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Marcel Albert

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description Marcel Albert Overview

Marcel Albert was a French fighter pilot who served during World War II as part of the Normandie-Niemen fighter regiment. After initially flying with the French Air Force, he volunteered to fight alongside the Soviet Air Forces on the Eastern Front against Axis forces. Operating Soviet Yakovlev fighter aircraft, he achieved approximately 23 confirmed aerial victories, distinguishing him as a top-scoring ace for the Free French forces. His military record remains a significant subject for historians studying Allied air cooperation during the war.

help Marcel Albert FAQ

Why did Marcel Albert join the Normandie-Niemen regiment?

Albert volunteered to fight with the Free French unit alongside the Soviet Air Forces on the Eastern Front. The group was sent by Charles de Gaulle in 1942 to represent Free France while fighting Axis forces. [Source](https://www.defense.gouv.fr/chemins-memoire/histoire-memoires/ressources-historiques/seconde-guerre-mondiale/operations-militaires/1941-1943-8)

Which Soviet-built fighters did Marcel Albert fly?

Albert flew several Yakovlev fighters, including the Yak-1B, Yak-9, and Yak-3. A surviving Yak-3 replica painted in his markings notes that eight of his 23 victories were achieved in a Yak-3. [Source](https://planesoffame.org/aircraft/plane-Yak-3U)

How many victories did Marcel Albert score in World War II?

Albert finished the war with 23 credited victories, including shared victories. He became one of the leading French fighter aces associated with the Eastern Front. [Source](https://www.ordredelaliberation.fr/fr/compagnons/marcel-albert)

What honors did Marcel Albert receive for his service?

Albert was made a Companion of the Liberation and received the title Hero of the Soviet Union. He also became the leading ace of the Normandie-Niemen regiment, with 23 victories credited to his wartime record. [Source](https://www.ordredelaliberation.fr/fr/compagnons/marcel-albert)