May 26, 1944

Posted on May 26, 2026 • No Comments

One of a series of stories and place-based sketches exploring locations that sit at the edges of the narrative told in The Écrivélo Book. Cutting from Argus Herald Newspaper 1940 On this day in 1940 — the beaches at Dunkirk, and a Flight Sergeant already on his way home. 86[...]

The Croixault Aerodrome

Posted on September 8, 2025 • No Comments

L’aérodrome de Croixault sous l’occupation allemande, 1940-41 During the Battle of France, 53 Squadron was based here, engaged in reconnaissance duties to track the advancing German Army. One aircraft of the squadron was a Blenheim MK IV PZ¤C. The crew were Flying Officer Alastair Panton, Sergeant John Christie, and AC2[...]

Homage to the Airmen

Posted on August 30, 2025 • No Comments

On Saturday, August 30, 2025, I had the privilege of being invited by Les Amicale des Anciens des Maquis de la Vallée d’Azergues to pay homage to Flying Officers John Christie and Dennis Kieran Flaherty at their Commonwealth War Grave in Létra. It was a tremendous honour, and I extend[...]

It’s 79 Years Ago Today

Posted on July 26, 2023 • No Comments

79th Anniversary and Worthy of a Quick Reminder. FO Gribben RAF and FL Griffiths RCAF Crew of DZ 534 rescued from English Channel.jpg (L'équipage du DZ 534 sauvé de la Manche) SOURCE: © United Kingdom National Archives It's 79 years since the Mosquito Crashed in the Forêt de Brou. Overnight[...]

627 Squadron in Action

Posted on February 13, 2017 • No Comments

Film of 627 Squadron, An excellent short film that appeared on FaceBook today courtesy of The Peoples Mosquito. It shows planes of 627 Squadron at Woodhall Spa. Filmed less than a month after the tragic loss of Mosquito DZ636 that crashed overnight, 26th - 27th July 1944.

26 / 27 July 1944 – Raid on Givors.

Posted on January 27, 2017 • No Comments

New Story Added I have just finished writing the latest update re the story of the Mosquito in the Forest. Hope you like it. The Mission At 21:20 hrs on the evening of 26th July 1944, 178 Lancaster Bombers left various airfields in the east of England, their mission was to[...]

Hold the Front Page!

Posted on September 25, 2016 • No Comments

Really pleased to see the article in Le Progres our local paper about our quest to discover more about the Mosquito in the Forest. The article follows up on a visit in early September from Régis Bernard, a reporter with the paper. Over all, pretty pleased with the text. Unfortunately,[...]

Inspection Covers

Posted on September 6, 2016 • No Comments

In June I reported the find of two metal circular discs. These were reportedly from the Mosquito DZ636, that crashed in the hills above Ternaud in 1944. It appears, from examination that these discs are definitely from the Mosquito, a fact confirmed by the Curator in the Archives of the[…]

Two Saucepan Lids!

Posted on June 29, 2016 • No Comments

Today I received text from my friend who has been helping me in this project. J’ai un morceau du Mosquito It appears that these two pieces of metal are from the wreckage of the Mosquito and were retrieved by a relative of a local Mayor. The small bakerlite plate on the[…]