Volume 11 - N° 4 - April 2006 PIERRE CLOSTERMANN EDITORIAL

This first quarterly of year 2006 has been sad- AKA "CLOCLO" HAS GONE WEST dened by the recent death of Joseph Risso of the Normandie Niemen and Robert Scott of ONE OF THE the Flying Tigers, and, today, by the death of Pierre Clostermann. This hero had a gift to MOST FAMOUS write, so much that, without even knowing it, he influenced the life of tens of thousands of WWII FIGHTER young aviation lovers who, thanks to him, did PILOTS, AND a career in aviation. I'm one of them, and I shall always be grateful to him for this. Many THE ONE WHO of you expressed your deep sadness after you INSPIRED THE heard about it. The condolences message I sent to Madame Clostermann, on behalf of all our GREATEST members, was highly appreciated by her and her family. It's the least we could do. NUMBER WITH HIS BOOK "THE But life goes on, and you will find, in this issue, all sorts of news, the best ones being the arrival BIG SHOW", in the French Wing of several new members, two PIERRE CLOSTER- of whom see their portrait published this month. Others are still to come, and I'm simply waiting MANN, PASSED for their forms to arrive to write an article about each one of them. Thanks for your patience. AWAY ON MARCH

I was planning on the participation of all our members, without any exception, to our Unit's tenth anniversary celebration, which will take WHAT'S THE CON- place on June 10 and 11, on the airfield of Le NECTION BETWEEN Plessis-Belleville. Alas, it seems that several members will not be able to make it for vari- THIS CURTISS P-40 ous and serious reasons. The most important AND THE FRENCH news is that our dear Lewis Bateman's sister, Shirley, will be there ! And she will come with WING ? READ OUR three friends. The Spirit of Lewis will not stay on AMAZING ARTICLE the ground for very long during this memorable ON PAGE 3. week-end !

It sometimes takes months between the time an article is written and its publication, especially when urgent news have to take precedence, GREAT CONTEST FOR A 50th ANNIVERSARY OR- which happened throughout the whole Winter GANIZED BY THE CAF (See on page 6 the rules and season. Therefore, you will find in this issue, with some delay, the report on the Tours air- the conditions to be fulfilled). show that Christian Tournemine and Christophe Bastide have made of it. I thank them very much ONLY ONE MONTH LEFT TO PAY YOUR FRENCH for their kindness and their great patience. WING ANNUAL DUES, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY SENT YOUR CHEQUE (See details and list on page 4). Bernard 1 PIERRE CLOSTERMANN

