French Bombers of WW2 in Action

By Alain Pelletier

Squadron/Signal Publications, ©2003

ISBN 0-89747-458-9

50 pages

Reviewed By Michael Benolkin

This new title from Squadron/Signal bridges another hole in aviation history. Where we've seen references and kits of French fighters developed prior to the French capitulation to Germany, this new book addresses bomber development during this same period.

Durnig this era, there were four principal designers in the bomber arena, Felix Amiot, Marcel Bloch, Liore & Olivier (LeO) and Farman.

Amiot developed the model 143M and Model 350 B4 Series. While a number of these aircraft were built, they were not available in sufficient numbers to make any difference when the Germans crossed the border.

The company founded by Marcel Bloch (after the end of the war, he would change his last name to Dassault and the rest there is history) would produce the Model 131, Model 175 and Model 210.

LeO developed the Model 451, while Farman's Model 222 rounded out the field.

This title provides a good look in photographs and a nice history behind each of these aircraft types. As usual with the 'in action' series, the centerfold contains beautiful color profiles of the aircraft covered in this title. One interesting profile to catch my eye is the Leo 451 that was captured and painted in German colors for transport duties, then captured by the US in Sicily, re-marked and used as a squadron 'hack'.

This title will fill an interesting gap in your aviation references, whether you're a modeler, aviation historian, or both.

My sincere thanks to Squadron/Signal Publications for this review sample!

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