Morane-Saulnier MS.406 Aces (Osprey)
The Morane-Saulnier MS.406 was the most widely produced French fighter of its time and the first modern aircraft in service with the Armée de l'Air.
Comparable to the British Hurricane and early German Bf 109 models, it was clearly inferior to the faster and more powerful Bf 109E. With no armour and no self-sealing fuel tanks, the MS.406 suffered heavy losses during the Battle of France.
Its light armament and unreliable guns made it difficult to bring down German bombers. As a result, only a small number of French pilots achieved ace status on this type, despite its large presence in frontline units.
However, several pilots who scored their first victories in the MS.406 continued to fight after France fell, later flying D.520s, Spitfires or Soviet Yak-3s and earning ace status against both Allied and Axis forces.
Contents:
- Phoney War
- Battle of France
- Vichy Service
- Winter War
- Continuation War
Appendices:
- French aces who claimed victories with the MS.406
- Finnish MS.406 aces
- Finnish aces who scored some victories on the MS.406
- Colour plate captions.
Product details
| Author: | Kari Stenman, Christian-Jacques Ehrengardt |
|---|---|
| Details: | 96 pages, 9.8 x 7.5 x 0.24 in (25 x 19 x 0.6 cm), paperback |
| Illustrations: | photos and drawings (in b&w and color) |
| Language: | English |
| Publisher: | Osprey Publishing (GB, 2014) |
| Series: | Aircraft of the Aces (121) |
| ISBN: | 9781782003410 |
