Book. “Les avions Marcel Bloch – T2: Entrée en guerre”
The second volume of this trilogy dedicated to Marcel Bloch continues the adventures of the aircraft manufacturer from the mid-1930s to the very beginning of World War II.
After an initial volume that traced Marcel Bloch’s career in the early 1930s and the creation of a first company bearing his name, author Philippe Ricco focuses on the improvements made to the MB 200 bomber, mentioned in the first volume. He presents the MB 210, then its successor, the MB 211, as well as the three-engine MB 300, the four-engine MB 160, and more. We should also mention the MB 220, a transport aircraft that was much more comfortable than others of the time!
But this period wasn’t just about major changes in aviation! In fact, France also witnessed the advent of the Popular Front in the spring of 1936. This political change forced the Société des Avions Marcel Bloch to be sold to the state a year later as part of a wave of nationalization, then to be incorporated into the Société Nationale des Constructions Aéronautiques du Sud-Ouest, of which Marcel Bloch became the managing director.
The sale of his company nevertheless enabled him to create another: the Société Anonyme des Avions Marcel Bloch, a design office. Seeing war looming, France entrusted the office with the design and construction of combat aircraft—Marcel Bloch had several manufacturing units spread across the country before the war. Unfortunately, neither the MB 170, 174, and 175 bombers (among others) nor the MB 150, 151, and 152 fighter planes had time to avoid defeat in 1940. The book recounts the initial difficulties Marcel Bloch faced during those years…
Book. “Les avions Marcel Bloch – T2: Entrée en guerre”. Author, Philippe Ricco. Published by Collection Histoire de l’Aviation No. 46. ISBN: 978 23746 805 69
