Morane-Saulnier Ms.406, Free French and Vichy France users

 

After the French armistice on 25th June 1940 and the establishment of Vichy France in July that same year, the Armée de l'Air underwent a major re-organization. This way, the Groupe de Chasse I/6, based at Marseille and equipped with the Ms.406, was dissolved on 30th October 1940. The Armée de l'Air de l'Armistice (Vichy France's Air Force) kept just 6 groups on mainland territory all of them equipped with the Bloch Mb.152. In North Africa there were based another 6 groups with either the Dewoitine D.520 or the Curtiss H-75 (The best fighters that France had back then). The Groupe de Chasse I/7, based in Rayak, Lebanon and the Escadrille de Chasse 2/595 (an unit composed of just 9 aircraft which sits between the group and the flight unit in terms of strength) based in Bach Maï, Tonkin. Thanks to the dissolution of some squadrons in the mainland, a new group (Groupe Aerién Mixte) was created in Madagascar, while others were sent to flying schools, in the French mainland. 

During the Lang Son incident, between 22nd and 25th September 1940, one Ms.406 was severely damaged by a Japanese Nakajima Ki-27 in flight when escorting a formation of outdated Potez Po.25TOE. One Japanese bomber was shot down during those days by Sgt. Labussière. However, it was never officially recognised to avoid diplomatic tensions with Japan.

During the Franco-Thai War in October 1940, on 10th October, seven Ms.406 were sent to Tourane (nowadays Da-Nang), to form a new fighter escadrille, the EC 2/595. The first sortie of this unit took place on 23rd November 1940. By 18th January 1941, the Armée de l'Air de l'Armistice in Indochina had no more than 14 Ms.406 and, when the combats ceased on 28th January, the French scored 4 victories for two Ms.406 destroyed on ground by bombardments. The next year, in 1942, every Ms.406 present in Indochina was vastly overhauled due to the lack of spare parts.

On another theatre of war, Middle-East, the British and Commonwealth Forces launched an attack on 15th May 1941 against Syria. This attack began with an aerial attack against the airfields present in that region. During that campaign the French pilots of the G.C. I/7 (based in Rayak, Lebanon and equipped with the Ms.406) clashed against the Gloster Gladiator and Fairey Fulmar fighters of the Royal Air Force, but their main task was to support ground troops until the region capitulated on 14th July 1941. After switching sides and joining the Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres (Free French Air Forces) the G.C. I/7 was dissolved and replaced on 15th September 1941 by the Groupe de Chasse Alsace which was initially composed of fourteen Ms.406 (two of which were unusable) and six aircraft of other types. This unit remained in Rayak, tasked with the defence of the Lebanese coast, until the outdated Ms.406 were replaced by, also outdated, Hawker Hurricane Mk.I fighters in January 1942.

Madagascar was invaded on 5th May 1942 by Commonwealth forces. During this battle, the Escadrille 565 present at Antananarivo had 17 or 18 Ms.406 in strength, with only 11 machines available, including a permanent detachment present at Diego Arrachart airfield located in the town of Diego Suarez, in the far north of Madagascar. Those Ms.406 took part on ground attacks against Commonwealth and South African troops and were, therefore, the last Ms.406 which fought with the French roundel. Piloting one of those fighters, bearing the number 995, Jean Assolant, former pilot of the l'Oiseau Canari (literally 'the canary bird' a Bernard 190T airliner modified in 1929 to non-stop cross the Atlantic Ocean) was shot down and killed on 7th May 1942 by Grumman Martlets belonging to 881 Naval Air Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm which had taken off from HMS Illustrious (87).

Sources:

1. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morane-Saulnier_MS.406#La_défense_de_l'empire (translated)

2. http://www.traditions-air.fr/index.htm

3. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters