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The RAF pilot who dropped the Tricolor on occupied Paris
Daily Telegraph (London) ^ | 27th November 2012 | anon

Posted on 11/27/2012 10:36:15 AM PST by Winniesboy

The audacious story of how a RAF pilot flew down the Champs-Elysees to drop a French Tricolor over Nazi-occupied Paris has emerged after his medals were put up for sale.

In a daring raid intended to boost the morale of the French, Wing Commander Ken Gatward flew just feet off the ground to put the wind up the Germans.

After dropping a huge French flag on top of the Arc de Triomphe, the British pilot headed towards the Gestapo headquarters which he raked with 20mm shells.

The attack sent the German SS troops running for their lives, to the delight of Parisians.

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS:
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1 posted on 11/27/2012 10:36:21 AM PST by Winniesboy
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To: Winniesboy

Bookmark


2 posted on 11/27/2012 10:43:47 AM PST by originalbuckeye
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To: Winniesboy

That type of bravado would get you grounded these days. I will however admit to being in a flight that entered Iraqi airspace playing Queen’s “We Will Rock You” over an open UHF channel.


3 posted on 11/27/2012 10:44:04 AM PST by USNBandit (sarcasm engaged at all times)
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To: Winniesboy

AWESOME story!


4 posted on 11/27/2012 10:44:27 AM PST by rarestia (It's time to water the Tree of Liberty.)
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To: Winniesboy

At least he never saw Londonistan. That there were once Brits like him...


5 posted on 11/27/2012 10:48:23 AM PST by muir_redwoods (Don't fire until you see the blue of their helmets)
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To: USNBandit

why not The Clash’s “Rock the Casbah”?


6 posted on 11/27/2012 10:50:16 AM PST by SpinnerWebb (In 2012 you will awaken from your HOPEnosis and have no recollection of this... "Constitution")
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To: USNBandit

that’s good - but Rock the Casbah would have been even better. :-)


7 posted on 11/27/2012 10:50:26 AM PST by knittnmom (Save the earth! It's the only planet with chocolate!)
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To: Winniesboy

The French Government should buy the whole collection and then donate it to the British War Museum.


8 posted on 11/27/2012 10:52:11 AM PST by Strategerist
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To: Winniesboy
The British had been informed the Germans held daily parades down the Champs-Elysees and he was asked to strafe the parade.

If people like this were running the war in Afghanistan, it would have been won years ago.

9 posted on 11/27/2012 10:55:56 AM PST by PGR88
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To: USNBandit

Why would this kind of thing get anyone grounded? The mission was fully vetted and approved. Anyone carrying out their orders to do such a thing today would probably not get much publicity, but they’d not be grounded, either.

That said, I don’t know what kind of aircraft anyone has anymore that could carry out a similar mission.


10 posted on 11/27/2012 10:56:15 AM PST by MeganC (Our forefathers would be shooting by now.)
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To: MeganC

I think bandit’s point is there are no governments who would allow such a thing. 0dumbo wouldn’t want to “ offend” the muslims.
and the vbrits are afraid of all the muuslims in their country


11 posted on 11/27/2012 11:03:08 AM PST by RWGinger (Simpl)
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To: Winniesboy

Bump.


12 posted on 11/27/2012 11:03:12 AM PST by Jaxter ("Pro Aris et Focis")
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To: Winniesboy

Back when England still had balls.


13 posted on 11/27/2012 11:04:15 AM PST by servo1969
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To: Winniesboy

That’s one huge flag draped straegically over the Arc de Triomphe and one good looking pilot who looks like he has what it takes.


14 posted on 11/27/2012 11:05:41 AM PST by ArmyTeach ( Videteco eos prius (See 'em first) Sculpin 191)
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To: MeganC; Winniesboy
I don't know what kind of aircraft anyone has anymore that could carry out a similar mission

An A-10 Warthog maybe?

Bristol Beaufighter of type used for the Tricolor-SS strafing run.

15 posted on 11/27/2012 11:09:53 AM PST by Covenantor ("Men are ruled...by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern." Chesterton)
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To: ArmyTeach
That’s one huge flag draped strategically over the Arc de Triomph

Not sure the flag was quite as big as shown in the illustration...cvould be the artist's imagination getting a little carried away...

16 posted on 11/27/2012 11:26:03 AM PST by Winniesboy
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To: MeganC

You could probably pack a flag in the speed brake of a plane. I know a guy that got grounded for dropping several thousand invitations to a party over the beaches near Sydney Australia.


17 posted on 11/27/2012 11:27:45 AM PST by USNBandit (sarcasm engaged at all times)
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To: Winniesboy

Would make a good movie....


18 posted on 11/27/2012 11:31:24 AM PST by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole..)
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To: Bigg Red

mark


19 posted on 11/27/2012 11:31:45 AM PST by Bigg Red (Sorry, Mr. Franklin, I guess we couldn't keep it.)
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To: Winniesboy

Yep, probably... :-)


20 posted on 11/27/2012 11:31:45 AM PST by ArmyTeach ( Videteco eos prius (See 'em first) Sculpin 191)
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