Article by col. B. Delfino

If one asked me who, among all the It was thanks to a happy convergence of french members of the French Wing, circumstances, and thanks to the help has never read "The Big Show", I would from Yves Donjon and Eric Ducreau not hesitate one second : None ! who met him during an airshow in Rouen in 2001, that I was able, at last, This book, through the lived story it to hope and materialize this dream. tells in such a lively and moving way, represents, in the world of aviation, Fumiko, who had met japanese Ace THE book that every aviation lover Saburo Sakaï on two occasions, must have read at least once. This book had promised him to give Pierre has the rare capacity to be, today like Clostermann, a calligraphy that he it did on the first day of its publica- had written with his own hand. It took tion, the one that triggers passions and nearly three years to make this meeting the Sky" would mend this inequity, and decides the future of its readers. It's the possible. This event took place on June would include the absolutely fantastic only example of such a phenomenon story of Saburo Sakaï's flight, after that comes to my mind and I type he had been shot and wounded over these modest lines. The only one, to my Guadalcanal. knowledge, in the history of literature, and in the history of aviation. The conversation turned to our Unit's activities, and, more particularly, to Tens of thousands of youngsters have, “Mission 441" of which a complete by reading it, caught the aviation virus, report was given to him as two of and made a career in aviation. How can the French Wing Newsletters. Pierre a simple book have such a power will Clostermann was impressed by this you ask ?… Read it, or read it again, project and expressed his satisfaction and you will know the answer to this to see the efforts we had deployed to question : A lively style, genuine techni- 9, 2001. honor the memory of WWII aviators. cal and historical details, and plenty of I was very moved just thinking that I Our meeting lasted an entire hour, and emotion that Pierre Clostermann was was about to meet one of those who rarely did an hour of my life go so fast ! able to transcribe on paper. A very dif- are at the origin of my love for avia- ficult art, but terribly effective for who tion. Like many, I thought, ever since Thank you Pierre Clostermann. Your has it. my first reading of "The Big Show", kindness and your modesty confirmed at the age of twelve, that its author the opinion the reading of your books was untouchable, almost unreal, and I forged in my mind since the very first could not even hope to have the luck to time I read them. meet him and exchange a few points of view with him. Thank you Pierre Clostermann. Thanks to the example you gave us through The kindness of this great man, and his your wonderfully written books, voca- simplicity, soon melted all my fears and tions were revealed among thousands anxieties. His warm welcome helped us of young men, vocations that became feel good. as many brilliant aviation careers. Without you, aviation would not be It was with a real joy and a sincere emo- what it is today. tion that he accepted from Fumiko's hands the calligraphy written by Saburo You have just left, but you will remain Sakaï. He was also charmed to receive a present for ever in our hearts, thanks to few presents from our Unit, and he will- your exploits, and thanks to the books ingly accepted to sign a few documents you gave us. that we had brought with us. You just joined those who recently The conversation that we had with went away : Joseph Risso very recently, Pierre Clostermann was, for a great part, Jacques Remlinger your lifetime close Meeting such a hero was the dream of about japanese pilots and their brave- friend, Saburo Sakaï, Robert Lee Scott, all these aviation lovers, but the very ness during WWII. Not known well and many, too many others. stature of the man has always been such enough, and victim of often erroneous that it only came true for some lucky information, he told us that a future Au revoir, and à bientôt Pierre ones. edition of his second book "Flames in Clostermann. 2 NEWS

ROY'S LATEST BABY

Col. Roy Grinnell has hit the jackpot again with this splendid portrait of Tex Hill's P-40, the product of a recent private order.

This painting is so good that a publisher has already asked for it for one of its 2007 calendars dedicated to Aces. Other paintings from Roy that will be in- cluded in this calendar are : George Chandler (P-38), Pierre Clostermann (Tempest), Fred Christensen (P-47), Marcel Albert (Yak 3), Saburo Sakaï (Zero), Pete Brothers (Hurricane), Lufbery (Nieuport17c), Claude Weaver (Spitfire Vc), Marseilles (Me-109), Gen Han & H. Fisher (Mig 15 bis), and Steve Pisanos (P-51B).

Beware ! No print will be made from this painting of Rex's P-40, but should some of our members be interested by a giclée (printing on canvas), it would be possible for a special price (for members) of $ 200.00 + P&P, to be ordered from Roy or from the French Wing, depending where you reside.

THE FRENCH WING GETS ITS P-40 (AT LAST !)

Unbelievable but true ! The spot, in the Disney Studios, Disney Studios in Paris have the very day the plane - one of done away with their P-40 the models used for the movie that did not fulfil their needs "Pearl Harbor" - was about to any longer. be thrown away by the Dis- ney Studios. He simply asked This plane is, in reality, a scale the question : "Could you not 1 model, and if it wasn't for donate it to our Association ?" the width of the propeller blades, slightly too wide, it Enthused by the noble goals would take a very close ex- of the CAF and the French amination to see that it is not Wing, the people at the Dis- a real P-40. ney Studios agreed and do- nated the plane immediately ! It took an exceptionable con- vergence of circumstances for The deal was made official (below). Our Unit Leader type of airplane !…). The our Unit Leader to be on the a few days later, and it's re- was here too, of course (One plane's paint scheme will cently that the plane knows too much about his soon be changed for one of was brought to the pronounced leaning for this the Flying Tigers. airfield of Le Plessis- Belleville and fitted atop the pole that we had prepared for it.

