-
![LANG-CODE-KEY]()
LANG_NAME_KEY
Pilots,
Although very popular in France and Russia, few players of other nations know the story of the legendary ‘Normandie-Niemen’ fighter squadron. This group of French pilots became famous due to its heroic participation in the air battles on the Eastern Front.
From its base close to Moscow, the squad not only supported the Soviets but also did its part to fight for the liberation of its occupied home country, France. Learn the amazing story of the ‘Normandie-Niemen’ squadron this weekend and enjoy some nice discounts along the way!
| “Frenchmen in Moscow” Weekend | ||
|---|---|---|
| In-game Offers | Missions | History Flashback |
| All offers and missions will be available from Friday 23 May at 08:00 until Monday 26 May at 07:30 CEST (UTC+2). | ||
50% discount on equipment
Boost your plane with an equipment piece to gain an edge over your competition!
30% discount on ammunition
You’ll need plenty of ammo to take down your foes. Stock up on cheap supplies while you can!
50 % discount on the following planes:
 |
 |
 |
 |
Yakovlev Yak-1 |
 |
|
|
|
Yakovlev Yak-7 |
Fly the legendary plane that the legendary regiment flew during WWII!
30% discount on the following planes:
 |
|
 |
|
Yakovlev Yak-1M |
 |
|
|
|
Yakovlev Yak-9 |
 |
|
 |
|
Yakovlev Yak-9U |
 |
|
|
|
Yakovlev Yak-3 |
Do as the ‘Normandie-Niemen’ pilots did and upgrade to the stronger Yaks, as you progress through the weekend!
| Mission 1: Hunt for Red May | |
|---|---|
| Goal | Destroy 15 Soviet planes over the duration of the mission playing in standard battle mode. |
| Reward | 50,000 |
| Conditions |
|
| Mission 2: The Soviet Union Strikes Back | |
|---|---|
| Goal | Win 15 battles and be in the Top 10 in terms of XP earned on each of these victories playing in standard battle mode. |
| Reward | 50,000 |
| Conditions |
|
| Mission 3: Winner’s Reward | |
|---|---|
| Goal | Win a battle playing in standard battle mode. |
| Reward | Double XP for the battle |
| Conditions | The bonus is being applied starting with the second win on each aircraft in order not to interfere with the regular, daily double XP for first victory bonus. |
| Mission 4: Loser’s Reward | |
|---|---|
| Goal | Lose a battle playing in standard battle mode. |
| Reward | Double XP for the battle |
| Conditions | None |
While most of France was controlled from 1940 on by Nazi Germany, people from all over the country continued to resist the foreign invaders. Having lost their air bases in the north to the occupation, the Free French Forces were looking for other ways to influence the battle for air supremacy. In the autumn of 1942 General De Gaulle convinced Stalin to accept a squad of French pilots to fight alongside Soviet forces on the Eastern Front. A group of young recruits, most of whom had just finished training with the RAF, was assembled and sent east, along with 42 accompanying mechanics.
The squad, called simply “Normandie” at that point, arrived in Ivanovo, a city 250km northeast of Moscow, in November 1942. For a period of two months they underwent training to familiarise themselves with the Yak-1 fighters that they chose for their mission. The squad of Frenchmen became operational and started its first sorties in April 1943. Their first victories followed soon after, most notably in the Battle of Oryol, which was one of the first Soviet counter-offensives against Nazi Germany. In their first year, the Normandie pilots shot down or damaged over 100 aircraft with only 25 losses on their own side.
With increasing success on the battlefield, the ‘Normandie’ group was reinforced with additional squads, upgrading it to a full regiment. Equipped with the newly arrived and more capable Yak-9, the French pilots continued to up their tally, taking out up to 29 enemy aircraft a day during campaigns in Belarus and Poland. Stalin himself was so impressed by the regiment’s proficiency that, in 1944, he ordered them to add ‘Niemen’ to their name, which was supposed to reflect their role in liberating that particular region.
They went on to fight alongside their Soviet brothers in arms until the end of the war and returned home to France on 20 June 1945. All in all, the regiment managed to fly an impressive 5,240 sorties, participate in 869 air battles and shoot down 273 enemy planes. Of the 72 pilots who were part of the regiment at some point, only 30 made it back to France. For their service they were awarded with the French Liberation Cross and the title of ‘Hero of the Soviet Union’.
Remember these courageous French aces as you fly in the game today, pilots!
