American roundels at Mers-el-Kébir

Letum · 11-25-09, 01:22 PM

I was talking to a vet today who served in the FAA at the attack on
the French Fleet at Mers-el-Kébir (1940).
He mentioned that many of the planes involved in the attack where
secretly pained with American roundels before the attack.

I know that RAF/FAA aircraft where pained to look like American
planes in the invasion of Morocco (with American support for the
idea). The idea was that the French would not fight as hard against
Americans and it might help prevent the American Rookie pilots from
shooting down RAF planes (some cowboys still managed to shoot
down two RAF planes in US markings!).

However, what I am interested in is 1940. Did the RAF/FAA really use
US markings before the Americans joined the war?
Did America know British planes where pretending to be American to
avoid attack?
Is the vet I know wrong?

11-25-09, 01:22 PM	#1
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	American roundels at Mers-el-Kébir I was talking to a vet today who served in the FAA at the attack on the French Fleet at Mers-el-Kébir (1940). He mentioned that many of the planes involved in the attack where secretly pained with American roundels before the attack. I know that RAF/FAA aircraft where pained to look like American planes in the invasion of Morocco (with American support for the idea). The idea was that the French would not fight as hard against Americans and it might help prevent the American Rookie pilots from shooting down RAF planes (some cowboys still managed to shoot down two RAF planes in US markings!). However, what I am interested in is 1940. Did the RAF/FAA really use US markings before the Americans joined the war? Did America know British planes where pretending to be American to avoid attack? Is the vet I know wrong? __________________ Last edited by Letum; 11-25-09 at 03:32 PM.