A 'new' Dewoitine D.520 on display. The fuselage is that of c/n 650, which was built in Toulouse for the Vichy French air force in 1942. It was at one time converted to two-seat trainer, but has been restored as a single-seater here at Rochefort. It is painted in the markings of naval fighter squadron AC-2, which received D.520s in 1940 in anticipation of the planned D.790 carrier variant. The unit was sent to French North Africa after the fall of France under Vichy control and saw action against the Allies, despite sporting a Donald Duck badge.

[Nikon D300 + Tokina 12-24/4]

This D.520 flew originally with the FFI (Frence Forces of the Interior - the pseudo-French resistance air force in the latter stages of WWII) Doret Fighter Group. After storage at Luxeuil and becoming part of this great museum, the plane was painted into the 1940 Battle of France mmarkings of Adj. Pierre Le Gloan, a French WWII flying ace. Unique in the annals of wartime flying, he scored victories against German, Italian and British forces. Flying in the Free French and Vichy French air forces, his exploits made him the only pilot to become a flying ace on both sides.

Credit: Ton van der Kleij.

With markings of French ace Pierre le Gloan who was credited of 18 victories (four German, seven Italian in 1940 and seven British in 1941 when serving French Armistice aviation during British attack in Syria).

This aircraft was at this time the unique worldwide flying aircraft of this type. Unfortunately completely destroyed in a dramatic accident on july 13 1986 at Vannes airfield killing its pilot C.Bove.

[Nikon D300 + Tokina 12-24mm/4]

Finally I got to see the Musée de l'Air's Dewoitine D.520. No 862 is painted as No 277, the usual mount of Adjudant Pierre Le Gloan during the Battle of France in 1940. In total, Le Gloan shot down at least 18 aircraft - four German, seven Italian, and then seven British fighters over Syria while serving the Vichy regime.

This aircraft is preserved in the Musee de l'Air et de l'Espace. This type first entered service early in 1940 after the start of WWII. It was the only aircraft available to the French that had a performance like the performance of its main adversary, the Me 109 but was only available in small numbers