Hello to all,

As you wrote both, Kevin and “Auster Fan”, it is a wonderful adventure that we live through these lines, the highest tribute that is … And indeed, I myself feel good that the human dimension takes precedence over the purely documentary research.

To tell you the truth, the fact is that there has always been a mystery around this great-uncle who died so young … Of course, the war, the occupation of our country and the conditions imposed by these events, are elements to consider. Pain and suffering are such that we can only imagine.

It is disturbing to read these lines Kevin: Although he is almost 90 he still thinks of himself as the young man in the photo. I always had this feeling that my grandfather was still 14 years by mentioning the death of his brother.

Something disturbing too, I had in mind today, thinking of the impact of our conversations about my research. Dominique’s uncle, Emile BIAGGI (brother of his father), was also fighting in the Second World War. He was taken prisoner by the Germans on the 21st of June 1940, and locked in a labor camp near Munich and Dachau. There are only a few months, his son, Vladimir BIAGGI, found by chance intimate old books related to Emile captivity! Some pages are missing, apparently sent to fellow war, perhaps one day we will find them. My great uncle, Vladimir BIAGGI, decided to publish these texts incomplete but vivid and touching: the book gives us an amazing lesson of life and daily survival. A lesson for the present time … So many years later, how incredible discovery, don’t you think? I knew Emile, a tonton fun, always laughing and telling jokes. He also liked to do magic tricks: in his notebooks, he referred to these magic tricks shown to German children. This was very ùoving to read this. Emile died in the early 2000s, after having lived a hard but good life with his wife, a tall elegant Russian woman, Vera, encountered in the labor camp in Germany. SO MANY YERAS LATER, do you see? The more I think about all this, the more I tell myself that time does nothing, and it is for everyone to relive the memories of elders. Irony of history: Dominique participated in bombings done at Munich, where Emile was because the Germans put the labor camps and the concentration camps near their forces of war …
Here is a link to a page concerning this book : http://www.aleas.fr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=398&Itemid=2 .

Regarding the details that you asked me, Kevin, about Dominique, I will interview my grandfather tonight and will post here as soon as I know. I’m afraid I can not give more details, but my contacts in the French Air Force will probably help me. I am waiting with impatience to receive them…

The informations you gave us, Kevin, about the Grand father of your fiancee, really touched me. It is moving but also incredible to see how his memories are still fresh and that he has so great pleasure to discuss with the youngest. I feel like I know him, thanks to the internet! I can not wait to talk again with my grandfather about all this … He is secret, and does not reveal his feelings easily, but he told me how thankful he is, and I know that beyond a normal pain, it is gratifying to see the memory of his brother relive this way.

I can never thank you enough for all your support and your efforts, as written by Kevin this is another chance to Honour the fallen and those who survived and so far

Regards,

Sandra.

Hello everyone,

Today I have received the response of a Warrant in the Air Force Française: we were contacted by a French forum, that one http://www.aerostories.org/ ~ aeroforums / forumhist / index.php. He is based in the CAEA the Conservatoire de l’Air et de l’Espace d’Acquitaine and will send me some documents and publications on Dominique. It also expects a sub-officer’s knowledge, documents, manuscripts on the history of the crew. I should shortly receive replies from the various archive services contacts in the Army … and wait to collect the papers to prove my kinship to my request to another service Pau.

As you write, Kevin, we are moving slowly but surely, and that is exciting! Indeed, in my opinion, this great-uncle that I could not know, I am ever closer and it becomes a fully fledged man, beyond history … The brief history on the course of Dominique BIAGGI in England, that I wrote, my view of someone he met on the same forum mentioned above: it is a first step, and thanks to Kevin, we have knowledge of more details.

Indeed, the history of the grandfather of your fiance, Kevin, also strongly marked me. This shows that there is no border in the history books and our peoples have a common history, in the end.
Yesterday I called my grandfather to tell him of your story: it brought a lot of happiness, emotions … I cannot hide to you that he was feverish at the end of our conversation. Worried for him, I called him again and he thanked me and you, your girlfriend, and especially his grandfather. The pain is still there, it is normal, but I also know that he advance with the story, and discovered another eye with the fate of his brother. I always thought it was good to face, rather than deny things. My grandfather is full of gratitude to you and this beautiful story that ultimately is one with ours. He said the same thing you’ve written, meaning that all this will be forwarded to my and your children, and friends, and so the memory will not rub off.
I was very happy to see these pictures of the grandfather of your girlfriend is moving to put a face to a name. I will show them to my grand-father. As soon as I have pictures of Dominique, I will post on the forum. And as soon as I get additional information, I send you.

Thank you,
thank you all for Dominique,
friendly yours,
cheers, Sandra.

4th part… “courage”!

