Strange D.520

[TISO]

i found these in italian photo archive with caption "captured British plane" (Apparecchio inglese catturato nell’estate 1941). I thought He, he, he a good one but then started to look a roundel colors. Could it be a RAF cocarde?

http://www.televignole.it/foto-storie-guerra-57/

 

 

 

 

 

[Vesa Jussila]

I would say misidentification. Typical French markings.

[Giorgio N]

Markings are of the Aeronavale Escadrille 1 AC. IIRC this unit was based in Syria and when this fell a number of Vichy French aircraft flew to Rhodes. This may be one of them 

[Graham Boak]

Possibly on orthohcromatic film where reds look dark and blues light.

[TISO]

29 minutes ago, Graham Boak said:

Possibly on orthohcromatic film where reds look dark and blues light.

My guess also.

[brewerjerry]

Hi  

    similar photo here 

     part way down page 

 

 

 

https://falkeeinsgreatplanes.blogspot.com/2010/02/dewoitine-d520-cockpit.html?m=1

 

 

 

cheers

   jerry 

 

Edited April 25, 2020 by brewerjerry

[Graham Boak]

 But no yellow nose or other Vichy markings.  Not, I suspect, after the Syrian campaign but earlier.  Possibly one of the aircraft transferred to the Regia Aeronautica after the Armistice?

 

PS.  No.  See below.

Edited April 26, 2020 by Graham Boak

[Graham Boak]

In Shore's Dust Clouds in the Middle East, 1AC are shown leaving for Syria from a North African base, and lacking the gaudier Vichy markings, although that white strip on the fuselage is an earlier Vichy requirement.  Two are known to be lost and four flew out to Rhodes at the end of the campaign.  So yes, one of these.

 

I also have Chris Ehrengardt's later fuller account, but I suspect the basic facts will remain, although possibly with more photos?

[FalkeEins]

Flottille  F1 C (French naval air arm)  machine based in Algeria (Oran) late 1940..nine of them flew to North Africa on June 25, 1940 and were 'organised' into two escadrilles 1AC and 2AC. Flew escort for two 'raids' on Gibraltar. Aircraft from 1 AC were briefly deployed to Syria and flew back to Morocco in late April 1942 which is where they were when the Allies landed in North Africa.