This link shows all aircraft crashes in France, just pick out these which occurred near to Paris

https://aviation-safety.net/database/dblist.php?Country=F

In 1960, there was a collision between a Stampe and a Caravelle (Air Algerie?) over Paris. The Stampe was lost, but the Caravelle recovered.

In the early 70s a collision occurred over Nantes I think between a Spantax Coronado and an Iberia DC-9. The Coronado recovered into An Air Force base (Cognac?) with a chunk of outer wing missing. The DC-9 alas, was lost.

The latter was I’m pretty sure due to one of the aircraft entering a hold as a result of an ATC strike or go-slow at the time.

Bound to be on the ASN list.

Ndege.

Here is a tale to share with you all, related to the 398th Bomb wing from which “Stinker” came. In the woods to the south of the runway at Nuthampstead, (you can see them if you look on Google maps, marked at the bottom left as East Wood) there are a small number of Redwood (Sequoia?) trees. Not an indigenous species, these were planted from seeds brought over by Army Air Corps personnel. The plantings were made to commemorate the loss of aircraft/aircrew from the base.
I’ve got a pal who knows the woods there well, from whom the story came. There are apparently still a few still growing there. Now that Spring is arriving, I’ll go and search one out.
Ndege.

Wyvie,

Back from my trip, been to a party in the village, had a chat to the local farmer and the news is: the Mossie in Wicken story is most unlikely.

He knew the family that farmed there until they sold up and also knew the owners of the hall – the only other place it could have been and he is sure that neither place was used to store a Mossie.

Told me though about a B17, presumably from Nuthampstead which came down nearby in Clavering, with no loss of life. His father took to see it when he was 5.

Told me also about a distant rellie, a widow, who rescued 3 airmen from a wrecked B17 which came down next to her home in Hadstock. The lady went back in for a fourth, but was killed when the wreck blew up.

He recalled she was awarded a significant (posthumous) medal which was collected from the King by her young son whom he thought was 8 at the time.

Up until the time of the son’s early demise from Cancer, the survivors rescued by his mother kept in contact with a card each Christmas.

He also told that until about 20 years ago, his barn in our village was rented out to someone who was restoring Spitfires to store parts. He had 3 Merlins stored there for him and several aircraft parts, wings, fuselages etc.

Wonder if that could be the source of your story?

Merry Christmas,

Ndege.

Wow!

I’ve lived in the next village for over 20 years and this is a new one on me. I run through the village generally once a week and would be hard pressed to even think about where such a dump might be.

Any more details? Was it brought here as a wreck/out of service aircraft, or did it crash/force-land here?

There is a 90+ year old lady who lives in our village who might know. I once heard her tell a story of her wedding; as they left the church, the Battle of Britain was raging and fighters roared overhead in dogfight.

If I hear anything, I’ll be back.

Ndege.

I went in 2008; my wife (a professional aeroplane-hater since birth) came with me. We flew there from Vt. in a Piper Cub on floats. Having arranged a hire car, so that she could avoid the show and go shopping, the memsahib joined in and then changed our “going-home” arrangements to spend an extra day at the show. The hire car was uncollected in the end.

Best fun I’ve had in 20,000 hours + flying.

Spend as much time as you can there, it really is extraordinary. The atmosphere is quite unlike any show I’ve ever been to in Europe/England.

People are unbelievably friendly and very willing to chat or explain things. You will still find the odd character to whom you may not warm but hey – there are thousands of others to choose from.

We spent some time with a bunch of Aussies whom we shared a bench, resting for a few minutes in the heat. Firm friends inside of 5 minutes. Lots of laughs.

One of the tents has a board on which you can post your business card, a note with your name on it etc. and your contact no. I stumbled across it, left my name on it with a no. and was amazed at the number of people I knew who were at the show and made contact.

Take LOTS of sun cream and light clothing. Plenty of water is a must, but there were lots of places to buy drinks, food etc. A good wide-brimmed light-weight sun hat is ESSENTIAL. Good sunnies too, though there are plenty for sale.

I really got a lot out of some of the demo booths. In particular, the “how to cover your home-built/restoration project” in Poly-fibre was really good.

One of my American pals was incensed by the number of booths selling non-aviation materials, jewellery etc. It isn’t all aviation, (say 98%!) but to my mind, it wasn’t a problem.

Expensive I guess, but if you are working there you may have defrayed some of the cost of accommodation, entrance tickets etc. I have a feeling, if you are a member of the EAA you can get a deal on tickets, but that may be wrong.

Enjoy the experience; I’d simply love to go again.

Ndege.

Wilag,

When was the flight you mention? If it was in the winter, or if inclement conditions existed, which could cause engine icing to occur, under those circumstances an engine run-up is required. Checking stable engine parameters is part of that process.

When you follow that procedure, it certainly does rattle around a bit.

Cheers,

Ndege.

My English teacher had a sideline in a fascination for pub names and eventually published a small book on the subject, a copy of which I kept for many years, and which finally disappeared in one move or another. I continue to hope to light upon a copy in a second hand bookshop one day.

One of my favourites is The Cat and Custard Pot near me and I remember The Inn Next Door Burnt Down in Bedfordshire but never visited it.

Sky high,

I never visited the “Inn next door…” but I have a feeling it was set up and established as a pub by an ex-RAF pilot who was by then an airline pilot working for one of the Luton based charter airlines. Not sure which.

Ndege.