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Jean Accart was born on the 7th of April 1912, he was to become one of the most popular French Aces of World War II. Originally Accart qualified as a Marine navigator and served aboard French transatlantic passenger liners. He volunteered for service with the French Fleet Air Arm and subsequently qualified as a land based pilot on the 3rd of March 1933. By the time World War II had broken out Accart was flying Hawks with GC I/5, this unit would claim 71 victories during the Battle Of France, losing only one pilot to enemy fire. On the 1st of June 1940 while intercepting a group of Luftwaffe bombers, Accart was hit by return fire, a bullet penetrating the windscreen of his fighter and lodged into his skull. Accart managed to free himself and parachuted to safety. While Accart was recovering from his injuries the Franco -German armistice came into effect, Accart escaped to Spain and then onto North Africa. Here as part of the Free French, Accart was asked to form a fighter group - No 345 Sqn, equipped with Spitfire's, this unit would go on to serve with great distinction over Normandy. Accart would go on to have a distinguished career with Nato, he retired as a General in 1973. Jean Accart finished the War with 12 victories. |
