I was doing some research on 196 Squadron and Op Varisty and came across the following French film "Le bataillon du ciel" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe49SErjAJY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wEycF9GScg "They are not angels" depicts the training of the French paratroopers in England before the D Day.We make acquaintance with a dozen of them,soldiers and officers.Close to documentary,it's not devoid of humor(the scene when the MO warns his men of the dangers of VDs in veiled terms in a girls school )or restrained emotion (the accident ).We feel the paratroopers' love for their motherland and their dear Paname (Paname is not only Paris's old nickname but one of the heroes's name or nickname)when they smell a metro (subway) ticket which they share." Plot aside, I managed to figure out that this film was produced during 1945 and there are various shots at the Parachute Training School and lots of shots of Stirling IV's of 196 Squadron which - given the dates, I assume was filmed at RAF Shepherds Grove. I've manage to spot a couple of Op Varsity tugs amongst the footage including: - LJ643 7T-J - 196 Squadron. - LK254 5G-A - 299 Squadron which towed CN 414 S/Sgt Morrison and Sgt. Clay. - LK509 5G-C - 299 Squadron which towed CN 410 F/Lt. Halley and Sgt. Ross. About 42 minutes in when ZO-B takes off you can make out Horsa's parked in the background. Ok, a bit random but there might be some interesting bits and pieces lurking in the background for the train spotters like me.
I wish my French was better as it looks to be an excellent movie. This would be the story of he 4th SAS or 2e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes based on a book by Joseph Kessel. Their one armed CO was Colonel Pierre-Louis Bourgoin. Regards ...
Thought I recognised the name and numbers - St Marcel is about 6 km's from where I live. TD edited to add Forgot I had these from the 70th Anniv at St Marcel There are probably more on my gallery on this subject if anyone is interested. Not sure if it is the change in software, but had to reload the photos into my gallery for this subject
What a great find High Tow. A little off topic I know but I'm interested to see you have been able link some of the tugs to glider chalk numbers for Op Varsity. Do you have any info about which tug towed my Dad's glider CN 305 or any of the others that took off from Shepherd's Grove? If so would you share that info with me please? Jenny
