Posts by Ian Reed
“L for Love” Part II – Düsseldorf Discovery Uwe & Werner Baum
Surprise discovery in Düsseldorf in 2019 – plans for a unique memorial of reconciliation in Germany. The story goes on…. See “L for Love” Part I – https://afheritage.org/tha-man-who-fell-from-the-sky-l-for-love-part-i Note: Latest updated news about this project can be found at the end of this article……. Ian Reed. November 2018 The Annual Service of Remembrance…
Read MoreBalkan Experience – New Projects by Dušan Simić
Resurgent Balkan interest in the RAF & Balkan Air Force of WW2 and pilots of the Battle of Britain. A full translation in Serbian can be found at the end of this article. Verzija teksta na srpskom jeziku se nalazi pri kraju ovog članka. The Royal Air Force in the Balkans 1941…
Read More1944 / 1945 – a soldier’s perspective – D.H. Reed
On the ground, war is different – as the British and US armies push on into Germany towards the Russians. Historical Note: “Special Forces” including Glider and Parachute regiments of the British Army and Royal Marine Commandos of the Royal Navy were highly specialized trained troops often held back and used for specific missions;…
Read MoreSearching for René – Jan Leeming / Ian Reed
The research and commemoration of one of France’s greatest WWII fighter pilots and the RAF’s first French Squadron Leader. My sincere thanks to the many people who were involved in this very special Anglo/French project: Jan, for setting us all off on this venture and the following for their support, research and hard work…
Read MoreLa Photo – The Francis Usai Letters
Discovery of the private letters of a French airman in Britain. One of the largest wartime collections in France. The Beginning Prior to the fall of France on 22nd June 1940, French Air Force personnel and their serviceable aircraft had pulled back to Oran in Algeria in order to re-group for the fight…
Read MoreFlightpaths – Henry & Pat Martin – 1943 / 1944
The compelling story of a French airman Henry Martin, who fell in love with “Pat” Pattimore, a British special agent. The Story Prior to the invasion of Jersey by the German Army on 1 July 1940 , Phyllis Joyce Pattimore, (aged 23) known as “Pat” to her friends, had left her family home…
Read MoreWW1 – On the Balkan Trail 1917 – Lt. H.W. Brekke
Discovery of a superb wartime sketchbook from a century ago – personal insights – but who was the artist? The Balkan Trail – 1917 The khaki coloured sketchbook measuring 10” x 7” (26cm x 18cm), containing good quality velum drawing paper, looks as one would imagine such a book would be which had…
Read MoreHampden Crash 1940 – Twin Ceremonies in Brittany 2020
Looking for crew relatives of HP Hampden L4194, “ZN-B” of 106 Sqdn, Finningley for the 80th anniversary in France. Two commemoration are being planned at Vannes and at Pluneret in Brittany on Sunday 22nd November 2020 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the deaths of 4 British airmen who were flying Handley Page…
Read MoreS.O.E. “Special Duties” Westland Lysander – Paris, January 1946
Presentation of a “Special Duties” Westland Lysander to France at the Hôtel des Invalides, Paris on 26th January 1946. New Project: In August 2020 plans were first conceived to re-enact the special commemorative event which took place in 1946, but has remained on hold due to the pandemic. The idea however is still very…
Read MoreCe mois de mars, alors que la peur était encore là….. Kateryna Ziborova
Nous n’avons aucune idée de ce que signifie la peur réelle…..une jeune mère de Kyiv explique….” Introduction Près d’un an s’est écoulé depuis le début de la guerre à grande échelle contre l’Ukraine, et depuis, le monde regarde et admire la détermination, l’ingéniosité et le courage de son peuple. Mais au fil des…
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