CAF French Wing – World Warbird News

Henri Ecochard, Free French Piper L-4 “Grasshopper” pilot

World Warbird News — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 17:00:42 +0000

The CAF French Wing is proud to present the latest issue of its documentary series, History and Duty of Remembrance.

In this episode, Stéphane Duchemin receives Henri Ecochard, Free French and Piper L-4 pilot.

Henri Ecochard was 16 when war was declared in 1939 and 17 when, a year later, he joined the Free French forces in England. In 1941, he left for Equatorial Africa and joined Syria in June. He took part in the Libyan campaign in 1942 and the Tunisia campaign in 1943. He was trained on the Piper L-4 in 1944 in Algeria and then took part in the Liberation of Europe with the 1st DFL until his demobilization after the victory against Germany in 1945.

In this interview, he looks back on his years of war and was very moved to find his Piper Cub (those of the Association Ham & Jam) during the Paris Villaroche Air Legend.

NB: The video is in French, but you can select automatically translated English subtitles by clicking the settings button on the lower part of the video.

Source: CAF French Wing website

July 2014 issue of Airshow available

World Warbird News — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 23:47:28 +0000

The latest issue of Airshow, the Commemorative Air Force French Wing’s monthly newsletter, is now available.

This issue contains sad news as we’ve learned of the decease of Sandy Sansing, World War II fighter pilot and long-time French Wing honorary member. An article about Sandy’s extraordinary story was published in Airshow in 2005 and is “reprinted” in this issue.

You can download Airshow from the CAF French Wing’s website.

April 2014 “Airshow” is available

World Warbird News — Sat, 12 Apr 2014 10:29:54 +0000

The April 2014 public edition of “Airshow” – the CAF French Wing’s monthly neswletter – is available. You can download it from the CAF French Wing website or subscribe for free here.

March 2014 Airshow available for download

World Warbird News — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 22:49:46 +0000

The March 2014 issue of Airshow (Public Edition) is now available for download from the CAF French Wing’s website. Feel free to subscribe: it’s free! We hope you’ll enjoy it and that it will make you want to join our unit!

Go to the download page

January 2014 Airshow now available

World Warbird News — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 19:44:23 +0000

The January 2014 issue of Airshow, the monthly newsletter of the CAF French Wing, is available. For non-members, a public edition is also available and can be downloaded here:

Download the January 2014 issue of Airshow (Public Edition)

You can subscribe to Airshow for free on the CAF French Wing’s website.

Henri Bourrassier †

World Warbird News — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 09:10:24 +0000

(Photo Bernard Delfino)

We are saddened to learn the death of Henri Bourrassier, who passed away on April 6.

Henri Bourrassier flew the B-26 Marauder with the Free French “Bretagne” bomber group during World War Two. He later flew Dakotas and Noratlas transport aircraft for the French Air Force in during the wars in Indochina and Algeria.

He was a member of the French Wing of the Commemorative Air Force and was particularly active in the first years of activity of the wing.

His wartime memoirs and stories have been recorded by the CAF FW.

Learn more about Henri Bourrassier on the CAF FW’s website (in French).

Walkaround: Stearman (Boeing) Model 75

World Warbird News — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 04:39:51 +0000

These photos of Stearman Model 75 registered F-AZGJ were taken in Le Plessis-Belleville (LFPP) on June 4, 2010 at the Commemorative Air Force French Wing’s annual fly-in.

Le Plessis-Belleville is a short distance to the north of Paris and is home to many antique aircraft, many of which belong to members of the CAF’s French Wing.

All pictures are (C) Bertrand Brown.