Escape from France in a Potez 63/11
When France was negotiating the terms of its surrender in late June 1940, quite a number of pilots and crews of the Armeé de L’Air decided not to surrender and took the brave decision to defect to the UK, before the Armistice came in to affect. Three Frenchmen who took this opportunity included 2nd Lieutenant Daniel Neumann, (as pilot) his observer-navigator, Lieutenant André Jacob and Sergeant Marcel Morel, the radio operator-machine gunner. All three men were serving with Group de Reconnaissance GR 1/14, based at Bergerac airfield and equipped with twin-engined Potez 63-11 aircraft.
On Monday 24th June 1940, GR 1/14 had been ordered to move to Toulouse-Francazal after the formal surrender but as it was pouring with rain, the unit waited for a break in the weather. However, the bad weather was to the escapees’ advantage and at about 10.00 am Neumann and his crew quickly decided to take off in their Potez 63-11 No. 838 and head straight for England. Soon the aircraft disappeared in to clouds and headed north and after an uneventful flight of two hours fifty minutes, in awful weather, the crew unexpectedly saw Christchurch airfield, through the clouds. As they were almost out of fuel they decided to land and on arrival received a warm welcome from the Special Duty Flight personnel.
In view of the expected arrival of many French aircraft at this time, all RAF Stations were ordered to be on the lookout for them and re-direct them to RAF Andover, and possibly it was for this reason 2nd Lt Neumann was taken up by Fg Off Cliff Wright in Magister R1952, to familiarize him with the route. However, the Frenchmen did stay the night at Christchurch before flying on to RAF Andover the next day (and later to RAF Odiham). Presumably the two French officers were entertained in the Nelson Inn in Mudeford/Stanpit, as this was in use as the RAF Christchurch Officers Mess, while Sgt Morel was probably billeted with the RAF Sergeants.
Kindly written and contributed by Lawrence Hayward, Air Britain Historians Member. The information came from the Pilot's family.
Copyright Lawrence Hayward.
On Monday 24th June 1940, GR 1/14 had been ordered to move to Toulouse-Francazal after the formal surrender but as it was pouring with rain, the unit waited for a break in the weather. However, the bad weather was to the escapees’ advantage and at about 10.00 am Neumann and his crew quickly decided to take off in their Potez 63-11 No. 838 and head straight for England. Soon the aircraft disappeared in to clouds and headed north and after an uneventful flight of two hours fifty minutes, in awful weather, the crew unexpectedly saw Christchurch airfield, through the clouds. As they were almost out of fuel they decided to land and on arrival received a warm welcome from the Special Duty Flight personnel.
In view of the expected arrival of many French aircraft at this time, all RAF Stations were ordered to be on the lookout for them and re-direct them to RAF Andover, and possibly it was for this reason 2nd Lt Neumann was taken up by Fg Off Cliff Wright in Magister R1952, to familiarize him with the route. However, the Frenchmen did stay the night at Christchurch before flying on to RAF Andover the next day (and later to RAF Odiham). Presumably the two French officers were entertained in the Nelson Inn in Mudeford/Stanpit, as this was in use as the RAF Christchurch Officers Mess, while Sgt Morel was probably billeted with the RAF Sergeants.
Kindly written and contributed by Lawrence Hayward, Air Britain Historians Member. The information came from the Pilot's family.
Copyright Lawrence Hayward.