Destination's Journey

It's About the Journey Not Just the Destination

Loire 70

Loire 70 French Flying Boat

Loire 70 French Maritime Reconnaissance Flying Boat

First flying on 28 December 1933, the Loire 70 was a long-range maritime reconnaissance flying boat designed for the French Navy. Seven production aircraft were ordered and along with the prototype served with Escadrille E7 at Karouba in Tunisia. At the start of the Second World War, they carried out patrols in the Mediterranean. On 12 June 1940, an Italian air raid destroyed three of the four surviving aircraft. The sole surviving Loire 70 was requested to be scrapped on 4 October 1941.

Photographs of the Loire 70

Loire 70 prototype
Loire 70 prototype
Loire 70 prototype
Loire 70 prototype
Loire 70 prototype
Loire 70 prototype
Loire 70 prototype
Loire 70 prototype
Loire 70 prototype
Loire 70 prototype
Loire 70 prototype
Loire 70 prototype
Loire 70 prototype
Loire 70 prototype
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
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Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire-70
Loire-70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
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Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70 flying boat of the French navy's Escadrille d'Exploration E7, based in Bizerte, Tunisia, in 1939
Loire 70 flying boat of the French navy’s Escadrille d’Exploration E7, based in Bizerte, Tunisia, in 1939
Loire 70
Loire 70
Loire 70 Interior
Loire 70 Interior
Loire-70 Cockpit
Loire-70 Cockpit
Loire-70 Cockpit
Loire-70 Cockpit

References

  • Green, William. Warplanes of the Second World War, Volume Five, Flying Boats. Macdonald.
  • Bousquet, Gérard. “Le Loire 70: Malchanceux jusqu’au bout.” Air Magazine, April–May 1992.
  • PassionAir1940. “Loire 70.” (technical and operational summary)