Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
In early July 1941, the Syria–Lebanon Campaign was entering its final phase—but Vichy French air units were still very much in the fight.
As Commonwealth forces advanced through eastern Syria and captured Deir ez-Zor, Vichy bombers and fighters concentrated their efforts on the Euphrates front. LeO 451 bombers of GB I/12 attacked the advancing troops under escort from Dewoitine D.520 fighters, while RAF Hurricanes attempted to intercept them. The result was a dramatic series of engagements involving French fighter aces, a Hurricane brought down by a LeO 451’s dorsal gunner, and a remarkable mid-air collision between an RAF fighter and a French bomber.
Despite mounting losses, limited fuel and aircraft availability, and Commonwealth ground forces closing in on Aleppo, the Vichy French continued to mount determined aerial resistance. The final battles of the campaign were now only days away.
The next and final episode will cover the last five days of the Syria–Lebanon Campaign, the end of the fighting, and a full analysis of the air-war losses and claims on both sides.
Check out previous episodes if you missed them:
youtu.be/2S2VVscSQ3o
youtu.be/_spJp-nG0hk
youtu.be/2N6W9_aBLGE
youtu.be/mc8dE8UIgfc
youtu.be/EADG2H4jpbw
youtu.be/aDPLBB6sva8
youtu.be/AFjqwZ7P4dw
youtu.be/KNHfOydwgo0
youtu.be/cIqJxo-m5tI
youtu.be/Kifq4BMngR4
Use the 'SHOWTIME112' Creator Code for a 5% discount in Thrustmaster web shop:
eshop.thrustmaster.com/goToHomePage/?creator=SHOWTIME112 (USA)
shop.thrustmaster.com/goToHomePage/?creator=SHOWTIME112 (EU)
shop.thrustmaster.com/goToHomePage/?creator=SHOWTIME112 (UK)
Main sources:
- Dust Clouds in the Middle East: The Air War for East Africa, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Madagascar, 1940-42
amzn.to/3QQ2Ieo
- French Aces of World War 2
amzn.to/3QvtgBRr
- L'Aviation de Vichy au combat: La Campagne de Syrie, 8 juin-14 juillet 1941
amzn.to/4inm7zh
- Vichy Air Force at War: The French Air Force that Fought the Allies in World War II
amzn.to/4xjjBhh
When you purchase these books on Amazon through the links in this description, the channel earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. The proceeds help fund new book purchases and support the creation of future videos.
Support the channel on Patreon
patreon.com/showtime112
Donate via Paypal:
paypal.com/paypalme/showtime112
Join our Discord server:
discord.gg/c56q7tUNCP
Echoes of Time by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1300029
Artist: incompetech.com
In early July 1941, the Syria–Lebanon Campaign was entering its final phase—but Vichy French air units were still very much in the fight.
As Commonwealth forces advanced through eastern Syria and captured Deir ez-Zor, Vichy bombers and fighters concentrated their efforts on the Euphrates front. LeO 451 bombers of GB I/12 attacked the advancing troops under escort from Dewoitine D.520 fighters, while RAF Hurricanes attempted to intercept them. The result was a dramatic series of engagements involving French fighter aces, a Hurricane brought down by a LeO 451’s dorsal gunner, and a remarkable mid-air collision between an RAF fighter and a French bomber.
Despite mounting losses, limited fuel and aircraft availability, and Commonwealth ground forces closing in on Aleppo, the Vichy French continued to mount determined aerial resistance. The final battles of the campaign were now only days away.
The next and final episode will cover the last five days of the Syria–Lebanon Campaign, the end of the fighting, and a full analysis of the air-war losses and claims on both sides.
Check out previous episodes if you missed them:
youtu.be/2S2VVscSQ3o
youtu.be/_spJp-nG0hk
youtu.be/2N6W9_aBLGE
youtu.be/mc8dE8UIgfc
youtu.be/EADG2H4jpbw
youtu.be/aDPLBB6sva8
youtu.be/AFjqwZ7P4dw
youtu.be/KNHfOydwgo0
youtu.be/cIqJxo-m5tI
youtu.be/Kifq4BMngR4
Use the 'SHOWTIME112' Creator Code for a 5% discount in Thrustmaster web shop:
eshop.thrustmaster.com/goToHomePage/?creator=SHOWTIME112 (USA)
shop.thrustmaster.com/goToHomePage/?creator=SHOWTIME112 (EU)
shop.thrustmaster.com/goToHomePage/?creator=SHOWTIME112 (UK)
Main sources:
- Dust Clouds in the Middle East: The Air War for East Africa, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Madagascar, 1940-42
amzn.to/3QQ2Ieo
- French Aces of World War 2
amzn.to/3QvtgBRr
- L'Aviation de Vichy au combat: La Campagne de Syrie, 8 juin-14 juillet 1941
amzn.to/4inm7zh
- Vichy Air Force at War: The French Air Force that Fought the Allies in World War II
amzn.to/4xjjBhh
When you purchase these books on Amazon through the links in this description, the channel earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. The proceeds help fund new book purchases and support the creation of future videos.
Support the channel on Patreon
patreon.com/showtime112
Donate via Paypal:
paypal.com/paypalme/showtime112
Join our Discord server:
discord.gg/c56q7tUNCP
Echoes of Time by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1300029
Artist: incompetech.com
