Curtiss Hawk H75 in Vichy France and Free French (June 1940 - July 1949)
After the retreat of the British from the continent, the Wehrmacht occupied northern France and the Luftwaffe took over the skies. Some French air units evacuated south. Many French pilots believed that West Africa would become a base from which to fight against German-occupied territories. But this hope was soon buried. Virtually all the army commanders in Africa recognized the terms of the armistice, and the airmen calmly awaited further developments. Opposition began to form in some units. French pilots began to think of fleeing to the British with their weapons.