Robert Castin was born on August 25, 1918, in the city of Montluçon (Algeria). He began his service in aviation in November 1936. He joined the “Normandie” squadron at the end of February 1944.
After retraining on the Yak-9 fighter, in the spring of 1944, he commenced combat missions, proving himself a skilled and resolute pilot. He served as part of the 4th squadron of the regiment.
Combat Prowess with the Normandie Regiment
October 16, 1944, became the most successful day in the history of the “Normandie” regiment, when French pilots conducted about 100 combat sorties. In aerial battles, they shot down 29 enemy aircraft and destroyed about 50 on the ground. Robert Castin also recorded two victories (as part of a group) that day; paired with Roger Marquis, they engaged six “Fokkers” and shot down four of them. Two days later, he achieved his first personal victory.
His seventh victory was achieved in the battles for Königsberg. On that day, French pilots led by Delphino encountered a large group of Bf.109s. There were many “Messers,” who recently flew only in dense formations, perhaps for psychological impact on Allied pilots or for their own safety. Delphino quickly distributed his forces: he himself, with de Saint-Marceau’s squadron, engaged the enemy head-on; Le Martelo attacked from above; and Charras engaged the enemy on the flanks. The enemy had only one escape route: downwards.
Tactical Skill and Final Missions
Robert Castin pursued one of them. Diving at full speed was risky for a “Yak,” so Castin occupied the “dead zone,” a sector where it’s not easy to detect a pursuer without knowing special vigilance techniques. The German pilot, thinking he was no longer pursued, sharply broke his flight path, began to climb, and immediately received a burst of shells from Castin. In this battle, French pilots shot down about 10 enemy aircraft.
Castin’s most successful day was January 16, 1945, when he destroyed three enemy aircraft (Fw.190) at once. In total, during his time in the “Normandie-Niemen” regiment, Robert Castin achieved 10 aerial victories (according to some sources, 6 personal and 4 in group engagements).
He fought his last engagement on January 18. On this day, having been wounded in one of his sorties, Robert ended his combat activity. On February 4, 1945, he returned to France. The pilot’s post-war fate is currently unknown.