided to reduce the regiment to two Escadrille: the 2nd and 3rd, commanded respectively by Captain de Saint-Marceaux and Captain Charles de La Salle.

Second World War

 * September 1, 1942 : Riyaq (Assembling of personnel coming in from different locations)
 * November 28, 1942 : Ivanovo (Formation)
 * March 22, 1943 : Polotnyany-Zavod
 * April 16, 1943 : Mossalsk
 * May 20, 1943 : Kozielsk
 * June 2, 1943 : Khationki
 * August 18, 1943 : Gorodietchnia
 * August 24, 1943 : Spass-Demensk
 * September 2, 1943 : Michkovo
 * September 15, 1943 : Barsouki
 * September 18, 1943 : Filatki
 * October 5, 1943 : Sloboda
 * November 6, 1943 : Toula
 * May 25, 1944 : Doubrovka
 * July 15, 1944 : Mikountani
 * July 29, 1944 : Alytus
 * September 18, 1944 : Antonovo
 * October 6, 1944 : Sredniki
 * October 10, 1944 : Antonovo
 * October 22, 1944 : Didvije-sterki
 * November 27, 1944 : Gross-Kalweitchen
 * January 14, 1945 : Dopenen
 * January 26, 1945 : Gross-Skajsgiren
 * January 27, 1945 : Labiau
 * February 5, 1945 : Powunden
 * February 14, 1945 : Wittenberg (Oriental Prussia)
 * February 25, 1945 : Friedland
 * April 7, 1945 : Bladiau
 * April 13, 1945 : Eylau
 * May 5, 1945 : Bladiau
 * May 8, 1945 : Heiligenbeil

First victories
On April 5, 1943, pilots Albert Preziosi and Albert Durand opened their palmarès, 14 days after their arrival to the front. Two Fw 190 were beaten down in the region de Roslav while the patrol (patrouille) was escorting a bombardier Petlyakov Pe-2.

First losses
On April 13, 1943, while in course of a free chase, three patrollers were engaged by four Fw 190. Three pilots of Normandie-Niémen were beaten down as well as three Fw 190.

After the Second World War

 * March 1947 : Rabat-Salé, Aerial Base 151 Rabat-Salé (base aérienne 151 « Commandant Max Guedj ») (dissolved in 1961).
 * October 29, 1949 : Saïgon
 * May 1951 : Oran Aerial Base 141 Oran La Sénia « Commandant Tulasne » (Algeria)
 * March 13, 1962 : Orange, Aerial Base 115 Orange-Caritat (base aérienne 115 Orange-Caritat)
 * 1966 : Reims, Aerial Base 112 Reims-Champagne (base aérienne 112 Reims-Champagne)
 * October 13, 1993 : Colmar, Aerial Base 132 Colmar-Meyenheim (base aérienne 132 Colmar-Meyenheim)
 * 2011 : Mont-de-Marsan, Aerial Base 118 Mont-de-Marsan (base aérienne 118 Mont-de-Marsan)

Statistics
From 1942 until 1945, the Fighter Regiment « Normandie-Niémen »:
 * conducted 5240 missions which amounted to 4354 hours of flying;
 * delivered 896 aerial combats;
 * obtained 273 victories.

The Regiment endured the loss of:
 * 38 pilots killed or disappeared;
 * 7 pilots killed while aerial service;
 * 3 pilots made prisoners of war and then returned to France.

The Regiment destroyed:
 * 273 enemy downed planes;
 * 37 enemy planes probably downed;
 * 47 enemy planes damaged;
 * 132 destroyed trucks;
 * 27 trains destroyed;
 * eight train stations attacked;
 * five airfields attacked;
 * two vedettes drowned;
 * four attacked garrisons;
 * three factories attacked.

Escadrilles
Since reactivation, in June 2012, there are 3 Escadrilles of the First World War which constitute the 2/30 instead of Escadrille Rouen, Le Havre and Cherboug:
 * SPA 91 Eagle with dead head;
 * SPA 92 Duck
 * SPA 97 Ermine fanion

Chasseur

 * Yak-1
 * Yak-9
 * Yak-3
 * De Havilland Mosquito
 * P-63 Kingcobra
 * Grumman F6F Hellcat
 * Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
 * S.N.C.A.S.E. SE-535 'Mistral'
 * SO.4050 Vautour
 * Mirage F-1C
 * Mirage F-1CT
 * Dassault Rafale

The Squadron Insignia is visible on all aircraft.

Liaison aircraft

 * Yak-7V
 * Polikarpov U2 Po2
 * Yak-6

Compagnon de la Libération
The guarding page of the Marching Journal of this formation keeps trace of that who wanted and allowed the creation of this elite formation.

French statement pronounced by a Frenchman:

"« Sur la Terre Russe martyrisée comme la Terre Française par le même ennemi, le régiment Normandie-Niémen, Mon Compagnon, soutient, démontre, accroît la gloire de la France »" . "(English translation: On this Russian Land which is martyred just like the French Land by the same enemy, the Regiment of Normandie-Niémen, My Companion, supports, showcases, and accentuates in crescendo the larger glory of France.)"

-Moscow, December 9, 1944, général Charles de Gaulle, President of the Provisionary Government of the French Republic, général Valin cited in : « Ce que voulait de Gaulle » (what de Gaulle wanted), Revue Icare, n° 62, Spring-Summer 1972.

