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Coastal Command's http://www.caffrenchwing.fr AIRSHOWCAF FRENCH WING - BULLETIN MENSUEL - MONTHLY NEWSLETTER http://www.lecharpeblanche.fr http://www.worldwarbirdnews.com found on Wikipedia. This well-known The men who were engaged in the Volume 20 - N°02 - February 2015 “free encyclopedia” should always raid knew this perfectly, yet carried be read with caution, if not outright out their orders without hesitation, for EDITORIAL skepticism. However, some of its which some paid the ultimate price. contents are actually quite good, he staff members of the French such as this “featured article” which As we are about to celebrate the 70th T Wing recently met at the Air & details a little-known yet important anniversary of the armistice, let us Space Museum in Le Bourget to aerial battle. not forget what our predecessors had prepare for this year’s events and to sacrifice to achieve victory, up to activities. A few members were What made the events of 9 February the very last days of the war. present as well. You will find in 1945 particularly tragic is that these columns details about the they could, and should, have been Enjoy your reading ! topics that were discussed as well avoided, especially at a time when as what decisions were made. the war was clearly coming to an end. - Bertrand Brown As always, we will need our members to help out, whether at meetings and airshows to man the PX and welcome the public, clean up the hangar and prepare the meals for the fly-in, or simply participate in the many daily chores that need to be done at the hangar or on the airplanes. The date for our annual fly-in has been set to Sunday the 17th of May. We are counting on your help and assistance to organize everything and also to help us gather as many classic aircraft as possible. We’re hoping to do at least as well as previous years, CAF 3RD PURSUIT SQUADRON and hopefully better! In this issue of Airshow, Col. Roger Robert continues to tour Commemorative Air Force units Royal Air Force Royal and presents the 3rd Pursuit Squadron. This unit, which is not Photo as well known as it should, was founded by a former “Flying Tiger”, Erik Shilling. You’ll also learn about “Black Friday”, a disastrous raid led by RAF Coastal Command units against shipping in Norway 70 years ago on this day. Although it was slightly modified and illustrations were added, it should 70 YEARS AGO: be noted that this article was COASTAL COMMAND’s «BLACK FRIDAY» •••••••••••••News••••••••••••• CAF French Wing 2015 Events Bertrand Brown Photo CAF French Wing Annual Fly-In The date for the CAF French Wing’s annual fly-in has been set to Sunday the 17th of May. Please save the date and let the word out. Here is a preliminary list of events A preparatory meeting will take place during the Carrefour de that the French Wing will attend l’Air on Sunday the 12th of April. We would like to make improve- during the 2015 airshow season. : ments on safety measures as well as other points. • 11/12 April - Carrefour de l’Air We will need to set up a team to prepare and serve the meals. An ideal figure would be at least 4 people, so that tasks can be shared and nobody is left to “slave around”. As usual, meals and • 17 May - CAF French Wing Fly- drinks will be free but we will gladly accept donations, for which in a basket will be made available. • 23/25 May - La Ferté-Alais air- In order to reinforce security, we would like to have several se- curity teams which will take turns on the “ramp”. If we could have show four teams of two people, that would allow us to safely direct flight operations. We’re especially worried about children run- • 6/7 June - Compiègne Aéro ning around. Classic As always, the more the merrier and if there are enough volun- teers, everyone will get a chance to contribute to a great day We’re also planning group visits to while not being overwhelmed with work. The specifics will be various museums or airshows. The discussed on April 12, but we ask volunteers to get in touch with first of these will be at the World us now. War One museum in Meaux, on On a final note, please let us know if you want to invite friends to Sunday 8 March. Practical details the fly-in, especially if they plan on coming with classic aircraft or warbirds! The food and drinks are free, but we still need to will be sent by email and posted on know how many people to expect! ■ the website. We’re also considering organizing a group trip to Duxford for the “Fly- ing Legends” meeting on July 