The photos show the delicate manoeuvre of bolting the plane at the top of this pole. The operation was supervized by cols. Philippe Duflot (left), our Finance Officer who seems to be pre- occupied by the cost of this operation… and Didier Cardinal 3 NEWS

AN IMPORTANT AND INDISPENSABLE CHANGE SPONSORS OF THE "SPIRIT OF LEWIS" As it was announced last stop us from keeping the month in the report made noble goals that were Levels of sponsorship : by Barbara Hair on the chosen fifty years ago by CAF Winter Staff Confer- the founders of the CAF. Flying Sponsor ence, all patches, pin's, and These goals are so right and other embroideries which so noble that they are im- 250 Euros per year include the word "Con- perishable. All members and 25 Euros per flight hour federate Air Force" of the CAF have these Average for 10 hours : 50,00 €/hour must disappear from goals deep in the bot- all our garments and tom of their heart, and Restoration Sponsor others, as soon as pos- no one will ever ask sible. them to change, on the 125 Euros per year contrary ! and 40 Euros per flight hour This decision has for origin the negative Average for 10 hours : 52,50 €/hour effect that this word, Confederate, has But it is time, today, to stow our grey politically taken on as years went by, uniforms in our small personal mu- Supporting Sponsor and its effect on the public. seums, to undo our old patches, and to replace them with new ones of the 50 Euros per year If this term was amusing about fifty Commemorative Air Force. and 55 Euros per flight hour years ago, it has, today, a com- Average for 10 hours : 60,00 €/hour pletely different The cost will not meaning whose ef- be too high, and if Non-Sponsor fect is undesirable. it can console the We understand that saddest ones, these No annual premium and several members may feel some remains of the early days 80 Euros per flight hour nostalgia for this defunct era, but the of the CAF will soon become CAF has to adopt a more neutral aspect, coveted collectors' items and will have a List of Sponsosrs to date : and be more open to the general public value that they never had before ! than before. It has to be conducted and FLYING SPONSORS a business and a flourishing one. Still on that same subject, on March 16, the CAF General Staff decided to drop Gilles Avenel To accomplish this, it has to do away the use of the modern wings and revert Bernard Delfino with everything that could appear nega- to the classic ones as the official CAF Fumiko Delfino tive, with, as a final target, to increase logo. A decision which will be highly Marcel Francisci - ACF its number of members. It does not appreciated by many members. Claude Gascon Roger Gouzon Irene Grinnell Roy Grinnell FRENCH WING ANNUAL DUES - YEAR 2006 / 2007 Alain Jimenez Jean-Claude Miniggio Patrick Pierre-Pierre Like every year, with Spring comes back Texas 75068). That way we will avoid Sandy Sansing the time to pay your French Wing An- most of the ruining bank charges. The SKY RUNNER nual Dues. members who are up to date with their Regis Urschler annual dues are : All payments must be done before April RESTORATION SPONSORS 30. Therefore, if it's not already done, Hugh Alexander III, Gilles Avenel, we thank you for sending us a cheque Bob & Lil Ayars, Jean Barbaud, Bunty Didier Cardinal of : 20 € if you are a Cadet, 40 € if you Bateman, François Bergeon, Didier Bunty Bateman area a Friend of the French Wing, or Bourrassier, Arnaud Chatton, Daniel Georges Marcelin 50 € if you are a Colonel or an Associate Costelle, Merrill Butikofer, Bernard & Member. Fumiko Delfino, Philippe Duflot, Ken SUPPORTING SPONSORS Fields, Roy & Irene Grinnell, Barbara Our friends who reside in the USA must & Aubrey Hair, Tex Hill, Isabelle Lesser, William Davies send a cheque of $ 50.00 to Roy and Georges Marcelin, Patrick Pierre-Pierre, Stéphane Duchemin Irene Grinnell, in their name, so that Betty Piland, Hervé Quefféléant, Sandy Barbara Hair they can cash it and give us the cash the Sansing, Gordon Stevenson, Terran Aubrey Hair next time we meet them (Roy & Irene Tidwell, Gilles Troussart, Regis Ursch- Ronald Wright Grinnell, P.O. Box 719 Little Elm, ler, and Ronald Wright. 4 NEWS

