Evreux Air Base
On Thursday, 24 July 2008, Bill Lloyd and Don Connor attended the Change of Command ceremony at Evreux Air Base. Col. Pascal Chiffoleau turned over his command to the new Base Commander, Col. Herve Bertrand. After the Change of Command, Col. Chiffoleau gave a speech thanking all the men and women of the Base for their dedication, hard work and loyalty during his 3 years as Base Commander. He also said he was honored that Bill and Don of the 317th Veterans Group organization were present at the ceremony.
Early in the morning, the French Government released the results of their yearlong study to reduce the French military. Manpower will be reduced by 15 percent which will result in the reduction of 54,000 personnel and the closing of 83 military locations (11 air bases) in France and overseas over a 5 year period.
However, Evreux Air Base will receive more personnel and aircraft as a result of these changes. Additional C-160 aircraft will be transferred to Evreux and all C-160 periodic inspections and heavy maintenance will be done at Evreux by the Maintenance Squadron that was formed at Evreux several years ago. The “Docks” have returned to the big hangar!
By 2013, 14 each French Air Force C-130Hs will also transfer to Evreux. This is in preparation of the French Air Force receiving its new international transport aircraft starting next year, the Airbus Military A400M.
Early this year, Major Jean Claude Leroux from the Air Base found the memorial dedicated to the 317th TCW C-130A (55-0020) crash in March 1962. Very little was known about this memorial, only that it existed, and the 317th VG had been searching for its location for a long time. The memorial was at the crash site deep in a forest near Sees, France. Bill, Don, Jean Zabukovic and Patrice Le Mao went looking for the memorial on Friday using a map provided by Major Leroux. After a lot of four wheel driving down forest pathways, it was found. Patrice had brought along cleaning materials and gave the large plaque a through cleaning. You can find this location by going to Google Earth and in the FLY TO box enter the following coordinates: 48,51794 0,03212. (There is a space between the 4 and 0.) The area around the memorial is being kept clear by the local Forest Department and is well maintained. Bill, Don, Jean and Patrice had a feeling of accomplishment after visiting the memorial and paying their respects. It was probably the first time in many decades that American AF veterans had visited the memorial.
Information about the crash and the names of the Airmen can be found on the 317th VG web site, on the Memorial page. A photo of the memorial will be submitted to Google Earth for inclusion of historical markers on their mapping program. (Click on the blue dots on the map to view a photo.)
When and who dedicated the memorial at the crash site?
March 17, 2009 Update:
Update to the 1962 Aircraft Crash Memorial in France
Our friends in Evreux, Patrice Le Mao and Eliane Montuchet, are starting to get some answers on who placed the memorial and when. Recently they had a meeting at the memorial site with local Frenchmen that were involved in the crash aftermath. At the meeting was a local French Policeman, the Editor of the local newspaper, several locals that assisted with the clean up and the Director of the National Forest. The Director of the National Forest had paperwork showing that the American Legion Post in Paris signed the contract for the long-term lease of the land where the memorial is placed. The American Legion Headquarters in Washington, DC is now involved and researching the history of the memorial.
Jean-Marie Foubert is the Editor of the Alencon “L’Orne Hebdo” newspaper and published an article seeking information about the crash and the memorial. He has also published a book (in French) about the history and interesting sites of the Ecouves Forest. It is titled “Ecouves, La belle au bois normand”. Two pages are devoted to the crash site and memorial.
The search for family members of the deceased Airmen is on going.
Here is what is known:
On March 8, 1962 a C-130A from the 317th Troop Carrier Wing, 322nd Air Division at Evreux Air Base, France was reported missing. It was last heard from while flying a mission with five other C-130s that were returning to Evreux Air Base from a paradrop in southern France.
The four-engine transport was found late the following morning in the forest north of Alencon by French and U.S. rescue personnel near one of the highest points in the heavily wooded area.
Fifteen crewmen were killed in the crash: five Air Force officers, eight Airmen and two Army Specialists.
While memorial services were conducted at the Evreux Air Base Chapel, an aircraft dropped a wreath on the crash site. A formation of eight C-130s, with the number two position left open in honor of the deceased, flew over the base chapel as the memorial services concluded.
To view the memorial location go to www.Googlemaps.com. Enter in the Search box: FRANCE and click on Search Maps. Then enter in the Search box: 317th TROOP CARRIER WING MEMORIAL SITE and click on Search Maps When the photo is displayed, click on BY BILL LLOYD to view the other posted photos. Click on each one to enlarge and check out the comments section. The SATELLITE box will turn on the satellite view of the map and the MORE box will turn on all the posted photos in France.
Pictured at the memorial site are (L-R) Mr. Jean Zabukovic, Col. Patrice Le Mao(FAF Ret), Mr. Don Connor and 317th VG President Mr. Bill Lloyd. For More information Click Here