What do you think of Rene Fonck?

Manfred · 4 January 2006, 10:15 PM

Altough he was the leading Allied ace, he was also very "stuck up" and he later became a Vichyist (or Nazi) collaborator.

What do you think of him? A good guy or a bad guy?

Billy_Bishop · 5 January 2006, 01:05 PM

Is there any real proof he collaborated, or is all just speculation?

Manfred · 5 January 2006, 09:21 PM

On the internet, some pictures that's about it.

TomVrille · 5 January 2006, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by renefonck

What do you think of him? A good guy or a bad guy?

Neither! Fonck was too complex an individual to be characterized so easily. His achievements during the war should have made him a beloved national hero in the manner of Guynemer. His personality dictated that this could not happen. It's very risky to embrace a porcupine!

By 1940, Fonck had endured over twenty years of what I suspect he felt was national ingratitude. How realistic was it to expect him to fall on his own sword?

Billy_Bishop · 5 January 2006, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by renefonck

On the internet, some pictures that's about it.

So, what was he doing in these pictures???

Manfred · 5 January 2006, 10:29 PM

The pictures had him standing next to airplanes painted with Nazi markings.

Billy_Bishop · 5 January 2006, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by renefonck

The pictures had him standing next to airplanes painted with Nazi markings.

If that's all, and a French court couldn't find any thing concrete, then I don't see what the problem is. If he was in a Nazi uniform, then you MIGHT have a case against him. Otherwise, I'd say forget it.

Barrett · 6 January 2006, 05:04 PM

"The pictures had him standing next to airplanes painted with Nazi markings."

Hmmm.....
I feel a Rumo(u)r coming on, to wit:

Rene' Fonck flew a SPAD marked with a swastika!
(Of course, that'd put him in company mit

Raoul Lufbery, IIRC.)

A little Photoshop work and it could happen!

Pips · 7 January 2006, 01:16 AM

He was a very good friend of both Udet and Goering. Many WWI fighter pilots (on both sides) formed close bonds in the 20's and 30's with those men previously classed as enemies. And it happened again after WWII.

It was Fonck's association with Goering that caused him to be branded a Nazi sympathiser. In fact he was not. Fonck was fiecely proud of being French. He like many Frenchmen, felt betrayed and deserted by England in 1940. So he was an ardent Vichy supporter as the Vichy Government kept a large part of France free of Nazi domination for several years. Up until the 'Torch' landings in North Africa in 1942 in fact.

mustang · 7 January 2006, 05:49 AM

I know nothing about Fonck other that he had an outstanding record in WW1.
Whether or not he felt that France was deserted by England in 1940 is a matter for conjecture.

I would have thought it was the other way around. France in May 1940 was simply a refuelling stop for the Panzers on their way to the Channel.

Mustang