What happened to the French Air Force in ww2?

As a result, 12 air force and 11 navy pilots lost their lives in the final four days of combat between (Vichy) France and the Allies during World War II.

Who has the best air force in ww2?

The United States had the best air force in WWII. In fact the United States had the best air forces plural in WWII because the U.S. Navy’s air arm was almost as good as the USAAF. The army had a strategic component that put it out front, but the USN was probably better as a tactical air force than than the USAAF.

What did the Air Force do in ww2?

The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and de facto aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II (1941–1945).

Which country has the best pilots in ww2?

The most experienced fighter pilots, and the most successful at the start of the Battle of Britain were the Polish pilots who had got out after the Germans and Russians took over their nation in 1939.

Why was France so easily defeated in 1940?

Its failure was a result of a hopelessly divided French political elite, a lack of quality military leadership, rudimentary French military tactics. On the battlefield, France faced a vastly more prepared German army that utilized both more advanced weapons and sophisticated tactics.

Did French soldiers fight for Germany?

France and Britain declared war on Germany when Germany invaded Poland in September 1939. By the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, France had 1,250,000 troops, 10 divisions of which were fighting in Germany. An expeditionary corps was created to liberate French Indochina then occupied by the Japanese.

Was there an air force in WW2?

In its expansion during World War II, the AAF became the world’s most powerful air force. From the Air Corps of 1939, with 20,000 men and 2,400 planes, to the nearly autonomous AAF of 1944, with almost 2.4 million personnel and 80,000 aircraft, was a remarkable expansion.

Why did the air force separate from army?

As the East-West Cold War unfolded, it became clear that the formal military (AND intelligence and national security) institutions were either lacking or inappropriate for the new challenges, and in 1947, Congress passed and Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947, establishing a Department of Defense, adding …

What did the French Air Force do in WW2?

The French Air Force maintained a continuous presence across the French colonial empire, particularly from the 1920s to 1943. The French Air Force played an important role in WWII, most notably during the Battle of France in 1940.

Why didn’t the French have an Air Division in 1940?

The Air Division had demonstrated how effective air power could be as a flexible defensive and offensive weapon. In 1940, the French did not have enough fighters, they had no equivalent of the Air Division and were completely taken by surprise when the Luftwaffe turned their very similar VIII Air Corps on the French Army.

How many fighter jets does the French Air Force have?

The French Air and Space Force has 232 combat aircraft in service, with the majority being 130 Dassault Mirage 2000 and 102 Dassault Rafale. As of early 2017, the French Air and Space Force employs a total of 41,160 regular personnel.

How did the French develop a long-range bomber force?

Instead of building on the close air support tactics developed in the First World War, the French focused on developing a long-range deterrent bomber force. How fast, how far, and how many tons bombers could carry became the yardstick for measuring French air strength.