Caudron C.714

Caudron planes won the race "Coupe Deutsch de la Meurthe" in the years 1934, 1935 and 1936.
Later, Caudron developed the C.710 lightweight fighter similar to these succesful racing planes,
which flew first on 18.07.1936. Despite the small dimensions and weight this plane soon
proved that with a 450PS engine and a armament consisting of two 20mm cannons it was still
faster than most fighters of itīs time. Furher development resulted in the C.713, which lew first
in december, 1937. Its landing gear was retractable and the tail unit had been modified.
At the end of this development stood the C.714.01 prototype, which lew first in summer, 1938
and had an improved fuselage and wing profile. In november, 1938, 100 C.714 serial fighters were
ordered, which were armed with four 7,5mm MAC MGīs carried in pods under the wings
(the wings were too thin for an internal installation). It was a completely wooden plane
(except the rudders) and serial production started in summer, 1939. 50 of these fighters were sent
to finland, but only six arrived and were never used in any way (the finnish air force was very unsatified
with this plane, it didnīt seems to meet the requirements of a scandinavian winter war and the expectations)
40 C.714 went in service with the french armee de līair (the production was cancelled after 90 planes
because the climb rate didnīt meet the expectations of the armee de līair for a point defense fighter).
These fighters equipped the polish squadron GC I/145 which was engaged in combats from
2. until 13. june 1940. They were credited with 12 confirmed kills, and at least three battles were fought
against superior enemy forces like Bf109, Bf110 and Do17 with quite good success.
Some C.714 were used by the french in their colonies and 20 were captured by germany.
Other projected versions were the C.720 trainer with a 100 or 220PS engine, the promising C.760
fighter with a 750PS Isotta-Faschini radial engine and the C.770 fighter with a 800PS Renault V-engine.

My comment:
Power, speed, armament and armour arenīt everything. It was much easier to build this fighter than to build
its competitors. Especially with the planned heavier and stronger engines it would have been a deadly
interceptor which would have helped the armee de līair to control its own airspace. Except this type,
only the widely used conventional Dewoitine D.520 and the high-speed fighter Bloch M.B.157
(>700km/h in 1940!) were capable to do that. The air superiority over france was one of the most
decisive factors during WW2.