The Ms.406 was very manoeuvrable and could withstand high amounts of damage, potentially giving possible advantage against German fighters. However, overall, the Ms.406 was totally outclassed by the Bf.109E. Efforts to replace the type with a more capable type, like the Dewoitine D.520, the Curtiss H75 or even the improved Ms.410, failed to take place before the end of the Phoney War, on 10th May 1940, when Germany invaded. On the eve of the invasion, a total of 10 Groupés were equipped with the Ms.406, together with another amount of defensive units which were equipped with either the Ms.406 or the Bloch MB.152.
During the combat that followed that date, the Allied forces suffered a high attrition rate and couldn't keep with the level of damage sustained. Of the Ms.406 that faced the Germans, heavy losses were reported. One hundred and fifty aircraft were lost in action while a further 200-300 fighters were recorded to have been lost to other causes. The quick advance of the German army led to repeated retreats and abandonment of bases, rendering most of the repairing efforts chaotic and, in many times, forcing the crews to destroy their own fighters on the ground to prevent them from being captured. The Armée de l'Air's tactic of employing small group of fighters against larger German formations, proved to be mostly ineffective and, often, very expensive.
In combat against enemy fighters, the Ms.406 showed mixed results. While there are recordings showing some lucky victories against the much superior Bf.109E, it was generally outclassed by it. On this topic, the story of the Groupe de Chasse III/7 (fighter squadron III/7) was very typical. On 15th May 1940 nine Ms.406 encountered 12 Bf.109 over Meziéres. The Germans stayed some few thousands of feet above the French and dived down in pairs to attack, with a single firing pass, before climbing back and repeating the manoeuvre. Three Ms.406 spinned down in flames and only one French pilot could bail out, seriously wounded. A fourth Morane, full of bullets, crash-landed at Soissons and was wrecked. A fifth pilot, was wounded in the head by splinters, forcing him to land.
On 21st May seventeen Morane of the same unit, intercepted 50 Dornier Do.17 bombers escorted by other 50 Bf.109. Before the Morane could get in range to open fire, the Bf.109 jumped on then and shot down four Moranes almost at once. Two more resulted badly damaged and couldn't be repaired. The French pilots claimed two Bf.109 shot down.
The Ms.406 holds the distinction of being the most ineffective French fighter to served during the Battle of France, probably because of its low firepower. On 24th June, one day before the armistice, a Ms.406 flown by Sous Lt. Marchelidon, of the G.C. 1/2 scored the Armée de l'Air's last kill in the conflict.
The type was also used by the Polish Air Force in exile. It was the main fighter of the Groupe de Chasse I/145 'Varsovie', together with the Caudron C.714 (which was used mainly for training purposes) and the Bloch MB.152. This squadron was put into reserve at Mions, after the Lyon-Bron airport was struck twice by enemy air raids, on 10th May. However, two days later, as the Armée de l'Air needed every Ms.406 available, the squadron was re-equipped with the Caudron C.714, almost completely. However, some Polish pilots, achieved the ace status while flying the Ms.406.
Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morane-Saulnier_M.S.406
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_Air_Forces_in_France_and_Great_Britain
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I/145_Polish_Fighter_Squadron
4. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters
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