Squadron
Leader Paston-Williams (OC Comms Flight, Melun 1953 - 1958)
(By his son, Alan)
I came across your excellent website while
updating a mini bio of my late father who was Sir Basil Embry's personal
pilot based at Melun Villaroche . The website relates to the story of
Dads Lancaster and crew - look up Avro Lancaster LM658 - and his bit takes
in his postwar flying career until he retired . There is a photo of the
com flight personnel line up taken at Melun .
My sister Sheila and I have many fond memories of our time in France as
children from 1953 to 1957, mum was confined to a wheelchair which meant
we had many VIP visitors to our villa in Bois-le Roi but she also managed
to join in the active social life around Fontainbleau.
Keep up the good work !
cheers for now
Alan Paston-Williams
This
biography is reproduce by kind permission of Alan Paston-Williams, Alan
Barow and his webmaster
Duncan, the producers of
www.lancaster-lm658.co.uk
Old
Photographs of Palais de Fontainebleau ................................
The
Ted Caton Collection ................................
'Paths
to Freedom' by Jean Goujon. Via Arnaud Theron ................................
Remembrance
Sunday 13th November 2011 ...............................
A visit to SHAPE headquarters ...........................
As members of the FVA, we have been invited
to visit SHAPE headquarters. We are being offered a tour of it.
Date is not fixed as yet.
No plans have been made on travel, but it would be just a day trip. mileage
from Calais is 117 miles. Roughly 2 hours. Perhaps sharing cars and cost?
We will have access to the caferteria and shop attached to SHAPE.
If you are interested then please contact me. CAPON769@btinternet.com
Post, 39 Priory Street, TONBRIDGE, Kent. TN9 2AP.
Telephone: 01732 505864.
Yevres. 2011 ........................................
About January 12th, I sent to the Mayor of
Yevres, on behalf of the FVA, a plaque of the badge for the Allied Air
Forces Central Europe, to be hung some where in the mayorial offices.
The plaque was designed by David Bloomfield, web master, somewhat modified.
It is meant as a symbol of our visits to Yevres for the Rememberance Parades
we have attended.
I received an e-mail from M.Dominique Dousset, Mayor of Yevres, thanking
us for our gift and inviting us back to the Rememberance Parade in October
2012. The parade is always held on the 1st Sunday in October. This year
it will be Sunday 7th, October. Our visit usually last 4-5 days.
If anyone is interested, please contact me. CAPON769@btinternet.com or
write to 39, Priory Street, TONBRIDGE Kent, TN9 2AP. Telephone, 01732
505864. PLease leave a message on the answer phone.
David Rogerson - Accident
- Hospitalised
Our secretary, David Rogerson, fell down
the stairs at his
home during the early hours on Monday 20th June 2011
and sustained serious head injuries.
For the latest update - Click on this link
British Pathe News
Videos
OTHER VIDEO CLIPS
OF INTEREST
LOOKING FOR OLD MATES
Corporal Bill Law Royal
Engineers.- Fontainebleau – 1955 to 1956. Quartier Chateau. Worked at
Geographic Section opposite Fontainebleau Chateau. Would like to make
contact with old colleagues – Cpl ‘Woody’ Woodward from Birmingham –
‘Brummy’ Clark – Brian Shepherd from Liverpool – ‘Dell’ from Dagenham
– Davey from London – Jack Hidore US Army (worked with Jack in the Geographic
Section 1956 remembers his wife and baby Jill who went back to the States
to teach at university).
For Bill's photos click on the above image.
(Bill in the centre)
Medical Records
IF YOU WISH THE RELEASE OF YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS
YOU CAN OBTAIN THE APPLICATION FORM FROM THE M.O.D. WEBSITE.
APPLY: RAF, HIGH WYCOMBE - YOU SHOULD RECEIVE THEM WITHIN SIX WEEKS.
(MIKE CAPON)
Charles Collyer
From Mike Capon
One of the last photos of Fl/Sgt Collyer BEM
(CLICK HERE)
Also from Mike - a group of RAF police with
Montgomery
(CLICK HERE)
In Touch .......
I was transferred from Camp Hanford Washington to the 298th Signal in 1958.
I was fortunate to be assigned to 2 different 5 man Signal Sites. The first one was near the town of
Thionville. When our tent caught fire we were sent back to Fontainebleau to be reissued another set of clothes
and be interviewed about the fire. From there I went to a site near the town of Stoone (I am not positive about the spelling).
Most of the time we lived in squad tents. And I remember we went to the local fire station for our weekly showers.
My mos at that time was 624.10 Powerman and I was a E-4, but I was also required to pull shifts in the communications van.
I never did stay too long in Fontainebleau maybe at the most 1 month. I remember the supply sergeants name was Smith.
Gerald Phillips
SFC USA Retired
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