| Plane type & model |
Monoplane fighter (D.520) |
To build a counterpart of the Morane-Saulnier MS 406, in 1936 Emile Dewotine decided to built a modern fighter prototype. Obtained in 1937 the authorization of building 2 prototypes for the Armee de l Air, Dewotine managed to get it on air the year later, that revealed good layouts and performances of the plane. Initially refused by the french authorities, the D.520 , modified another time , givemn excellent performances and the first series order arrived in 1939. By the summer of the same year the fighter ,demonstrated to be the best of French Air Force, had already recieved orders for 710 exemplars. By June 1940 , with the armistice with Germany ,there were already 400 ready for action. Other 75 exemplars were built during Nazist occupation and the captured planes were utilized as trainers by the Luftwaffe , while they were utilized effectively by Italia, Rumania and Bulgary. |
