Liore-et-Olivier LeO 45

History

Before World War II, the French Air Force fielded a variety of capable aircraft, but the ability of the French Air Force to defend against German attack was hampered by industrial disputes, outdated doctrine, and an inappropriate amount of capable war equipment. One of their best bombers, the Liore-et-Olivier LeO 45 proved to be a capable, exhilarating performer when deployed to the French defenses, gaining some ground in the early, short campaign that led to the surrender of France degree of success.

It became one of the few French fighter jets to serve after the war years in the conflict.

In 1934, the rearmament of the French Air Force issued new preliminary requirements for a state-of-the-art medium high-speed bomber with a crew of 5 and a top speed of 250 mph. As a bomb platform, the aircraft will have an inherent bomb carrying capacity of 2,650 pounds - all internal. This requirement was subsequently revised in 1935 to include only four crew members to limit the use of manpower, and the top speed was now reduced to a range miles of 300 pounds per hour.

In November 1937, the request was officially completed, and the internal bomb load was increased to 3,300 pounds, with a range of 560 miles. Defensive armament included a rear-firing 20mm cannon to catch potential pursuers off guard, while the new aircraft was designed to completely replace the old, descending stock of French bombers that were in front-line service a move that was in close proximity to neighbours.

This was carried out in the context of growing tensions in Germany.

With the growing strength and belligerence of neighbouring Germany, the promising LeO 45 was put into mass production - any modern bomber is better than an outdated bomber - this was done while the design was still in progress . The availability of LeO 45 was eventually delayed due to production and material difficulties. Some have non-standard propellers that can reduce their intended speed by as much as 12 mph.

After the fall of the Netherlands to the Axis Powers, the Battle of France saw what stock of LeO 45 bombers were put into service to defend the country. In all, fewer than 100 bombers were in service, and combat attrition quickly deteriorated the effort.

Initially startled by the rear-mounted 20mm pursuit gun, the German fighter pilots soon discovered that the LeO 45's weak spot was attacking it from below. This left the casualties of the attackers and installed French fighters with some impunity - reinforced by precise German ground anti-aircraft fire.

After more than a month of fighting, France fell in June 1940.

The Germans continued to produce the LeO 45 on French soil and added 150 airframes. Instead of taking the plane into its own ranks as a medium bomber, it used it as a means of transport.

Some were also owned by the Italian Air Force, with French Vichy units operating the system as trainers and transport aircraft until the end of the war. Some LeO 45s saw additional combat missions in North Africa.

Finally, the LeO 45 was one of the few French WWII aircraft to survive the entire conflict, and as of May 1945, more than 60 of this type were still in airworthy condition. Some served as soldiers in the 1950s, the last retired in September 1957.

A well-known post-war brand became the LeO 455Ph, a fast reconnaissance model with 2 x 1,600 hp SNECMA 14R engines, produced in five examples through a modification of the existing LeO 451 brand.

A total of 561 LeO 45 aircraft were built.

Specification

Basic

Production

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Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes