Morane-Saulnier Ms.230, foreign users, part one.

 

The Morane-Saulnier Ms.230 was a French military elementary trainer aircraft that was used by France, but by another countries too:

• Belgium: During the early years of the Belgian Aéronautique Militaire (Military Aeronautics), they saw themselves in the need of an advanced aeronautic basic trainer. That's why they bought 5 or 6 (numbers change depending on the source) Ms.230 from France, back in 1931.
  As the type satisfied Belgian authorities, they ordered additional 19 machines, this time powered by a single Armstrong Whitworth Lynx 4C radial engine which yielded 215 hp of power. This engine was slightly less powerful than the original Salmson 9AB with its 230 hp. 
  These new machines were branded as Morane-Saulnier Ms.236 and were manufactured by SABCA in Brussels. The engine switch was chosen for communality as the Lynx was already powering other Aéronautique Militaire airplanes such as the SV.22, SV.26, RSV 22/215, Avro 626 Prefect and, the Avro 504N, albeit it had a less powerful version. Most Ms.230 and 236 were employed by piloting school at Wevelgem, and by 1937 all every Ms.230 had been withdrawn from service. The remaining Ms.236 were kept active until the eve of the World War 2. However, many of them were used as communications aircraft in 1939-1940. 
• Brazil: Apparently Brazil had an unknown number of Ms.230. Some sources claim it was nine of them. However, we couldn't find graphical info, nor textual one, so the drawing shown below should be considered as speculative.
• Czechoslovakia: After World War 2, many ex-Luftwaffe (which acquired them as was prizes) Ms.230 were employed by private aeroclubs in Czechoslovakia, one of them was Medlánky Aeroclub, located in the city of Brno. They used the type from 1948 until 1957. Nowadays there's one Ms.230 shown at the Prague's Aviation museum painted in French colours.
• Germany: During the late 1930s some private German owners owned at least 5 Ms.230 as their private airplanes. After the fall of France, many Ms.230 were captured by the Germans, which pushed them into service in their elementary flying schools. Apparently they were used during the whole World War 2.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morane-Saulnier_MS.230

2. https://www.belgian-wings.be/morane-ms230-ms236

3.http://www.airhistory.org.uk/gy/reg_D-a16.html

4.http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_morane_saulnier_MS230.html

5. https://alchetron.com/Morane-Saulnier-MS.230

6. http://www.cs-letectvi.cz/imatrikulace/morane-saulnier-ms-230-ok-qhl-id-b4271 (translated)

Caudron C.440 Goéland, Foreign Users Part One

 

The Caudron C.440 Goéland (French word for "seagull") and its derivatives, was a French twin-engined utility aircraft of the 1930s decade that saw service with various users abroad:

• Belgium: Caudron-Renault showcased the Goéland at Evere airfield, in Brussels on 11th March 1936. In the following June, the Belgian government signed a contract for the purchase of two C.444, powered by two Renault 6Q engines, which yielded 220 hp of power each. 
  Both aircraft were delivered to the 3eme Régiment of the Aviation Militaire (Belgian Military Aviation), based at Evere in September/October of that same year. The Goéland was intended to be used as a trainer for the fast reconnaissance and bomber aircraft the Aviation Militaire was planning to acquire. In 1938 both Goélands received civilian registrations in order to allow them to fly in foreign skies. When Germany invaded Belgium in May 1940, both machines were flown to Tours, in France, and then to Merignac airport, in Bordeaux, where they were intended to train Belgian crews before they converted to the Lioré-et-Olivier LeO.45 medium bomber. The fate of these machines is unknown, but they were most likely captured by the Germans.
• Bulgaria: Bulgaria ordered three Caudron C.444 from France back in 1936, the first of which was delivered that same year. However, as Bulgarian authorities weren't satisifed with the performance of the aircraft, the order was cancelled and the sole aircraft was returned to France. Bulgari allocated three civilian registrations for these machines, LZ-REA, LZ-REB and LZ-REC.
• Germany: The Luftwaffe was the biggest foreign user of the Goéland, with more than 750 newly-built machines plus many more captured ones when France fell. In fact, the Goéland was the most produced aircraft in French factories during the German occupation. They saw service with many Luftwaffe units as utility airplanes and crew trainers and were employed in North Africa, Western and Eastern Fronts. Some were reportedly operated by Deutsche Lufthansa too.
• Italy: A total of nine Goélands served with the Italian Regia Aeronautica (Royal Italian Air Force). They were acquired by the Italians during summer 1943 from Salon-de-Provence airfield, Southern France, and were assigned to the Scuola Volo Senza Visibilitá (Blind Fliyng School) at Cameri, North-Western Italy. After the Italian armistice all nine of them were captured by the Luftwaffe.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caudron_C.440_Goéland

2. https://www.belgian-wings.be/caudron-c-444-goeland

3. http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/bulgaria/af/types/misc.htm

4. http://falkeeins.blogspot.com/2015/08/caudron-c-445-goeland-zg-1-stg-1-rs.html

