News

13 February 2024 Commemoration of the 1944 Treble RAF Lysander SOE Mission (Mineur) at Luzillé, Loire, France (48km SW of Blois). President of the Norwegian Parliament, Masud Gharahkhan and Major General Joar Eidheim. Chief of the Norwegian Special Operations Command welcomed families of French agents and of the three pilots of 161 Squadron RAF -…

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“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…

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Balkan 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…

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1944 / 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;…

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Searching 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…

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La 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…

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Elvington Echoes – Caroline Broch

  A Poet’s Tale. Through no other reason than by being born at a specific time and place, destiny called. André was born in the City of Limoges in west central France on 28th September 1920 and was schooled nearby in the small town of St Junien. As for many people born at that period,…

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Flightpaths – 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…

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WW1 – 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…

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Hampden 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…

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