11/12 Bertrand Brown as well as the Commemorative Air Force’s Airsho in Texas in August. Photo We’ll need help for all of these events and ask volunteers to get in contact Stéphane Duchemin or Ber- News of the Piper Cub trand Brown by email as soon as Our Piper Cub «Spirit of Lewis» will soon need some minor re- possible. We’ll especially need help pairs. There are no major problems to be dealt with but the win- at La Ferté-Alais. If we can have dow that was slightly cracked last year now needs replacement, and we also need to replace an access door hinge which is giv- two “teams”, we can work in shifts ing signs of fatigue. and make sure that everyone gets a As last year, we will be organizing «hangar days» at the airfield chance to enjoy the airshow without to do such work and spend time together as soon as the weather having to stay at the French Wing’s improves. Dates will be communicated on the website and by stand all day long! ■ email. ■ 2 •••••••••••••News••••••••••••• Staff meeting at the Paris Air & Space Museum The French Wing staff and a few members met on Sunday the 18th of January at the Roger Vaucamp and Yves Donjon, Paris Air & Space Museum to discuss and plan for the French Wing’s 2015 events. French Wing honorary members Thanks to Col. Roger Robert, we were given During the January 18 staff meeting, the French Wing board members elect- access to a meeting room, with greater com- ed to induct two former French Wing members as honorary members. fort and heat than could be expected in the hangar at this time of year! The first is Roger Vaucamp, a figure well known by some of our oldest mem- bers. Roger, known as “Jethro” due to his resemblance to the legendary CAF During the meeting, various topics were dis- leader Jethro Culpepper, was already a CAF Colonel in the early 80s when cussed: preparation for the airshows we’ll be the CAF was still based in Harlingen, Texas. He joined the French Supporter attending as well as our annual fly-in, new Squadron when it was created by Bernard Delfino and has always held high items and organisation for the PX, group vis- the values and colours of our unit, as can be seen on this photo taken when its, etc. he was commenting an airshow in Couhé-Vérac or Chauvigny. Roger is the proud owner of a Pioneer P300 S nicknamed “Vieux Croa”, referring to Bud We’ve decided to renew with the practice of Anderson’s P-51 Mustang “Old Crow”, and wearing a CAF - Celtic Air Force group visits to museums or airshows. The - livery! first of these will be the visit of the Great War Museum in Meaux on Sunday the 8th The second honorary member is Yves Donjon. Yves has been the Mémorial of March. Normandie-Niémen’s librarian for years and has done remarkable work to honour the memory of the former members of the famous Free French fighter After the meeting, participants had lunch at regiment. He is the author of “Ceux du Normandie-Niémen”, now in its fourth the restaurant “L’Hélice” (the propeller) and edition. This book presents the biographies of all regiment personnel: pilots, a few seized the opportunity to visit the mu- mechanics, translators, doctors... Yves was a member of the French Sup- seum in the afternoon after lunch. ■ porter Squadron and later French Wing. We are proud to honour him today and see him join our ranks again. ■ Rearwin Sportster project Great War Museum group visit Our first group visit will take place on Sunday the 8th of March at 10:00 AM at the Great War Museum in Meaux. We’ll have lunch at the Courtepaille restaurant near the museum Our Rearwin Sportster was one of the topics discussed during the staff before resuming the visit in the afternoon. If meeting. A full restoration currently seems impossible due to the lack we can gather 15 members or more, the ad- of manpower and qualified personnel. One possibility is to set up a mittance cost will be 7€ per person, or 10€/ series of “restoration workshops” to rebuild or restore some parts of person if there are fewer of us. the aircraft, while teaching interested members some basic restoration techniques and advancing a little on the project. If you’re interested A registration form has been sent with this in participating in this, please contact Bertrand Brown by email. If no newsletter. To participate, please fill it and progress is made this year on the Rearwin Sportster, we will have to return it to Stéphane Duchemin by March 1st consider parting with it, so that it will have a chance of being restored at the latest.
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