WELCOME FRANÇOIS BERGEON UPDATE ON THE SCI

Col. François Bergeon loved the article famous aviation cartoon series whose hero A computer typing error shortened the about Sandy Sansing's commemoration is called Buck Danny. family name of Colette, Barbara's french in Puiseux en Retz, to such a point that he teacher. It should have read Colette found our contact on the CAF web site and He got his french PPL in 1982 and flew McAlester. sent our Leader a message, last February. at the aero-club of Etrepagny before he decided to go and live in the USA. There, Those who know her will have corrected François immediately offered to host our he got his american licences (IFR), com- this mistake. We hope that Colette will own web site, which is a big step forward in mercial, multi-engine, and instructor in forgive us for such an error. the long path that will lead us to a proper 1995. web site for our Wing. François was a full-time instructor during Not only did he offered this big favor, but several years on tail draggers (PA-18, Super he started a welcome page which includes Cub) and aerobatics (Great Lakes, Pitts).

22960

G. Avenel 700,00 D. Cardinal 210,00 J-C Debuisson 350,00 B. & F. Delfino 5040,00 J. Francis 420,00 C. Gascon 5040,00 L-J. Gioux 70,00 R. Gouzon 4060,00 C. McAlester 70,00 G. Marcelin 350,00 J-C Miniggio 70,00 P. Pierre-Pierre 5040,00 G. Robert 140,00 C. Tournemine 1400,00 the contact of each Board of Administra- He took part in local aerobatics competi- Total 328 parts 22960,00 tion member. Those of our readers who tions, and even became the Champion for sur 1000 sur 70000,00 are connected to the Internet can open this Arizona in 1999 flying a Pitts S-2C ! He is page at the following address : also a research pilot and a check pilot for the Civil Air Patrol (USAF auxiliary). http://www.frenchwingcaf.org/ http://www.cybercockpit.com A member of the Arizona Wing for the We now need to prepare the contents of past 3 years, and Sponsor of the B-25 Should members who visit Arizona wish our web site and to put it on line. Merci "Maid in the shade" which is currently be- to fly with him, the Wing asks for $250 François ! ing restored, François has been flying the for 30 minutes, but beware, François only Arizona Wing's SNJ for his own pleasure, flies between October and May because the François came to to spend some and he is authorised to give rides when weather is too hot in Arizona ! leave during the second half of March, and people want to. the Board of Administration members met Welcome aboard François ! him in the Le Bourget Air Museum. The He dreamed of flying a T-6 for the past photo above shows François with Didier 15 years, and he loves this plane so much and Philippe during this meeting. that he wrote an article about it, which was published in 1996 in the french magazine François works as a computer program Info Pilote. He also wrote an article about engineer for a company that deals with the Civil Air Patrol, which was published credit card payments. He was fascinated by last year in Aviation & Pilote. You can aviation ever since his early years, when he visit his (old) web page at the following was building plastic models and reading a address : 5 NEWS

