Marcel is in the center of this photo.

Marcel and his fellow aviators are unaware in this photo of the future a head of them. Little would they imagine that they would be fighting the German Luftwaffe from airfields in Russia flying Yak's. After the fall of France which was unheard of.

Marcel Albert

Yak-9 fighter on display

Another great photo of a Dewontine D-520 and the dashing young Marcel

CAPTAIN MARCEL O. ALBERT
Print By Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette 
Limited Edition Print
12" X 18"
Price: $60.00

Top French Ace of WW II 

Limited Edition prints are signed and numbered by the artist and signed by the aviator.  Also available in Open Edition prints which are signed by the artist for $25.00

Marcel Albert was born in Paris in 1917. Marcel developed an interest in aviation and joined the military and entered flight training in at the Caudron Flight School at Anberieu, near Leon. He received his wings as a Sergeant in May 1938.

He was then sent to Istres for advanced flight training and combat tactics. His first post was the Centre Instruction Chasse at Chartres. Here he flew the French-built Bloch 152, the Morane-Saulnier 406, and the American-built Curtiss Hawk 75.

On September 1^st 1939, Germany invaded Poland and tensions in Europe where high. Marcel was posted to Escadrille GC I/3 in February 1940. Here he flew the new Dewontine 520, France’s newest fighter.

After the fall of France Marcel Albert and other French aviators left France for either North Africa or England. Albert flew briefly for his country (France) flying an English Spitfire in the RAF. Marcel and other French pilots along with their ground crews joined together and formed the Free French Air Force.

Albert and the group went to Russia to help the Russians in their war against Germany on the eastern front. The group was known as the Normandie-Niemen. Marcel had already fought the German Luftwaffe when they invaded France in 1940. At first fifteen Free French pilots signed up. The leader was Joseph Pouliquen who was a commander of a unit in North Africa. Second in command was Captain Jean Tulasne who was stationed in Africa in Cairo. The first group numbered 62 including interpreters, technicians and a doctor.

Marcel shot down one German aircraft and assisted in the downing of others as the Blitzkrieg raced over the borders of France. The fighter he first fought the Germans in was the Dewoitine D.520. After the fall of France he escaped with many of his fellow pilots to England and flew against the Luftwaffe as the Free French Air Force. The group then moved to Russia and helped the Russians fight the Germans flying Russian fighter aircraft.

Marcel remembers temperatures ranging from 30 to 40 degrees below zero! The group trained in the two seated version of the Yakovlev-7 and the Yak-1B fighter. Marcel and the other French pilots fell in love with the Yak-1B. The fighter was constructed with steel tubing and fabric covering, light metal alloys, and wood. The engine was powerful which gave the Yak speed, easily maneuverable, and well armed with small cannon and twin machine guns.

Marcel claims that the Yak-1B cruised faster than a Spitfire and had better climbing capabilities. This made the Yak superior to the Bf 109 in climbing rate. The Yak could also turn inside the FW 190 and the Bf 109 at low altitudes. The recollections of the French pilots that flew the Yak-1 was, "It was like flying a kite". The French pilots were eager to engage Luftwaffe pilots in combat.

The French Squadron joined the Soviet 303rd Air Division at Polotniani-Zavod airfield, located southwest of Moscow. On March 26, Marcel, and fellow squadron mates, da la Poype, and Risso flew the first sortie when they were scrambled after a reconnaissance aircraft that was never contacted.

On April 5 two pilots shared the shoot down of a FW-190 as they flew fighter cover for a raid of Petlyakov Pe-2 bombers. This was the first aerial victory for the group. The aviators were Albert Durand and Albert Prezisosi. Conditions from field to field worsened as the group moved with the advancing Russia Army as it gained ground back from the Germans. The movement was always further west.

The mechanics worked as much as fourteen hours every day. The extended time required to have aircraft flying in low temperature conditions was strenuous. For the pilot, the Yak was not equipped with all-weather instruments and the radio system was less reliable as the system the pilots had used in the past. As the unit moved over and over in their push to the western border of the Soviet Union the conditions of the bases were nothing more than farm fields with makeshift buildings with no water, no electricity, no roads, nothing!

By mid-summer 1943 the skies over western Russia was controlled by the Soviet Air Force including the Normandie-Niemen group. Losses in the regiment was thinning the ranks. New recruits from North Africa joined the group and blended into the routine. At this time the unit was trading their Yak-1s for the newer Yak-9 fighter. In July the French ground crews flew to North Africa and the new replacements as mechanics and technicians were Russia with their experience on the Yak-9 aircraft.

As the unit moved forward chasing the Germans out of Russia, the pilot's mechanic would sit in a hollow area behind the pilot. As the unit flew forward to a new field they carried everything the group needed. In the hop from field to field the entire squadron's manpower moved in the aircraft. Some equipment would follow in trucks.

