It's December 1941. France is occupied by the Germans and the Soviet Army is desperately trying to stop the Nazi advance on Moscow. As the 'Free French' resistance builds, General de Gaulle meets with General Luguet in London to discuss the possibility of sending French pilots to fight the germans on the Russian front. The first 12 volunteers leave London on August 17th 1942 and on September 1st the "3rd Groupe de Chasse" or 3rd Fighter Group "Normandie" was Created. However, it wasn't until March 22nd 1943 that the unit was sent to the front and on April 5th Preziosi and Durand shared the units first 'kill' by shooting down a FW190.
    In May 1943, an order was signed by Keitel stating that all 'Normandie' prisoners are to be shot.
    On October 17th, General de gaulle awards the unit the "Companion of the Liberation" citation.
    Then on November 6th, with 72 victories (and 9 probables) to their credit, the group and it's 6 surviving original pilots is withdrawn to Toula for the winter.
    It's 1944 and Stalin has added "Niemen" to their name in recognition of the Niemen river which the Soviet Army had just crossed with the help of the now, "Normandie-Niemen" squadron. On October 16th the Prusse Offensive begins and on this day, Normadie-Niemen pilots shoot down 29 enemy planes without a single loss to themselves.
    In June1945 the 'regiment' returns to France with 40 YAK 3's courtesy of Joseph Stalin. And finally, on the 20th of June 1945, the Regiment arrives at Bourget to a hero's return. The Normandie-Niemen pilots had racked up an impressive 273 confirmed victories and another 36 probables.