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Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today, I am presenting a new aircraft used by the FAFL (Free French Air Force) during the Second World War: the Boston Mk.III.
Following the French surrender in 1940, French military personnel found themselves in an extremely difficult position. While some continued to follow the orders of the Vichy government, others considered the continuation of the fight against Germany to be their primary duty. Several groups of soldiers and airmen therefore broke away and joined the Free French Forces, determined to continue the war alongside the Allies.
Among these units was a group of French pilots based in Chad. This formation would eventually become the famous Lorraine Bomber Group, initially composed of the Metz and Nancy squadrons. Equipped with Bristol Blenheim bombers, the group carried out numerous operations against Axis forces in North Africa before being placed under Allied command and transferred to the United Kingdom.
Once in Britain, the unit was incorporated into the Royal Air Force and became No. 342 Squadron, also known as the Lorraine Squadron. The French crews were subsequently equipped with new and more modern aircraft, including the Douglas Boston Mk.III. Derived from the DB-7 family, an aircraft originally ordered by France before the war, the Boston became the main combat aircraft of the squadron and would remain closely associated with its wartime operations.
The Boston Mk.III was particularly well suited to the missions assigned to the Lorraine Squadron. Its speed, relatively heavy bomb load, and ability to operate at low altitude made it an effective platform for precision bombing missions. French crews were frequently tasked with attacking strategically important targets in occupied France, including power stations, industrial facilities, and armament factories. Although many of these operations were successfully completed, the Lorraine Squadron paid a heavy price. Several Boston crews were shot down during these low-level attacks.
The Boston Mk.III also played an important role during the Normandy landings in June 1944. Rather than carrying out conventional bombing missions, French Bostons were tasked with laying smoke screens ahead of the Allied naval forces approaching the beaches. The smoke helped conceal the ships from German observation and reconnaissance aircraft, contributing to the protection of the invasion fleet during one of the largest military operations in history.
Following the liberation of France and the end of the war in Europe, the Boston gradually became obsolete as newer aircraft became available. The Lorraine Squadron eventually transitioned to the B-25 Mitchell and later to the de Havilland Mosquito, particularly as the unit moved toward a new role as a night-fighter squadron.
The FAFL operated two versions of the Boston, the Mk.III and the Mk.IV, which differed in several respects. First, regarding the nose glazing: the Boston Mk.III featured a multi-pane glass canopy, whereas the Mk.IV had a larger Plexiglas nose section. Second, regarding armament: the Mk.III carried two machine guns mounted on either side of the forward fuselage in specially designed fairings, and its defensive armament consisted of 7.7mm machine guns. The Mk.IV, by contrast, lacked fuselage-mounted machine guns; instead, its defensive armament comprised a dorsal turret equipped with twin 12.7mm machine guns.
Characteristics
Length : 14.63 m
Width : 18.68 m
Height : 5.52 m
Mass :
- Empty : 7 272 kg
- Full : 10 944 kg
The aircraft is powered by two Wright R-2600-A5B engines, each producing 1,600 hp, allowing it to reach a top speed of 510 km/h and a service ceiling of 7,200 m. Its range at a cruising speed of 450 km/h is 1,520 km.
The crew consists of four personnel: a pilot, an observer/navigator in the nose, a radio operator/gunner in the upper position, and a gunner in the lower position.
Weapons
The aircraft’s armament is good yet somewhat limited, though still sufficient to defend against various threats.
Defensive armament:
- 1 x Twin Browning 7.7mm machine gun (top-mounted place)
- 1 x 7.7mm Vickers machine gun (mounted under the fuselage, aft of the bomb bay)
Offensive armament:
- 2 x Twin Browning 7.7mm machine guns
- 4 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs
In-game, this aircraft would be an interesting addition to the French tree, introducing a light bomber with strong flight performance to the early ranks; this would offer a new gameplay style and, above all, provide an iconic FAFL aircraft.
Pictures
Sources
- Consulter les archives en ligne
- Groupe de bombardement 1 « Lorraine », Squadron 342 | Expositions du Service historique de la Défense - Ministère des Armées
- Bernard Canut - Fondation de la France Libre
- Musée de la résistance en ligne
- LES EQUIPAGES DU GROUPE “LORRAINE SQUADRON 342” - HALIFAX GROUPES LOURDS FRANCAIS SQUADRONS 346 et 347 R.A.F