Morane-Saulnier Ms.472 'Vanneau II'

 

The Morane-Saulnier Ms.472 'Vanneau II' (French word for 'Plover' - the bird) was the first production version of the Ms.470. It was a two-seat trainer used by the Armée de l'Air (French Air Force) from 1946 until the 1960s.

The Ms.472 was itself a developed version of the Ms.470 which was designed by Paul-René Gauthier during the German occupation. The Ms.470 pleased the newly re-established Armée de l'Air so much that they decided to adopt it as their standard two-seat trainer, under the condition of making some revisions. Such revisions were carried out and three prototypes were ordered, the first of which flew for the first time on 12th December 1945. A total of 230 production aircraft were manufactured by Morane-Saulnier at their factory in Puteaux, close to Paris. 

The Ms.472 was identical in many aspects to the Ms.470. However it had a slightly different fuselage section with horizontal stabilizers moved upwards and it was powered by a single Gnome-Rhône 14M 05 radial engine which yielded 690 hp of power at take off (though, according to some sources, the engine was rated at 700 hp). It was made out of metal and both crew members, trainee and instructor sitting in tandem under a long-glazed canopy and was armed with two 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine guns placed in the wings. It could also carry small bombs or rockets under the wings, if it was equipped with racks. 

It was introduced and delivered to the Armée de l'Air in December 1946 and they were employed in the light ground support role during the Algerian War of Independence until 1957 when they were replaced by the North-American T-6 Texan. 

The success of the Ms.472 attracted attention of the French Navy and, therefore a carrier borne variant was also developed for the Aéronavale (French Navy's air arm). This version, called Ms.474 'Vanneau IV' was identical to the Ms.472 but was equipped with an arrestor hook at the tail, which was often removed when operated from shore bases, and some minor modifications, like external chords. This variant flew for the first time on 27th February 1947, was powered by the same engine the Ms.472 was and was also armed with two MAC 1934 on the wings. A total of 70 machines were manufactured at Puteaux and, just like the Ms.472 it remained in service until the 1960s when they were replaced by other types.

Sources:

1. http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_morane_saulnier_MS472_vanneauII.html

2. http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_morane_saulnier_MS474_vanneauIV.html

3. https://www.valka.cz/Morane-Saulnier-MS-472-Vanneau-II-t167686

4. https://www.valka.cz/Morane-Saulnier-MS-474-Vanneau-IV-t167688

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morane-Saulnier_Vanneau

6. https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=911&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=931&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= (translated)

7. https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=912&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=931&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= (translated)