Lithuanian Morane-Saulnier MS.406 sent to Finland?

[Joseph_Porta]

Hello,

In the 1930's Lithuania ordered 13 Morane-Saulnier MS.406 fighter aircraft, but they were not delivered due to the beginning of the Second World War. However, as known, Finland did receive around 30 of these aircraft.

Now, is there any indication that aircraft prepared for Lithuania were sent to Finland instead due to the Winter War? Some Lithuanian sources indicate that the aircraft meant for Lithuania were sent to Finland with Lithuanian marking and some time Finnish pilots even flew with these planes marked with Lithuanian double crosses.

Thanks in advance,
Porta

[Ñancul]

Hello

I also received this rumor, and I think having seen some Morane-Saulnier MS.406 Filanda, with such brands at a photo of the Winter War, I promise to look at my sources.

[Harri]

An interesting piece of information! I have never heard of that before. There is no mentions on that in Finnish aviation books.

Actually during the Winter War France promised to donate a total of 50 Morane fighters and 80 Caudron-Renault C.R. 714 light fighters (six arrived but were never used) to Finland. Aventually only 30 Moranes arrived in Finland between 4.2. - 29.2.1940.

Ten more planes were obtained from the German stocks and Vichy France in 1940 and another batch of ten in 1941. In July 1942 30 second-hand aircraft were bought from Germany and the last two later in 1942. These included both types M.S. 406 and 410 (ten pieces, Finns later converted one more). Planes were not exactly the same and there were many variations, for example different kinds of radiators (both retractable and fixed ones).

Planes have also been called as Morane-Saulnier 406C-1 and 410C-1. I think this is a German designation, or?

[takata_1940]

Planes have also been called as Morane-Saulnier 406C-1 and 410C-1. I think this is a German designation, or?

C-1 was a standard French designation for any one-seat fighter aircraft unrelated to the factory model (Dewoitine 520 C-1, Bloch 152 C-1, etc.); C = chasse; 1 = monoplace. A bomber with a crew of 3 would be a B-3 and so on.
Usual letters are: C = chasse; B = bombardement; R = reconnaissance, A = armée (observation) and sometime they have been combined like AB-2 (observation & bombardement, 2 seats).

Olivier

[takata_1940]

A Lithuanian order was placed on 13 Morane-Saulnier 406 during May 1939. A Lithuanian purchasing commission, including Colonel Gustaitis, Lt-Colonel Liorentas and Captain Mikénas was actually working the matter from 1937 and had already tried one of the MS-405 prototypes, damaging it in Villacoublay.
Those aircraft were supposed to reequip the Lithuanian 1st squadron and were produced in SNCAO Bouguenais factory under the control of Captain Martinkus. They were designated MS 406 L (L for Lithuanie) - Production of this batch ended 31-10-1939. The order was requisitionned by the French Air Force (s/n: 1070-1082) and had Lithuanian markings.
At least, 2 of them ended in Finland: 1070 was delivered to Finland on 24-12-1940 and 1073 later on 27-07-1942. 1070 was captured in June at factory or maintainance Workshop, no trace of it being assigned to any French squadron before.
[Source: Le Morane-Saulnier 406, Lela Presse.]

S~
Olivier

[takata_1940]

About Morane 406 production:
Morane-Saulnier was the designer but the company had no industrial capacity and actually produced very few aircraft (something like a rate of 1 a/c per week). The main order was produced by nationalised factories under SNCAO Nantes (Bouguenais) control and final assembly (peaked at 150-200 per month). The very first batch was Morane produced at Velizy-Villacoublay under 405 designation (16 aircraft) and ended in January 1939. A second batch of 90 Morane 406 was produced here ending April 1940. SNCAO produced the main core, about 1,000 aircraft in one year, starting January 1939. Then switched after retooling to LeO 451 bomber production.
Beside, Morane presented an improved MS 406 called MS 450 which was rejected in favor of Dewoitine 520 but some of the improvement could be used to upgrade some of the MS 406 under the designation of MS 410. Morane and other Air Force workshops were ordered to upgrade some of the late Morane 406 still in production or stocked. This upgrade was not fully standard as the lack of aircraft called for issuing to units some of them under transformation. Most of the others, still unfinished, would fall into German hands when such facilities (around Paris) were overun by mid-June 1940.

S~
Olivier

[takata_1940]

damn

[Harri]

Thank you very much for this information! Finns received many planes intended originally for other countries.

Finns had Moranes produced by Aeroplanes Morane-Saulnier, Puteaux, S.N.C.A.O. Bouguenais,
S.N.C.A.M. Toulouse and S.N.C.A.C. Billancourt.

Moranes were completed at Bulltofta, Sweden with the assistance of French mechanics (who also worked in Finland during the Winter War). French test pilots Captains Etienne and Henri Sabary flew each plane before they were given to Finns. The first one also worked for the State Aircraft Factory in Finland after the Winter War. Finnish pilots flew the planes from Sweden to Finland painted with Finnish national markings although the planes had a French paint scheme.

[Ñancul]

There is a picture of a Morane-Saulnier MS.406 with the insignia of the Lithuanian Air Force?