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« Photo below, shows right to left. Maurice Andrews Wartime Navigator on Beaufighters, John Lander, RAF ground Electrician worked on the Halifax Bomber in Yorks, Roger Simon , and his brother, Ex Free French Air Force. Barbara Simon Rogers wife. »
« Roger Simon a Frenchman, lived with Barbara his wife in Fishermans walk , just as the German Army invaded France, Roger had just left his College of Education Not wishing to be part of Vichy France , which sided with the occupying Force , Roger made his way to England . On arrival at Dover , he made his way to London and enlisted eventually in the Free French Air Force , under Charles De Gaulle. Roger who played Rugby wished to enlist in the RAF .He was selected for training as a pilot. Following training in a Tiger Moth , Roger went on further training , he was chosen to fliy Spitfire. After flying training he was posted to Free French Air force Squadron 345 (The Storks) The squadron like most others were ion permanment Reddiness. Whilst on the long periods Roger later in the war discussed how they could destroy the V1 Doodlebug, one of Hitlers terror weapons His squadron mates decided to fly in pursuit of a V1 , then stall the aircraft and fire all guns together , in the hope that the hail of lead , would connect with the target when the VI flew into the lead Roger told me later that the manouvers were highly dangerous, because of the Exploding weapon , however , the squadron did manage to destroy some VI s. After the war Roger met and Married Barbara, they had a son. During his absence from France the Vichy Gov sentenced him to death . It was this that really upset Roger ,but later on The French Govt under Francois Mitterand decided to pardon all those who had enlisted in the FFAF. Roger , and his ex squadron members were flown to Charles De Gaulle airport from RAF Northolt they were all presented with the Resistance Medal and the Croix de Guerre with Palms , In the 1990s Roger joined shoreham RAFA branch , which is how I met him He volunteered to act as Wings Appeal organiser , to raise funds for RAF Charities At that time Shepherd and Neame the Kenntish Brewery produced a beer called Spitfire, and the CEO of the Brewrary announced that a Competition would be held to give the brew a name. Roger suggested Reddiness, this suggestion paid off and he won a Barrell of Spitfire ale , which was consumed by many RAFA members. In old age Roger got cancer and died quite quickly following cremation at Findon Rogers Ashes were scattered over Shoreham Airport , and a lone Spitfire flown by Caroline Grace passed low over the party scattering the ashes. Lets hope that Roger and others like him will never be forgotten. It may be worthy of note that Rogers son, was at one time Chairman of BP British Petroleum Company.«
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Historic Shoreham and the Adur Valley ·
Gerald White 
Laurent Laloup le samedi 06 décembre 2025 Recherche sur cette contribution | |
