#dewoitined520

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Dewoitine D.520 in Free French Service

Dewoitine D.520 n°302, one of the two D.520s captured by the Free French in the Levant

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Dewoitine D.520 DC Trainer

Dewoitine D.520 DC a two-seat trainer version of the French D.520 fighter

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Dewoitine D.520 in Italian Service

Roughly 60 Dewoitine D.520 fighters entered service with the Regia Aeronautica (RA). Italian pilots generally respected the type for its handling qualities and its Hispano-Suiza HS.404 20 mm cannon, which was competitive by 1940–41 standards. The first three airframes were allocated to 2° Stormo at Turin-Caselle for point-defence of the industrial zone. Additional examples were captured at various airfields in southern France, including Montélimar, Orange, Istres, and Aix-en-Provence.

By early 1943, Italian personnel ferried Dewoitines taken as war prizes to Italy. Italian pilots praised its armament, cockpit ergonomics, effective radio set, and benign spin behaviour, yet criticised its fragile landing gear and limited cannon ammunition capacity. Ammunition supply also proved a constraint, since HS.404 ammunition was incompatible with Italian Breda and Scotti 20 mm systems and had to be drawn from French stocks.

Operational allocation began in late February 1943 when 359a Squadriglia (22° Gruppo), led by Maggiore Vittorio Minguzzi, received eight Dewoitines for air-defence duties at a moment when American B-24 formations were regularly striking Naples. Pilots achieved modest success, and on 1 March 1943 Minguzzi claimed a B-24—initially assessed as probable, later confirmed—the first known Italian victory in the type. Further integration followed an Italo-German exchange agreement of 21 May 1943 involving LeO 451 bombers and 30 D.520s. Through spring and summer 1943 the aircraft equipped 161° Gruppo Autonomo at Grottaglie, Crotone, and Reggio Calabria. On 31 July 1943 the RA retained 47 D.520s on strength. Following the 8 September armistice, three surviving examples transferred to the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana for training duties.

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In April 1941, the German Armistice Commission allowed Vichy authorities to resume domestic aircraft production, provided that France later manufactured 2,000 German-designed aircraft for delivery to Germany. Under this arrangement, 550 Dewoitine D.520 fighters were ordered to replace all other single-seat types, though they were prohibited from basing such aircraft in metropolitan France. Planned allocations included 442 machines for 17 Groupes, three naval escadrilles with 37 aircraft each, and three training units. While these aircraft were to match earlier production standards, examples from serial 543 onward employed the improved 12Y-49 engine; however, more powerful 12Y51 and 12Z units were barred.

D.520s saw extensive action under Vichy control during the Syria–Lebanon campaign. Units such as GC III/6, II/3, and naval escadrille 1AC deployed after long ferry flights from France via Italy to Rhodes and finally Syria—an arduous journey for a 1940-era interceptor. Of 168 French aircraft dispatched, 155 arrived, though limited logistics and spares constrained sortie rates. First combat occurred on 8 June 1941 when D.520s downed three British Fulmars for the loss of one Dewoitine. Over subsequent days the type flew escort missions and achieved further kills against Hurricanes.

Vichy forces flew 266 missions during the campaign, 99 by D.520s. On 10 July, five Dewoitines engaged RAF Blenheims and their Australian Tomahawk escorts, claiming three bombers but losing at least four fighters. The following day a D.520 downed a Tomahawk before itself being destroyed. Initial Vichy advantages eroded as Allied air attacks destroyed aircraft on the ground due to poor infrastructure and limited air defence. By campaign’s end, Vichy lost 179 of roughly 289 aircraft committed; French fighter losses totalled 26 in air combat and 45 to strafing and bombing, while the Allies lost 41 aircraft, 27 to French fighters.

During Operation Torch, D.520s again opposed Allied forces in North Africa, though many were destroyed on the ground and overall impact was limited.

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Dewoitine D.520 in German Service

When Germany invaded Vichy France in November 1942 they captured 246 Dewoitine D.520s. In addition, a batch of 62 was completed under German occupation. Of these fighters, 96 were sent to Bulgaria and 60 to Italy. The remaining fighters were used as advanced trainers by the Luftwaffe.

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Dewoitine D.520 in Bulgarian Service

Bulgaria received around 96 captured French Dewoitine D.520 fighters from Germany in late 1943, using them primarily for defending against Allied bomber raids on Sofia alongside Messerschmitt Bf 109s, proving quite effective despite their obsolescence. These aircraft served in the 6th Fighter Regiment.

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Dewoitine D.520 in French Service Morocco Post-war

Dewoitine D.520 in French Service Morocco Post-war with unusual striped markings

[arielsiroalvarez]

Sketch of some Dewoitine d520’s with some rough color. This has always been one of my favorite early war fighters...but not as pretty as a spitfire mk.I though :) #dewoitined520 #frenchairforce #ww2 #ww2fighter #fighterplane #warbird #warbirds #aviationart #aviationartist #aircombat #avgeek #blitzkrieg #sketch #wacomcintiq https://www.instagram.com/p/BxwTeval14M/?igshid=ot8r15bw4otf