[1] During the Second World War, Étoile sailed to the United Kingdom after the Fall of France and was used by the Free French Naval Forces, returning to Brest in 1945.

Lemaistre proceeded to the launch in the night of the day chosen for the ceremony, and officials coming for the occasion were surprised to find Étoile already afloat.

[3] In the morning of 18 June 1940, Lieutenant-Commander Cros, in charge of both schooners, was ordered to prepare for evacuating the students of the school in the face of the German invasion of France.

[4] The British boarded Belle Poule in the night of 2 July as part of Operation Catapult, taking the French personnel prisoner.

[5] On 16 November 1940, the Belle Poule and Étoile left Falmouth and sailed to Portsmouth to join the Free French naval school, held on Président-Théodore-Tissier.

[8] Belle Poule and Étoile sail around Brest during the winter, and occasionally participate in meetings during the summer,[8] mainly in European waters.