In 1944 the group transitioned to the Yak-3. They liked the aircraft and declared the Yak's performance superior to the FW 190 and should be considered one of the best fighter aircraft of WWII. Marcel Albert was named an official "Hero of the Soviet Union".

Marcel was a skilled pilot and aerial combatant.  Only two enemy bullets ever hit his plane, which were from the rear gunner of a Junkers JU87 Stuka. While attacking the Junkers Ju87, Marcel came in close on the right side of the Stuka and looked over to see the rear gunner swing his gun around and fire at Marcel. It looked like a fire works display, with fireballs streaking across the distance between the two aircraft. Marcel’s plane was hit just under his foot and once in the gas tank. Fortunately, Marcel’s gas tanks were full and did not catch on fire. Marcel pulled ahead of the Stuka and came around again. This time giving himself more distance on the rear of the Stuka, Marcel fired striking the German in the tail sending the plane out of control to the earth. These were the only two enemy bullets that ever hit his plane.

On a mission against a German airbase at Lyda, Poland, Marcel was flying escort for Russian bombers striking the airstrip. His mission was to make sure that no aircraft took off to attack their bombers and to cover the bombers from any Germans that may already be airborne. They found the airfield filled with at least 200 enemy aircraft and no defensive air activity. The Germans had their aircraft lined up perfect for the aerial attack.

While flying around the field as the Russian bombers were dropping their bombs on the parked enemy aircraft, Marcel noticed buses rushing to the airfield which contained the German pilots and ground crew. Marcel and his fellow fighter pilots descended on them and cut the buses to pieces.

The bombing mission was successful but there were many German aircraft left untouched. They were scheduled for another strikes that afternoon to finish off the German planes. Marcel knew that this was not wise. They had caught the enemy off guard once but may not be so lucky again.   As Marcel guessed, the Germans were waiting for them. Even though Marcel and the other fighter pilots fought to protect the bombers, they lost eight of their planes.

Life in the Russian Air Force had many drawbacks, especially as they quickly advanced as the Germans retreated. Many times, Marcel and his squadron were flying from airfields that were within miles of the front. Food and other supplies were also at a minimum. Advancing sometimes quicker than the supplies lines could help them. For several months, Marcel and the others ate dog food.

Albert was promoted to Captain and was one of the few foreigners ever to receive the highest USSR award for valor, the Gold Star and the title “Hero of the Soviet Union”. The Yak 3 above, Number 6, was the plane that earned him most of his victories.

Marcel Albert flew for three different air forces during his combat career. The French, the English, and the Russians. Marcel ended the war with 23 confirmed aerial victories. Three Junkers Ju88’s, three Junkers Ju87 Stuka’s, one Dornier Do 17’s, one Heinkel He 111, one FW 189 observation plane, three Henschel Hs 129’s, two Bf 109’s, and ten FW 190’s. Marcel knows that there were many others that fell before his guns, but in combat, it is hard to confirm every encounter. He was also credited with damaging many German aircraft in aerial dog fighting, and destroying enemy aircraft on the ground. Marcel flew 262 combat missions becoming one of France’s greatest aviators.

The Normandie Regiment during its tour of battle lost 45 of its fighter pilots to the German aviators. The Germans however lost 273 aircraft to the French pilots, losing more aviators than the 273 because many of there loses were bombers carrying two to four crewmen.

Marcel knows that there were many others that fell before his guns, but in combat, it is hard to confirm every encounter. He was also credited with damaging many German aircraft in aerial dog fighting, and destroying enemy aircraft on the ground. Marcel flew 262 combat missions becoming one of France’s greatest aviators.

The German radio transmissions were monitored by the Russians, which translated the conversations for the French pilots. The Germans were afraid of fighting with the Yak fighters. The Normandie Squadron was especially feared. Marcel’s number six was one aircraft that the Germans feared and keep a look out for. However, Marcel was not an aggressive hunter killer.

He fought when he had to. He gave the Germans no opportunities. But Marcel had a lighter side. A quite man, he was a joker.

On one mission, flying only with his wingman, Marcel came upon a Focke Wulf 190. Coming in on the German’s blind side, Marcel pulled in quickly on the right wing flying along side with the German. The German looked to his right and saw Marcel, wingtip to wingtip. Marcel said that the German’s mouth flew open and his eyes were large as saucers.

Laughing, Marcel waved at the German pilot. After the shock wore off, the German pilot smiled and Marcel pulled his Yak straight up and away. His wingman was very up set telling Marcel “You had that on cornered!” But that did not bother Marcel, who had proved himself over and over and a superb pilot and aerial combatant.

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