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Daring RAF pilot dropped French flag on Nazi-occupied Paris
The incredible story of how Wing Commander Ken Gatward, a RAF pilot, flew down the Champs-Elysees to drop a French flag over Nazi-occupied Paris has emerged after his medals were put up for sale. (www.dailymail.co.uk) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
WW2 produced thousands of 'unsung' heroes....but, that's what we did...just doing our jobs! Yes, Ken was extraordinary!
.. vIii ..
Quedamos a la salida del juzgado.
Quedamos a la salida del juzgado.
I salute you Commander!
Heroic and daring indeed. The drop could have flopped some had the flag not snagged the prominent structure though it was hard to miss at such a low altitude where he apparently also ingested a bird into the starboard oil cooler according to the log entry. Lucky also for him that he was not shot down later and captured by the Nazis whence he would likely have been singled out for public execution for the sake of Nazi propaganda. I'm reminded of the story about an American commercial pilot some years ago who when queried by German Air Traffic Control if he was familiar with a particular city and its airport whereupon he replied that he was very familiar having flown over it several times during WWII under less friendly circumstances which brought a "moment of silence" from the German controller.
The lot sold for £41,000.00.
Amazing story. Thanks for sharing. Like James, I believe the medals need to be on permanent display somewhere, not hidden away.
This is an incredible story. Maybe it can be made into a move.