Рет қаралды 48,907
The Dewoitine 520 is a legendary French aviation aircraft. A device with elegant lines produced in the Toulouse factories, it was the best fighter available to the French air force to try to resist the German invasion in May and June 1940. "Too little, too late", people often write about it: delivered in too small numbers, it could not have a significant impact on the fighting despite good results. He then served in the Vichy regime's air force and fought against the British air force in Syria in 1941, then against the Anglo-American air force during Operation Torch during the Allied landings in North Africa. in November 1942. Many Dewoitines, captured by German troops in the southern zone, were then used by the Luftwaffe in its flight schools, but also in combat by Axis satellite countries in 1943 and 1944, in the Italian and Bulgarian air forces, attacking American bombers. It then ended its operational career in 1944 and 1945 by being returned to service by the French Forces of the Interior against fleeing German troops.
David Méchin, aeronautics historian, will tell you the history of this device in this four-part video series:
Part 1: From design to production of the Dewoitine 520 in Toulouse.
Part 2: May-June 1940, the Dewoitine 520 in combat against the Luftwaffe.
Part 3: The Dewoitine 520 in the service of the Axis (1941-1944)
Part 4: The Dewoitine 520 of the French Forces of the Interior (1944-1945)