The Montpellier Group,
Under French Skies

An MS.406 belonging to the "Montpellier Group," March 1940.

The first Polish-French-British discussions about the future of the Polish Air Force (PAF) started on 25 October 1939 in Paris. The Polish General Wladyslaw Sikorski did not want to disperse the Polish forces between France and Britain. Sikorski on the other hand preferred to attempt the reconstruction of the PAF in Great Britain. Both the French and British could, or would, not agree on an acceptable plan of action. These last two named countries wanted to form these new Polish aviation units concurrently, as this would allow for the formation of the Polish squadrons at a faster pace.    Eventually, there were suggestions that would allow for the formation of Polish squadrons at a faster pace. The Polish proposal was not accepted at this time because the Royal Air Force (RAF) could or would not accept so many foreign airmen into their ranks. General Sikorski abandoned the idea of trying to get the British to accept his proposal.   This initial talks received results on 29 December 1939. At a conference in the Ministry of the Armee de L'Air (French Air Force), there were discussions about the possibility of having the Polish pilots learning on French aircraft. The French General Perrier, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armee de L'Air, suggested the first Polish pilots start their training at the Centre d'Instruction d'Aviation de Chasse (C.I.A.C. , French Fighter School) in Montpellier. This plan was to begin on January 1940, with the training scheduled for four months.    The first group of Polish fighter pilots were assembled at a very fast rate at Bron aerodrome near Lyon, which also was the largest Polish aviation garrison in France. On 7 January 1940 there were nineteen Polish pilots, led by Captain (Cpt.) Stefan Laszkiewicz, that arrived at Montpellier.    Training on the French MS.406 fighter resulted in a shorter training period than expected by the French thinking of that period. The Polish pilot's training ended on 15 February 1940. The next day the "Montpellier Group" arrived back at Lyon-Bron. This early arrival of the "Montpellier Group" surprised the authorities of the airbase. While trying to decide what to do with the Polish pilots, a solution was found by giving the pilots from "Montpellier Group" free time for a holiday. Most of the pilots went to the Alps and enjoyed snow-skiing.    On 6 March 1940, the "Montpellier Group" started their advanced fighter training on the MS.406 at Lyon-Bron. Earlier to this date, happening on 17 February 1940, Poland and France signed an agreement to establish the newly reconstituted Polish Air Force in France. In this agreement there were provisions for the formation of the following Polish aviation units: two Groupes de Chasses (GC, fighter squadrons), and between one or two army cooperation escadrilles (flights).    By the begining of May 1940, the Polish/French agreement was ammended. The new aggrement would provide for six fighter, four army cooperation, and two bomber squadrons. Included in this new agreement there was a detail that provided for the pilots of the "Montpellier Group," who agreed to the transfer details, to be assigned to different French escadrilles.    These transfers were detailed for the accomplishing of their tactical and organizational incorporation within the allied units. These units were expected to stay for additional advanced training for another two months. After this time, the "Montpellier Group" was expected to return to Lyon-Bron and to become new entirely Polish fighter squadrons.    The author Grzegorz Slizewski can be reached at his e-mail address. MAIN INDEX     FRENCH INDEX     TOP     NEXT Home This page was last updated by the WebMeister on 8 October 1998, and all contents are strictly copyrighted to the WebMeister, Snow Leopard Productions, and the BSW Group of companies.