SNCAC NC.420 Observation Flying Boat

The SNCAC NC.420 was an observation flying boat designed for use aboard French navy warships. To assist with storage on the ships, the NC.420 had folding wings which reduced its width to 4.75m.

The German invasion halted work on the project, although it later resumed, to enable damaged Loire 130s to be replaced. Development was slow and the prototype first flew in August 1942.

Following the German occupation of southern France, Italy occupied the factory where the NC.420 was located. It’s control were disabled to prevent it being flown to North Africa to join Free French Forces.