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3 unusual facts about French West Africa


Claire Griffiths

A principal resource is a series of 18 reports from Denise Moran Savineau to French West Africa Governor General Jules Marcel de Coppet, which the archives project has made freely available in both the original French and in English translation with annotations.

Garan Fabou Kouyate

In the mid-1950s, Kouyaté served in the soccer department of Segou Region during the annual Coupe de l’AOF (soccer competition between teams from French West Africa).

Gerardo Miranda

Gerardo Miranda Concepción (born 16 November 1956 in Nouakchott, French West Africa), simply Gerardo, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a right defender.


427th Reconnaissance Squadron

Reassigned to Casablanca, French Morocco, the squadron used its B-17 bombers as transports, ferrying military personnel from locations in France to Morocco, then south to Dakar in French West Africa or to the Azores for further transportation by other units.

527th Bombardment Squadron

Was reassigned to Air Transport Command and assigned to Casablanca, French Morocco, the squadron used its B-17 bombers as transports, ferrying military personnel from locations in France to Morocco, then south to Dakar in French West Africa or to the Azores for further transportation by other units.

824th Bombardment Squadron

It also engaged in transport operations from North Africa to the Azores or Dakar in French West Africa where personnel were eventually transported to Florida.

9th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron

Moved personnel from sDakar in French West Africa where personnel were transported across the South Atlantic to Brazil and eventually to Morrison Field, Florida via Trinidad.

Farman F.230

Typical of these exploits was Marcel Lalouette and Jean de Permangle's long-distance flight on 12 January 1931, where they flew an F.231 from Istres, France, to Villa Cisneros, in what was then French West Africa during which they covered 2,700 km (1,690 mi) in 22 hours and set a new distance record.

Fernando de Noronha Airport

It provided technical support for the Natal-Dakar air route, which provided a transoceanic link between Brazil and French West Africa for cargo, transiting aircraft and personnel.

History of Guinea-Bissau

Portugal lost part of Guinea to French West Africa, including the center of earlier Portuguese commercial interest, the Casamance River region.

Joseph Vuillemin

Between November 1933 and January 1934, he led the so-called ‘La Croisière noire aérienne’ – an ambitious training and trailblazing mission from France via Morocco and the Sahara to French West Africa and French Equatorial Africa using French Potez 25 biplanes.


see also