the Dewoitine 338 trimotor aircraft, 1930s

The Dewoitine 338 was an important part of the long distance fleet of Air France in the late 1930s. The aircraft was derived from Dewoitine 332 which first flew in July 1933 and was flown on many trips to make it known in Europe, North Africa, West Africa, USSR, and Indochina. The D.332 was followed by the D.333 of which three examples (Antares, Altair and Cassiopeia) were ordered by Air France in 1935. These aircraft flew Toulouse-Dakar, and were used in South America.

Air France ordered 21 of the D.338 which flew for the first time in 1935, this order was eventually increased to 29 aircraft plus two ordered by the French government. Capacity varied according to the task: 22 passengers for shorter routes (Europe, North Africa), 15 to 18 for medium routes and twelve (with six berths) for the long routes, and the cabin was well soundproofed.

The first route, Paris-Cannes, was commenced in mid-1936; the machines were put into service later on the Paris-Dakar route. After an experimental flight Paris-Hanoi in January 1938, the Damascus-Hanoi regular route was begun and extended to Hong Kong in August 1938. During WW2, some D.338 were  used for flying Paris-London (Heston) and after the French defeat, by the Military Airlines (LAM) from Beirut to Brazzaville. Seven planes were also seized by German forces and employed by Lufthansa.