WELCOME RONALD WRIGHT SHORT LINES

Col. Ronald D. Wright, Ron for every- • Association Aviation Club de France one, became interested in aviation at a decided to make another important very early age. donation to the French Wing for the res- toration of the Rearwin Sportster ! We He was born on February 23, 1943, in thank the leaders of ACF, and colonel Independence (Missouri), a suburb of Marcel Francisci whose generosity and Kansas City. help to our Wing are simply extraordi- nary ! His father was a flight engineer and pilot with TWA, and airplanes were an im- • Airshow of La Ferté-Alais June 02, portant and constant part of his life. As 03, and 04, 2007 : If you did not react a young boy, he built and flew airplanes in due time to the mail sent to you on of all sorts. March 15, you now need to buy your bit of French and, especially, he learned to own tickets at the public price of 26 Although his father teached him to fly at enjoy France where him and his wife take euros per day, twice the price asked for the age of 10, he only got his pilot license trips searching for cathedrals, sculptures, professional participants. Too bad ! 40 years later. He is currently the holder and nice paintings. of a US Commercial Certificate and - in Those who wish to help with the set- strument rated. Ron practices but he stayed in the Army re- ting up of our tent, meet us at the serves, and retired with airfield check point on Friday June the grade of Colonel. 02, at 2 PM. Should no member of the Board of Administration be there, be His love for WWII patient and wait for the arrival of our aircraft led him to the Unit Leader, or call him on 06 80 36 Commemorative Air 17 17. Force. HE has been a member for about 8 • The CAF is organizing a National years, and he belongs Convention in Las Vegas from July to the Heart of America 06 till July 12, 2007. Should you wish Wing. He flies the Fair- to participate, please contact the French child PT-19 that has Wing at once to get the necessary de- been assigned to this tails. He married Sharyl, his wife of 38 years. Unit (picture on the left), and, today, he's She is a professor of Art History in a small a member of the French Wing ! • For its 50th Anniversary, the CAF local University. They have two daughters will publish a book on that theme. It and three grand-children. A dentist by Ron made a point of supporting the will include a history of the organization profession thanks to diplomas he got in Rearwin Sportster restoration project, and a portrait of the CAF today. You will the universities of Kansas and Missouri, and to become a Supporting Sponsor of soon receive documents that will allow Ron served in that function with the US our J-3. you to be part of the book. Watch your Air Force, in Heidelberg, Germany, from mail and call the French Wing head of- 1972 till 1975. His assistant was from A very big Thank You Ron, and welcome fice if you have any problem understand- Verdun, and, thanks to her, he learned a aboard ! ing or translating what it's about.

CAF 50TH ANNIVERSARY LOGO COMPETITION

The CAF organizes a competition for • It must be clearly readable. your drawing, fully finished, to the the logo which will be used to celebrate • It must be sent as a high resolution French Wing head-office which will the CAF 50th Anniversary in 2007. (300 DPI) JPEG graphic document. scan it and send it to Midland on your • It will need to be sent to Kay Crites via behalf. A professional level must be This logo will be used in all CAF publi- email at : < [email protected] adopted because this logo must be read- cations related to this event, and will be >, or burned on a CD Rom and sent by ily useable. shown on all CAF airplanes. Any mem- mail to the following address : All suggestions will be judged by an ber or friend can participate. The rules CAF Headquarters, PO Box 62000, impartial jury, and the winner will get of this friendly competition are simple : Midland, Texas 79711, USA. a set of golden wings to be wore on • The drawing must include the words • It must be received in Midland before your uniform, and a three days and two "Commemorative Air Force" or "CAF", June 30, 2006. nights holiday week-end to be chosen and figure "50". If you do not have a computer, send among 41 destinations. 6 NEWS

RAOUL LUFBERY COMMEMORATION

Col. Philippe Duflot found the military record card of Raoul Lufbery, as it is preserved in the Defence archives, as part of the projcet Memory of Man- kind.

This card, as the assiduous reader will notice, include two errors of a fair size. Were they willingly included by Raoul, ar were they simple thoughtfulness from the secretary on duty that day ? We will probably never know…

Raoul's date of birth is written as being March 21, 1889, while the true date was March 14, 1889. The place of birth is given as being Paris, while, as everyone knows, Raoul was born in Chamalière.

