Did you know…
What did the Amiot 143s drop over Germany until May 1940?
Short answer
Leaflets: during the Phoney War, the Amiot 143 groupes carried out printed-propaganda drops over Germany, as well as reconnaissance missions. On 14 May 1940 they were sent into a daylight attack on the German bridgeheads near Sedan, with fighter escort.
Paper over Germany
What the Amiot 143s dropped over German territory in the months before the offensive was paper: during the Phoney War, the groupes equipped with the bomber carried out leaflet-dropping raids over Germany. The same units were also used for reconnaissance missions over the neighbouring country.
The units that flew it
When the Second World War broke out, the Amiot 143 was still equipping five groupes in metropolitan France, along with one group based in Africa. When the Battle of France began, on 10 May 1940, 87 Amiot 143s remained in front-line service, of which 50 were spread across four metropolitan groupes. The type had been delivered between April 1935 and March 1937, with a total of 138 built.
From leaflet to bombing
On 14 May 1940, the Amiot 143s were sent into a daylight attack against the German bridgeheads near Sedan, with fighter escort.
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