And indeed, the testimony of Lieutenant Colonel Venot is poignant … especially as the engineer on land that expressed regret for his entire life not having disobeyed the orders … The man, Marcel RENZINI, crossed the path of my family two times after this event. The fate perhaps … My grandmother, a few years ago, is in a store when, hearing his surname, a man calls and asks if it would have a relationship with Dominique BIAGGI. And therefore they crossed in Marseilles, France, what chance of life … Then, in my research, I also retourvé, it does not live very far from home, still in southern France. I have contacted, but I felt it was extremely painful memories and I do not want to agonize over.
KEV35 thank you very much for the link to the site of Stonefall, I’d never seen …
Life is really made, Kevin, you wrote that story about the grandfather of your fiancée is a fascinating story! I do not believe my eyes. I will call my grandfather and tell him it will probably be all that troubled me. Our stories are mixed and finally this is perhaps no coincidence that this happens. Convey him our greetings and thank him for having brought the story of the history that is ours together all peoples, all nationalities.

Second part!!!… so many things to tell you.

Voilà! Having so much to write you, I simultaneously use a translator online through Google because I have to look over my daughter for two years, and it just fun, which is quite normal!

So, after a fortnight spent in the camp on 22 September 1943, Dominique BIAGGI took the direction of Bournemouth, where they take courses in English and receive their initial training. In London, medical assessment. Then two possibilities: he could go from 16 October 1943, at 3 Air Gunners School on the Isle of Anglesey to the east of Liverpool, or, if so designated later, October 30, be sent to Castle Kennedy near Stranraer. For two weeks, lectures on the arms, and again during practice. The crews are to be found at Lossiemouth in Scotland to 20 Operational Training Unit. Intensive training on twin-engine Wellington bomber. From the first in April, crews will make at the 4 Aircrew School in Drieffield or ACAST Malba to follow technical courses on the Halifax. A crew Rufforth meet to conduct their courses on four-Halifax. The unit specializes in this type of instruction is the 1663 Heavy Conversion Unit. From mid-May 1944, and after 9 months of instruction, the first twelve trained crews arrive at Elvington and incorporate the 346 squadron to be called Guyenne. Dated 18 May 1944, the crew of Lieutenant Guillocheau is the thirteenth to arrive at the Station. For the occurrence of 10 September 1944, you know the rest … Regarding this event which claimed the lives of six soldiers, “La petite histoire” as they say in France, a cousin of my uncle (the son of a French soldier during the Second World War and was imprisoned at the camp Nazi extermination of Dachau – there will be one that met his wife, a Russian woman) found earlier this year, by chance, witness this true, was sent to my grandfather … The latter has learned that day and was terribly shocked and saddened … When we reviewed after that, he talked to me and shook again, indeed he was unable to finish his sentence. This day I decided to undertake research on Dominica BIAGGI, duty to remember and to transmit it to future generations. And my grandfather in particular…

Thanks for the photo and… one more question?

Special thanks to NC900 for the photo : I had never seen it, I am really glad to see it!!!

Something new : on telephone, my grand father told me that he had a photo (which came to my family juste after my grand uncle’s death) including Dominique BIAGGI with a baby in his arms… Do anybody know where I could get an information about a probable child born from him and an English woman? This could be the answer to this enigmatic photo…

Thank you again for everything,
wish you all a very good end of day,
Sandra.

So happy reading your answers…

Dear everybody,

I am so happy to read your messages, including many details I did not know! This means that Memory is stronger than anything and has no nationality…

Thank you D1566, this is very insteresting : one more document I had never seen.

As concerns Kev 35, you brought me so many new informations!!!
Indeed, the 2 links, especially the 2nd one, are a very good source of informations concerning these events. I discovered the “Lost Bombers” link…
I already thought I could find a kind of diary about the missions, or even the squadron… but these are informations very hard to find here in France! A friend of mine, retired man of the armée, is soon going to Paris, where he hopes he will have the permission to take a look on the Army archives…And I am waiting for the consequences of a contact I had on internet with an Adjudent of the French Air Army : he has good informations for me, and I hope this concerns the diary of the 346 squadron… still waiting.
BUT your proposal means so much to me! If you are still ok, please do what you wrote and ask for an estimate for my behalf… It would be wonderful to get these informations!!! I am just wondering the way to pay for it… because we are not in the same country, so if you don’t mind, ask them how I could pay for it, through a bank transaction, may be?
You can’t imagine how helpful you are to me… thank you again!

Here is my personal email : [email]mars79sandra@hotmail.com[/email]

Concerning Avion Ancien : merci beaucoup pour votre proposition! Pour l’instant j’arrive à bien comprendre, me semble-t-il, ce qui est écrit, mais je me demande si de mon côté j’arrive à me faire comprendre!!! Je ferai appel à vous si j’ai besoin d’aide, merci encore…

Waiting for answers, I thank you ALL very much for considering my researches,
cordially,
Sandra NIAULON, La Saulce – France.