We learn that Raoul enrolled himself in the Army on August 25, 1914 for the duration of the war, that he was coming from the First Aviation Group (Dijon Depot), and that he got three citations from the Army, the Military Medal, and the in 1916.

The person to be advised in case of an accident has been changed from Ma- dame Jeanne Moncyrang (Spelling not nic. His posting was as a Pilot of Voisin G.B. 102 on October 5, 1915", "Came guaranteed), living in rue de la Pompe aircraft, a plane that he probably lear- from Escadrille 124 on November 17, in Paris, to his brother Julien Lufbery, ned to fly on. 1916, to take delivery of a single-seater Secretary of the Army Headquarters. Spad", then, the same day "Left for N Finally, the back side of this military 124, broke down in Louvres, back to Then, his profession as a civilian has record card includes several facts about R9A", and on November 22, 1915 "Was been declared as a mechanic, which is Raoul's movements : "Came from Ambé- given a mission to answer (or carry on) true since he was Marc Pourpe's mecha- rieu on September 14, 1915", "Left for etc… (unreadable).

"CARTOONS TAKE TO THE AIR"

Such was the title of a show dedicated to aviation cartoons which took place last month at the Le Bourget museum (Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace du Bourget).

Our friend Jean Barbaud (right) was one of the artists who took part in this show, and his kindness allowed dozens of his fans to get a personalized signature, including a drawing of their choice ! Quite a performance because this show las- ted a whole 48 hours.

The "muscled" guards at the gate made sure that each visitor could only get two books signed each, which, considering the number of them and the success of this show is unders- tandable.

7 (FAFL)

THE GROUPE BRETAGNE (4)

Articles and paintings by col. Louis-Jean Gioux

Finance and He was then replaced by Capitaine de Captain Roques. Maismont who became the leader, and, On June 27, on July 18, 1943, General Bouscat con- 1943, Gen- firmed the near departure of the group eral de Gaulle for the East. inspected the Group. On July 28, 1943 the planes took off for Rayak, and, in November, the Groupe He talked about Bretagne left for Egypt, and finally the future of started off for Algiers.

n January 22, 1943, the Groupe the Groupe OGMB 2/20 Bretagne left Zouar Bretagne, with, and established itself up North in Se- namely, an even- bha. General Leclerc did the junction tual deployment with the british troops in Tripoli, and in Russia. In left for the conquest of Tunisia. But the July 1943, while Groupe Bretagne did not take part of flying back from the Tunisia campaign. It was transferred Algiers, an other in April 1943 in Ben Gardane, south aircraft accident of Tunisia, where it trained for night that involved flying. Commandant de Saint Péreuse The equipment was wearing out. An cost him the loss aircraft accident cost the lives of Captain of a leg.

THE BRISTOL BLENHEIM

Manufactured by the Bristol Aeroplanes Company Limited, the Blenheim was a light bomber, based on model 142 civil- ian transport, designed in 1936. It came into service in 1937 under the denomi- nation Mk 1.

When it appeared, it was faster by 160 km/h (100 mph) than the Hart it was about to replace, and faster than all the fighters in service in the !

Various versions, each time improved, followed up to the Mk IV.

It was fitted with two air-cooled, 9 cyl- inders, Bristol Mercury engines, deliver- ing 840 HP each.

Its speed reached 430 km/h (270 mph). Its wing span was 17,17 m (57 ft), sits armament consisted of a single fixed The Blenheim has the distinction of length 12,12 m (40 ft), and its height 3 machine-gun firing forward, and anoth- being the only aircraft to have served m (10 ft). er one mounted on a semi-rotating tur- in all command branches of the RAF : ret. The bomb load was 450 kg (1000 Bomber Command, Fighter Command, The crew comprised four men, and its lbs). This armament increased with the Coastal Command, Army Co-operation range was 1800 km (1125 miles). The different versions of the plane. Command, and Training Command. 8 REPORT

The Armée de l'Air only or- the planes. They gave the ganizes air shows on its main chills to the entire crowd of bases every 5 years. It shows 35000 people spread over the importance it can get ! the entire large base.