Ambassadors of French Courage
French statement pronounced by a Russian:

"« Ambassadeurs du courage français »"

"(English translation: Ambassadors of French courage.)"

-Maréchal Alexander Novikov, Revue Icare, n° 62, Spring-Summer 1972

French decorations

 * Légion d'honneur
 * Ordre de la Libération (October 11 1943)
 * Médaille militaire
 * Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with 6 palms (273 downed aircraft)
 * Croix de guerre des Théâtres d'opérations extérieures 2 palms (1953)

Russian decorations

 * Hero of the Soviet Union (Héros de l'Union soviétique)
 * Order of Lenin (Ordre de Lénine)
 * Order of the Red Banner (Ordre du Drapeau rouge) (February 19, 1945)
 * Order of Alexandre Nevski (Ordre d'Alexandre Nevski) (June 5, 1945)
 * Order of the Patriotic War (Ordre de la Guerre patriotique)
 * Order of the Red Star (Ordre de l'Étoile rouge)
 * Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" (Médaille pour la victoire sur l'Allemagne dans la Grande Guerre patriotique de 1941-1945)

Cemetery
Funerary monuments, tombs of the Pilots and tombs of the unknown French soldiers of Normandie-Niémen are resting in the French Square (Carré français) of the Vvedenskoye Cemetery (Cimetière de la Présentation (Moscou)). The remains of six amongst them were repatriated to France in 1953.

Bibliographies

 * Maryvonne et René Gaudart, Pilotes du Normandie-Niemen (Pilots of Normandie-Niemen), d'après le journal de Roger Penverne dans l'Armée rouge (Based on the Journal of Roger Penverne in the Red Army), Éditions JPO, 2016, 500 p.
 * Alain Vezin, Régiment de Chasse Normandie Niemen (Hunter Regiment Normandie Niemen), Éditions ETAI, 2009, 208 p. (ISBN 978-2-7268-8888-9).
 * Yves Courrière, Normandie Niémen. Un temps pour la guerre, Paris, Presses de la Cité, 1979, 414 p. (ISBN 2-258-00590-6)
 * Roger Sauvage, Un du Normandie-Niemen, éditions J'ai lu Leur aventure, no A23, Paris, 1971, 372 p.
 * Yves Donjon, Ceux du Normandie-Niemen (Those of Normandie-Niemen).
 * Serguei Dybov, Normandie-Niemen. L'histoire complète d'un régiment légendaire, Moscou (The complete history of a legendary regiment, Moscow), Éditions Yaouza, 2011, 320 p.
 * Antoine Fouchet, « Normandie-Niemen enfin à l'honneur », La Croix, 7 octobre 2006 (en ligne [archive]).
 * Patrice Erler, L'ardente flamme, auto-édition, historique de 1942 à 2002.
 * Roland de la Poype, L'épopée du Normandie-Niémen, Paris, éditions Perrin, 2011, 268 p. (ISBN 978-2-262-03647-8)
 * Claude-Henry Leconte, André Moynet, Pilote de combat, Paris, éditions de la pensée moderne, 1955, 222 p.
 * François De Geoffre (photogr. collections privées des pilotes et Capitaine Eichenbaum), Normandie Niemen : Souvenirs d’un pilote (Souvenir of a Pilot), Paris, Editions André Bonne, 1958, 288 p., 19x14
 * Constantin Feldzer, On y va !, Boulogne, Axis, 1987, 482 p. (ISBN 2-905 814-03-9)
 * Jean de Pange, De Koufra... au Normandie-Niemen 1940-1945, Metz, éditions Serpenoise, 2011, 345 p. (ISBN 978-2-87692-885-5)
 * Christian-Jacques Ehrengardt, Normandie-Niemen, éditions Heimdal, 1989, 96 p. (ISBN 2-902-171-58-7)
 * Histoire de l'escadrille Normadie Niemen en U.R.S.S. Journal de marche (22 mars 1942 - 20 juin 1945), Paris, Office français d'édition, 1946, 203 p.
 * Icare N° 62 Revue de l'aviation française, Normandie Niémen. Tome I: Ce que voulait De Gaulle, l'entraînement à Ivanovo, les premiers disparus, Paris, printemps-eté 1972, 221 p.
 * Icare N° 63 Revue de l'aviation française, Normandie Niémen. Tome II: La bataille d'Orel, les mécaniciens, retour à Toula, Paris, automne-hiver 1972, 227 p.
 * Icare N° 64 Revue de l'aviation française, Normandie Niémen. Tome III: La Campagne 1944, les mécaniciens soviétiques, la visite du général de Gaulle, Paris, hiver-printemps 1973, 221 p.
 * Icare N° 65 Revue de l'aviation française, Normandie Niémen. Tome IV: La Campagne 1944, la Biélorussie, la bataille du Niémen, Paris, printemps 1973, 175 p.
 * Icare N° 67 Revue de l'aviation française, Normandie Niémen. Tome V: La Campagne 1945 en Prusse Orientale, Paris, hiver-printemps 1974, 137 p.
 * Icare N° 70 Revue de l'aviation française, Normandie Niémen. Tome VI: La Victoire, le retour en France, Paris, automne-hiver 1974, 163 p.

Escadron de chasse 2/30 Normandie-Niemen