Pierre Le Gloan (6 January 1913 – 11 September 1943) was a French ace of World War II. Unique in the annals of wartime flying, he scored victories against German, Italian and British forces. He was killed in a landing accident in September 1943.
After he had won a civil aviation scholarship as teenager, he joined the French Air Force when he became 18. At the outbreak of the war he was stationed in the Rheims area where he shot down his first German aircraft, flying a Morane Saulnier M.406. When the Germans invaded France his unit was assigned to protect Belgium. On the 1st of Juni his unit was moved to the South of France to be re-equipped with the Dewoitine D.520. After Italy declared war to France on the 10th of June, Le Glaon's unit flew patrols to intercept the Italian Bombers.
Due to the military situation of France on 20 June GC III/6 was withdrawn to Algiers in Algeria. After the armistice between France and Germany, and the subsequent British attacks on the French navy, French forces in North Africa, including Le Gloan's unit, their former Allies, suddenly became their enemies.
In May 1941 GC III/6 was moved to Syria which was still a French colony. Allied troops had started attacks on Syria and Lebanon. By the 5th of June, before GC III/6 was moved back to Algiers again, Le Gloan had already shot 5 Hurricanes and one Gladiator.
During the operation Torch the French units did not oppose the Allied landing forces and soon the French forces in Afrika sided with the Allies. In May 1943 Le Gloan's unit, then renamed GC 3/6 Roussillon, was re-armed with new Bell P-39 Airacobra fighters. During a patrol over sea he made an attempt to perform a belly landing on the beach, after severe engine problem. During this landing the aircraft exploded, most likely because the belly tank was still attached.
During his unique combat career Pierre Le Gloan shot down 18 confirmed aircraft (four German, seven Italian and seven British), which made him the fourth leading French flying aces of the war. 14 of these victories were scored with the Dewoitine D.520. Untill his aircraft was lost in during a landing accident in Syria he flew the Dewoitine No.277, which was replaced by the Dewoitine No.300 after this accident.
Cheers,
Huub
Algiers 1940
Syria 1941
Algiers 1941