Since the French Wing Our beloved B-17 was decided to take part in the there and gave us a very Tours air show, and to send nice display. Of the same its Spirit of Lewis, Patrick level, one must quote the Pierre-Pierre made the team of the Marche Verte, necessary contacts. Philippe as well as the Patrouille Duflot should have been his passenger, without a plane… It was tough for us Breitling, as good as always. The solo while Christophe and Christian would who wanted to make this first sortie of demonstration given by the Gendarme- be waiting for them as an efficient as- the Spirit of Lewis on an Air Force base rie Squirrel helicopter, the Puma Resco, sistance team and the running of a small a triumph (well… almost) of the French the Yak, Gazelle, and Hawk, made the PX by Christophe. Wing. We resigned ourselves to watch balance with the efficient belgian F-16 the air show and make the best of it by which even gave us a simulated in flight Alas, the latter, who was present as early representing the CAF. refuelling behind a KC-137. Cherry as Saturday morning with all the neces- sary badges given by the public relation The program was more than good, with department of the Air Force, received a a classic air display, but with some good call from Patrick who announced that surprizes which somewhat compensated the weather was like pea soup in Persan, our frustration. In fact, Patrick and and did not allow any take-off. Philippe's frustration was even worse. Patrick, who returned to La Rochelle by train, must have gone mad when he saw the beautiful weather that was over the area. The arrival of col. Alain Jimenez made our day and compensated the ab- sence of the Piper Cub (On the left with on the cake, an indian Sukkoï arrived. Christian Tournemine, and on the right Its power surprized the crowd, espe- with col. Christophe Bastide). cially when it saluted the crowd with a Cobra attack. Finally, the long awaited Patrouille de France (that I have been watching for… 50 years !), gave us the long version of their show which, this It was raining on Sunday morning when year, put the accent on a smooth but Christian met Christophe Bastide on rigorous show by the entire team, leav- the hotel car park. Together, they went ing less blanks than before. to the base, a bit worried about the rest of the day. The personnel of the Premier This day was excellent despite our bit- Escadron d'Instruction en Vol invited terness about the absence of our plane. them to the Unit's bar. They were It was organized to help the social goals touched by so much friendship. The The air show was excellent, and, among of the Air Force. It was, therefore, an weather department was very optimistic, the demonstrations of the C-160, the honor to have been there. but the Pipe Cub had to arrive before paratroopers, Vampire, DC-3, CAP 232, 9:30 to stay in the slot that had been ac- T-28, Fairchild, MD-312, and Pitts, we Cols. C. Tournemine et C. Bastide cepted (Such a day could not suffer any were particularly improvized arrangements !). impressed by the Mirage 2000 A call from Patrick confirmed that the solo flight, flab- weather over Persan was as bad as the bergasting with previous day. It stopped any attempt to maestria and top fly to Tours, especially considering that quality. It was a technical stop for gas was necessary, followed later and made the flight a bit more compli- by a group of cated. A few moments later, a call from 4 Mirage 2000 Bernard confirmed that the flight was flying with a cancelled. We instantly became orphans. very small sepa- Assistants with no one to assist… Crew ration between 9 FRENCH WING P.X.

The following articles are available with a pay- WING PROJECTS ment by cheque to the CAF French Wing. (+ P & P). PATRON COMPANIES SUPPORTING THE FRENCH WING • Wing patch:  9,00.  • “Gioux” type patch: 6,00. SKY RUNNER - EPSON  • Various epoxy pins: 5,50. AVIATION CLUB DE FRANCE  • Various pins "cloisonné": 5.00. DIFFUSION SERVICE • 100 A4 sheets with the Wing logo and your personal address:  10,00.

