"VICTORY MAY"
Yak 3, GC 3 "Normandie-Niemen", May 1945
pilots Roland de La Poype and Roger Sauvage
original painting, oil on canvas, 70x35 cm
this painting and Giclée reproductions and prints will be firstly presented and offered on
La Ferté-Alais Meeting (France) 31st May - 1st June 2008
 The unit originated in mid-1943 during World War II. Initially a groupe comprised a group of French fighter-pilots sent to aid Soviet forces on the Eastern Front at the suggestion of Charles de Gaulle, leader of the Free French, who felt it important that French servicemen serve on all fronts in the war.
The unit was the GC3 (Groupe de Chasse 3 or 3rd Fighter Group) in the Free French Air Force, first commanded by Jean Tulasne. It fought in three campaigns on behalf of the Soviet Union between March 22, 1943, and May 9, 1945, during which time it destroyed 273 enemy aircraft and received many orders, citations and decorations from both France and the USSR, including the French Légion d’Honneur and the Soviet Order of the Red Banner. Joseph Stalin awarded the unit the name Niemen for its participation in the Battle of the Neman River (1944). Yak-3 was main fighter aircraft of Normandie-Niemen used between end of July 1944 and May 1945. Pilots Roland de La Poype and Roger Sauvage were ones of the most succesfull pilots of the unit. De La Poype claimed totally 16 victories (7+9 shared), 1 probable and 1 damaged enemy aircraft. Sauvage claimed 16 victories (3+13 shared). Normandie-Niemen ended the WWII with 5240 missions, 273 confirmed victories and 36 probables. in unit served 96 volunteers, 42 of them never came back. |
Purchase information:
| Giclée reproductions | Limited Giclée print edition |
| Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Canvas Artist matte 340 gsm 70x35 cm ... 60 EUR 90x45 cm ... 90 EUR place an ORDER |
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