French Naval Aircraft Wreck - Aircraft of World War II

tac-67 · 11-02-2009, 10:42 PM

Another photo from my collection, appears to be a French naval aircraft. I cannot make out the type on the tail. Anyone know the type and story of this aircraft? Enjoy!

verner · 11-02-2009, 11:04 PM

Looks to be a Lateceore 298

vikingBerserker · 11-02-2009, 11:35 PM

I do believe Verner is spot on.

tac-67 · 11-02-2009, 11:59 PM

Now as I look at the photo, after seeing Verner's profile photo, I see what appears to be the back end of one of the floats. Thanks for the reply.

Arsenal VG-33 · 11-03-2009, 07:42 PM

verner is correct...it is indeed a Latecoere 298, a torpedo bomber designed for coastal and anti-submarine patrols. They were thrown into the fray during 1940 strafing German ground columns in the vicinity of Boulogne and the Somme, which was really not the role it was designed for.

More info here:

Latécoère 298 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

edit - further research reveals that on May 23rd, 1940 this aircraft was most likely belonged to either the French fleet air arm T2 or T3 squadrons (both of which flew into action on that day and both based at Cherbourg) They attacked the German troops with 10 Latécoère 298 seaplanes, armed with machineguns and their torpedo bays armed with 500 kg bomb loads. 4 aircrafts were shot down, the one pictured above is obviously one of them.

Bernhart · 11-04-2009, 08:10 AM

looks like it's been there a while, long grass under the wing and really short around the wing

11-02-2009, 11:35 PM	#3
vikingBerserker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 3,722	I do believe Verner is spot on. __________________ "Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it" "Those who dwell in the past, condemn the future"

11-03-2009, 07:42 PM	#5
Arsenal VG-33 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 312	verner is correct...it is indeed a Latecoere 298, a torpedo bomber designed for coastal and anti-submarine patrols. They were thrown into the fray during 1940 strafing German ground columns in the vicinity of Boulogne and the Somme, which was really not the role it was designed for. More info here: Latécoère 298 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia edit - further research reveals that on May 23rd, 1940 this aircraft was most likely belonged to either the French fleet air arm T2 or T3 squadrons (both of which flew into action on that day and both based at Cherbourg) They attacked the German troops with 10 Latécoère 298 seaplanes, armed with machineguns and their torpedo bays armed with 500 kg bomb loads. 4 aircrafts were shot down, the one pictured above is obviously one of them. __________________ You'll live. Only the best get killed. - Charles de Gaulle England is a former colony gone horribly wrong. - Georges Clemenceau Last edited by Arsenal VG-33; 11-03-2009 at 07:51 PM.

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11-02-2009, 11:59 PM	#4
tac-67 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 16	Now as I look at the photo, after seeing Verner's profile photo, I see what appears to be the back end of one of the floats. Thanks for the reply.

11-04-2009, 08:10 AM	#6
Bernhart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 202	looks like it's been there a while, long grass under the wing and really short around the wing