• Warbirds photographs 30x45cm:  10,00. THANK YOU !  • T shirt Piper CUB, 170 grammes, Hanes, L or XL :  15,00. Our most vivid thanks go, 70000 • T shirt cartoon P40, 170 grammes, Hanes, L again this month, to colonel -  68000 or XL: 15,00. Marcel Francisci and - • T shirts other sizes on order. 66000 Association AVIATION - • T shirt illustrated with the picture of your choice CLUB DE FRANCE 64000 - (Maximum size A5 - Warning ! Only send pictures whose directors sent us 62000 that are free from any copyrights !) :  15,00. another cheque of 1000 - 60000 • Aircraft profiles 15 cm x 20 cm ready for fra- euros ($ 1200.00) to help - ming: Various types:  4,00 chaque. 58000 the Rearwin Sportster - • Vidéo filmed in Midland (55mn) VHS PAL:  restoration. 56000 - 16,00 ©. 54000 • Eric Besançon large size paintings: F4U This renewed support so - 52000 Corsair and Messerschmitt 262 night fighter:  close to their previous one - 30,00 P & P included ©. shows an extraordinary 50000 - • Poster N°1 Avions de la seconde guerre mon- enthusiasm from the leaders 48000  - diale peint by Jean Bellis, 61x81cm: 9,00 (FW of ACF, and, particularly, 46000 Members),  10,00 (Non Members) © + P & P. col. Marcel Francisci who - 44000 • Greeting cards with Jean Bellis' profiles:  4,00 played a decisive role in the - each (P & P according to quantity) ©. attribution of this help. 42000 - • Roy Grinnell prints - Normandie Niemen, F4U7, 40000  Our new member Ronald - and B26 Marauder - Unsigned : 40,00 + P & P 38000  10,00. Signed by veterans :  60,00 + P & P D. Wright also wanted - 36000  10,00 ©. to show his support to - • Roy Grinnell print of the Piper Cub:  10 + P he Rearwin Sportster 34000 - & P (FW Members),  15 + P & P (Non mem- restoration with a gift 32000 which is highly appreciated, - bers). 30000 • Post Cards based on the same paintings (B26 as well as a help as - 28000 Marauder and Neuneu) :  0,50 each (P & P Supporting Sponsor of our - according to quantity) ©. Piper J-3 Spirit of Lewis. 26000 - • CD Rom of all FW Newsletters since January A very big Thank You 24000 Ronald ! - 2000, French and English, and 200 photos of 22000 warbirds taken during Airsho in Midland, by B. - Let's take the opportunity 20000 Delfino :  10,00 P & P included ©. - of this article to call all our 18000 - members who cannot take 16000 The CAF French Wing is a non-profit Association ruled by a part in our activities as - the 1901 law, and registered under number 2473 of the Journal 14000 big as they wished, either - Officiel dated 10 July 1996. for reasons which are purely 12000 - Unit Leader : Col. Bernard DELFINO geographic, professional, or 10000 health. - Tel : 0148690457 - email : [email protected] 8000 Executive Officer : Col. Eric DUCREAU - tél : 0148616735 - email : [email protected] 6000 These members can still - Finance Officer : Col. Philippe DUFLOT help with gifts of the value 4000 Tel : 0134078634 - email : [email protected] of their choice. The French - Adjutant : Col. Didier CARDINAL Ronald WRIGHT 40,00 2000 Wing already enjoys an - Tel : 0148616735 - email : [email protected] Léon MANOUKIANS 30,00 0 exceptional participation as Aviation Club de France 1750,00 AIRSHOW is a publication of the French Wing of the compared with the national Georges MARCELIN 145,00 Commemorative Air Force, Inc. - Any partial or complete average : Close to 50%. Avoir précédent 856,96 reproduction of the articles and the illustrations published in this monthly Newsletter is forbidden without the agreement of Thanks to them, we can TOTAL 2821,96 the FW. Please write to the Association at the following address : do even better. Thanks in 19 rue de Cannes 93600 - Aulnay sous Bois - FRANCE. advance ! 10