Prewar industrial activities

Émile Dewoitine was born in Crépy-en-Laonnais. He began his career in aviation by working at Latécoère during World War I. In 1920, he started his own company. However, because his business did not succeed in France, he moved to Switzerland. There, his Dewoitine D.27 fighter aircraft was approved for military use. In 1931, Dewoitine returned to France and established Société Aéronautique Française – Avions Dewoitine. During the 1930s, several important aircraft were produced at the Toulouse-based Dewoitine factories. These included the Dewoitine D.500, the first fully metallic, single-wing fighter used by the French Air Force, and the Dewoitine D.338, a passenger airplane. In 1936, part of the French aviation industry was taken over by the government, and Dewoitine’s factories became part of the state-owned company SNCAM. During the Battle of France in 1940, the Dewoitine D.520 was recognized as France’s most effective fighter aircraft.

World War II

After Germany successfully invaded France in 1940, an agreement was made with Germany, leading to the formation of the Vichy government. Dewoitine briefly attempted to start a business in the United States. This action led to Dewoitine being charged with treason by the Vichy government. He later returned to work with SIPA, a company that, following an agreement between the Vichy government and German officials, produced training aircraft for the German air force, the Luftwaffe. These included a version of the Arado Ar 96, which became known as the SIPA S.10.

Postwar exile

After being accused of working with enemies following France's liberation, Dewoitine escaped to Spain. There, he helped create a version of the D.520 aircraft with Hispano Aviación. Later, he moved to Argentina, where he worked for the Industria Aeronáutica Militar. He designed the Pulqui I, the first jet plane made in South America, and the Colibrí, a training aircraft. In France, Dewoitine was found guilty without being present and sentenced to 20 years of forced labor in 1948. Toward the end of his life, he lived in Switzerland. After his crimes were no longer punishable by law, he returned to France and spent his final years in Toulouse.