'The scars of war'. Displacement, dislocation and the aircrew of the Forces aériennes françaises libres 1940-44: Towards a quantitative and qualitative analysis

This article examines the processes of displacement and dislocation for the aircrew that came together in 1940-42 to form the Forces aériennes françaises libres (FAFL). It uses quantitative and qualitative methodologies to examine the background and motivations of the men of the FAFL. It also seeks to utilise current understandings about the French right in examining the political impulses of Free French pilots. The article concludes with some suggestions about the long term significance on French life of the displacements and dislocations of 1940-42.