France's Dewoitine D.520 fighter1

Dewoitine D.520:
France's Dewoitine D.520

Dewoitine D.520:
France's Dewoitine D.520

Dewoitine D.520:
France's Dewoitine D.520

Design

The design of the Dewoitine D.520 was first started in November 1936.2

The cockpit was located well back and caused problems with landing and taxiing.1

Prototype

The prototype was flown by Marcel Doret on October 2, 1938.1,2 He forgot to lower the undercarriage during a landing and wrecked the prototype in 1938.1

Production

There were 200 ordered by May 1939.1 This was later increased to 710.1 The Vichy increased it to 740.1

The first production model was flown on November 2, 1939.2

Variants

Usage

Used in combat by Bulgaria, France, Italy, and Romania.1

First Use

Only 36 Dewoitine D.520s were delivered to one groupe de chasse, the GC 1/3, by May 1940.2 This groupe shot down three Hs 126s and one He 111 on May 13, 1940.2

43 Dewoitine D.520s were then delivered to the GC II/3, GC II/7, GC III/3, and GC III/6.2

52 were then delivered to the Aéronavale escadrilles AC 1, 2, 3, and 4 before France surrendered.2

Germany

After the surrender of France, D.520s were used by the Germans as trainers.1

In 1942 the Germans seized 411 (2462) D.520s and passed them onto Axis countries.1

Vichy France

Were used as combat aircraft.1 235 D.520s were used by the Vichy air force in France and 202 were used in Africa.2

Ace

Adjutant Pierre Le Gloan of GC III/6 shot down 18 aircraft.2 He shot an additional 4 in other aircraft.2

  Dewoitine D.5201 Dewoitine D.520S (first 558 aircraft)2
Type Fighter1 Fighter2
Crew 11 12
Engine (Type) Hispano-Suiza 12Y 45 piston1 Hispano-Suiza 12Y45 piston2
Cylinders Inline1 Inline2
Cooling    
Net HP 9351 9302
Supercharger Szydlowski1  
Dimensions    
Span 34'1
10.2 m1
33' 5.5"2
10.2 m2
Length 28'1
8.6 m1
28' 8.75"2
8.76 m2
Height 8'1
2.57 m1
8' 5 1/8"2
2.57 m2
Wing area 172 ft2 1
15.97 m2 1
171.7 ft2 2
15.95 m2 2
Weight    
Empty 4,479 lb1
2,036 kg1
4,685 lb2
2,125 kg2
Loaded 5,889 lb1
2,677 kg1
5,897 lb2
2,6752
Performance    
Speed 332 mph1
535 kph1
 
Speed @ 18,045' /
5,500 m
  332 mph2
535 kph2
Climb to 13,120' /
4,000 m
5' 48"1  
Climb to 13,125' /
4,000 m
  5.82 minutes2
Service ceiling 39,440'1
10,500 m1
33,630'2
10,250 m2
Range 950 miles1
890 km1
553 miles2
890 km2
Armament    
Thru propeller / Hub 1: 20 mm HS 404 rapid fire cannon1 1: 20 mm HS4042
Ammunition 60 rounds1  
Wings 4: 7.5 mm MAC 34 M39 MG1 4: 7.5 mm MAC 1934 M39 MG2
Ammunition 675 rounds each1  
Production    

Sources:

  1. Aircraft of World War II, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
  2. Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
Want to learn about a new vehicle? Select the random picture to learn about the vehicle.
Home page graphic for wwiivehicles.com, pictures of Sherman, T-34/85, Tiger, and Churchill