Naval History by Country : ROYAL NAVY US NAVY GERMAN NAVY FRENCH NAVY MORE PAGES

ALWAYS GREAT OFFERS : 20% FURTHER PRICE REDUCTIONS ON HUNDREDS OF LIMITED EDITION ART PRINTS BUY ONE GET ONE HALF PRICE ON THOUSANDS OF PAINTINGS AND PRINTS FOR MORE OFFERS SIGN UP TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER

Morane Saulnier 406

Name : Morane Saulnier 406 Manufacturer : Morane Saulnier Production Began : 1938 Retired : 0 Number Built : 1176

with war against Germany likely, the French Air Force placed an order for 1,000 aircraft in March 1938. Morane-Saulnier was unable to produce anywhere near this number at their own factory, so a second line was set up at the nationalized factories of SNCAO at St. Nazaire converted to produce the type. Production began in late 1938, and first flew on 29 January 1939. By April 1939, the production lines were delivering six aircraft a day, and when the war opened on 3 September 1939, production was at 11 a day with 535 in service. Production of the M.S.406 ended in March 1940, after the original order for 1,000 had been delivered to the French Air Force, and a further 77 for foreign users (30 for Finland and 45 for Turkey). The MS 406 equipped 16 Groupes de Chasse and three Escadrilles in France and overseas, and 12 of the Groupes saw action against the Luftwaffe. The aircraft was very manoeuvrable and could withstand heavy battle damage, but was outclassed by the Bf 109 and losses were heavy (150 aircraft lost in action and 250–300 lost through other causes). After the armistice, only one Vichy unit, GC. 1/7, was equipped with the MS. 406 Germany took possession of a large number of M.S.406s and the later M.S.410s. The Luftwaffe used a number for training, and sold off others. Finland purchased additional M.S.406s (as well as a few 406/410 hybrids) from the Germans, while others were passed off to Italy and some 48 to the Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia in 1943. Those still in French hands saw action in Syria against the RAF, and on Madagascar against the Fleet Air Arm. Both Switzerland and Turkey also operated the type; the Swiss actually downed a number of both German and Allied aircraft, 1944–45. Before the Pacific campaign proper, Vichy authorities in French Indochina were engaged in a frontier war against Thailand, during 1940–41. A number of M.S.406s stationed in Indochina downed Thai fighters before the French Air Force abandoned the theatre. Some examples of the M.S.406 were captured by the Thai Air Force. he M.S.406 had a parallel career in Finland. In February 1940, the first 30 French fighters were allocated to LeLv 28, commanded by Major Jusu. These aircraft received the Finnish designations MS-301 to MS-330. They were used in combat during the Winter War, against the USSR and carried out 259 operational sorties and shot down 16 Soviet aircraft. In modified form, the M.S.406 were later involved in the Continuation War. Between November 1939 and 4 September 1944, Lv28 scored 118 aerial victories flying the Morane M.S.406 (the unit flew Bf 109Gs for a time, as well). The unit lost 15 aircraft. Total Finnish kills were 121 . The top Morane ace in all theatres was W/O Urho Lehtovaara, with 15 of his 44.5 total kills achieved in Moranes. The Finnish nicknames were Murjaani ("moor" or "Negro"), a twist on its name, and Mätimaha and Riippuvatsa because of its bulged ventral fuselage.

Pilots and Aircrew for : Morane Saulnier 406
A list of all aircrew from our database who are associated with this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking their name.
Name	Info
Stehlik, J. Click the name above to see a profile of Stehlik, J.    Died : 30 / 5 / 1991	Stehlik, J. He started pilot training at the Elementary Pilot School in Prague in 1936. The next year he studied at non-officer school and later at the fighter school in Hradec Kralove. Until the German occupation he served as pilot instructor at No. 3 Air Regiment at Spisska Nova Ves. On 5 June 1939 he crossed the border with Poland . When the war began he was transferred to Chartres for training. On 1 December 1939 he was posted to Groupe de Chasse III/3 which was equipped with the Morane 406 and later re-equipped with the Dewoitine D-520. With these aircraft the unit took part in air battle over France. Stehlik he shot down four enemy planes solo and four more shared. Later in 1940 in the United Kingdom under the 312th Fighter Squadron and fought in the Battle of Britain. Together with Pilot Officer Alois Vašátko and F/L Denys Gillam, Sgt. Stehlík scored 312's first victory, a Junkers Ju 88 Wk No. 4068 coded 'M7+DK', of 2/KGr. 806 above Liverpool on 8 October 1940. He claimed a further victory on 14 March 1941 when he shared in a shoot down of a Ju88 over the sea. During offensive flights over France he added a damaged Bf109 and on the 10 July 1941 a probable Bf 109. He left operational flying in October and after a course for instructors at Upavon he became an instructor at Hullavington and from January 1942-February 1943 he served at Elementary and Secondary Flying Training Schools in Canada. In April 1943 he returned to No 312 (Czech) Squadron where he made several combat flights over occupied Europe. In early 1944 he joined the 1st Czechoslovak independent fighter aviation regiment in USSR. He was the commander of the 1st squadron. He participated the Slovak National Uprising. During the war he flew the Morane Saulnier MS-406C.1, Dewoitine D-520C.1, Hawker Hurricane Mk I, Mk.IIA, Mk.IIB, Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VB, Mk.VC and Lavochkin La-5FN. He was awarded five times the Czechoslovak War Cross, three Czechoslovak Medals for valor,the Medal of Merit (Czech Republic) I. and II. class, a commemorative medal of Czechoslovakian foreign armies (France, UK, USSR), he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre, with three palm branches and two gold stars, the Médaille militaire (Médaille commémorative des services volontaires dans la France libre). He was awarded by the British the 1939-1945 Star with Battle of Britain Clasp, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence Medal and War Medal. he claimed 12 victories (5 solo and 7 shared), 2 destroyed on the ground, 1 probable victory in cooperation and 1 enemy machine damaged

Last edited : 18:31, June 23, 2016
Last editor : HMS

Return to Aviation Directory Search Home

Everything we obtain for this site is shown on the site, we do not have any more photos, crew lists or further information on any of the ships. COPYRIGHT NOTICE. ALL IMAGES DISPLAYED ON THIS WEBSITE ARE PROTECTED BY  COPYRIGHT  LAW, AND ARE OWNED BY CRANSTON FINE ARTS OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.  NO REPRODUCTION OR COPYING ALLOWED ON OTHER WEBSITES, BOOKS OR ARTICLES WITHOUT PRIOR AGREEMENT.