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Free French Air Force badge


Tonomachi
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Here is yet another Free French badge worn apparently by Free French Air Force personnel. On the front the initials FAFI stand for Forces Aeriennes Francaises de L'Interieur. On the back you can barely make out DISPOSE and the maker DRAGO PARIS.

 

 

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The one pictured above is part of my collection but apparently there were variations as here is another I found on another forum. This one was also manufactured by DRAGO PARIS. These weren't pilot wings but resistance folks who were part of the Free French Air Force.

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  • 8 months later...

The badges pictured here are nice, but not exactly FAFL (Free French Air Force). The Free French designation (for Air Force units) applies only to units created in England after June 1940, and the Normandie Niemen Fighter Group which fought in Russia.

 

The FAFI (Forces Aériennes de l'Intérieur) were created mid-August 1944 in southern France right after the Provence landing. They used Dewoitine 520 aircraft found in the SNCASE plant in Toulouse. Their first mission took place on August 23rd in support of the FFI chasing the retreating German troops.

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The badges pictured here are nice, but not exactly FAFL (Free French Air Force). The Free French designation (for Air Force units) applies only to units created in England after June 1940, and the Normandie Niemen Fighter Group which fought in Russia.

 

The FAFI (Forces Aériennes de l'Intérieur) were created mid-August 1944 in southern France right after the Provence landing. They used Dewoitine 520 aircraft found in the SNCASE plant in Toulouse. Their first mission took place on August 23rd in support of the FFI chasing the retreating German troops.

Many thanks for the clarification.

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  • 3 years later...

Awesome piece of French Armee de L'air badge D. Thanks so much for sharing this excellent historic piece, commemorating French aerial combat history. This insignia represents the French pilots willing to take up any and all aircraft available to fight in unyielding resistance to tyrants and tyranny by the French! History is never without its irony though, as the French Revolution was the birthing nest of some of the most rapacious and bloody tyranny the world has ever seen. Thanks so much for posting D!

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