5. Bancarella Aeronautica - Ali Straniere in Italia 5 - Aerei Francesi nella Regia Aeronautica

Junkers Ju.52, some European users

 

The Junkers Ju.52/3m is a German cargo and passenger aircraft so successful that it was exported to many countries, among them, the following European ones:

• Austria: The ÖLAG (acronym for Österreichische Luftverkehrs AG - the main Austrian airline between the years 1923 and 1938) ordered a total of 7 Junkers Ju.52/3m between 1935 and 1938 as part of their joint venture with Deutsche Lufthansa (DLH). One aircraft, registered as OE-LAL was lost to an accident on 16th March 1936 and the remaining six machines were taken over by DLH when ÖLAG was bought by Lufthansa on 31st December 1938.
  The Österreichische Luftstreitkräfte (Austrian Air Force) had three Ju.52/3m in service. They formed the core of I. Nachtbomberstaffel (1st Night Bomber Flight) based in Vienna. After the Anschluss (the annexation of Austria into Germany) they were all pressed into the Luftwaffe.
• Belgium: The Belgian Société anonyme Belge d'Exploitation de la Navigation Aérienne (SABENA - Belgian national airline) bought five Junkers Ju.52/3m in the mid 1930s which constituted the backbone of their passenger fleet. One was assigned for operations in the Belgian Congo (as we saw in a previous post).
  They were used in most of their European routes which, using Brussels Haren airport as the main hub, went to Copenhagen, Malmö, Berlin and other European destinations. One of them, registerd as OO-AUB crashed close to the the town of Ostend, at the Belgian coast on 16th November 1937 killing all 12 people on board the airplane, some of which were members of the Hesse royal family. The airplane was on its way to London from Munich when, because of bad weather, it had to be diverted to Steene aerodrome to land. The airplane hit the chimney of a brick factory, crashed and bursted into flames. 
  
• Bulgaria: In 1938, the main Bulgarian airline, Bulgarski Vuzdushni Linii (BVL) acquired two Ju.52/3m, which after the outbreak of the World War 2, they were pressed into service with the Royal Bulgarian Air Force. Those were followed by two more during 1942 and by several captured ones at the end of the conflict (some sources claim that in January 1945 the Royal Bulgarian Air Force had up to 12 Ju.52/3m in inventory). 
  After the War, they were the backbone of the Air Communications Directorate, the forerunner of TABSO, the main Bulgarian Airline of the post-war, and served in various aerial routes until they were gradually replaced by the Russian Lisunov Li-2, with the last Ju.52/3m being replaced in 1950.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Junkers_Ju_52_operators

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabena

3. https://www.flugzeugforum.de/threads/erstes-oesterreichisches-bundesheer.60691/ (translated)

4. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ÖLAG (translated)

5. https://rzjets.net/aircraft/?page=5&typeid=354

6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1937_Sabena_Junkers_Ju_52_Ostend_crash

7. http://www.airgroup2000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3314

8. https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/Гражданска_авиация_в_България (trnaslated)

9. https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/Дирекция_„Въздушни_съобщения“ (translated)

10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkan_Bulgarian_Airlines

Avro 504N - European Users

Th Avro 504N was an improved version of the Avro 504K, with a new engine and some other aerodynamical changes which consisted on a new undercarriage, new wings, a new engine and the removal of the skid. Some internal improvements were also made like the inclusion a direct gravity feed for gas.

It was used by many European countries as it became their standard trainer airplane and it was license built in Belgium by SABCA during the late 1920s until mid-1930s, and in Greece by the Kratiko Ergostasio Aeroplanon (State Aircraft Factory) from 1934 until 1935.

It was powered by either a 150hp or 180hp Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IV engine.

• Belgium: It was the backbone of their trainer squadrons during the 1930s decade. Some of them were still in service when Germany invaded Belgium in May 1940.
• Denmark: The 504N was also the main trainer of the Royal Danish Air Corps during the late 1920s until the mid 1930s. It's worth to mention that these airplanes were equipped with a cowling in the back seat in order for the student to learn how to "blind pilotage".
• Greece: The Greeks ordered some 504N in 1925. 
• Sweden: In December 1925 the Swedish Army Aviation Company ordered five 504N which were delivered in April 1926. They served under the denomination of Sk-3 and Sk-3A in the Flying School at Ljungbyhed. Surprinsingly, they served only until 1928 as they couldn't cope wheel with the harsh cold Swedish weather.
• United Kingdom: The 504N replaced the 504K as the main RAF trainer during the 1920s.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_504

2. http://www.natureandtech.com/?cat=109

3. http://forum.valka.cz/topic/view/108754

4. http://greek-war-equipment.blogspot.com.es/2010/10/1920-1936-avro-504.html

5. http://www.avrosys.nu/aircraft/Skol/403sk3/403Sk3.htm

6. http://aviadejavu.ru/Site/Crafts/Craft33477.htm (translated)