Originally Posted by Megan
Did the French really order 600 as mentioned on the web?
From what I have read, it was not unusual for wartime orders to be placed for huge numbers of items of equipment.
It was a time of fear, of uncertainty, and of projections of the worst magnitude, based on the worst fears.
Even in the U.S., after the country entered WW2, massive equipment orders were placed, and then modified again with weeks - often to even larger order numbers.
The U.S. had to form committees to ascertain the capabilities of raw resources and manufacturing facilities, able to support production figures, that were required to reach completely unforeseen levels.
There are regular references to the 600 Stinson aircraft ordered by the French - but it appears obvious that any French records pertaining to this order have long been destroyed.
There's a pretty comprehensive and detailed Stinson specification and production record in the link below.
Stinson