Hello from Vancouver Canada

John410 · 13 October 2009, 11:40 PM

I am a new member and have some interest in WW1. I was in the RCAF for 21 years then taught High School Instrumental and vocal music in Scarborough Ontario for 21 years. While in the RCAF I was stationed in North Luffenham England 1952 to 1954 (lSabre Sqns) and then in Marville France from 1963 to 1967. I did not fly but aircraft and the wars fascinated me, especially as we were very close to Verdun France. Our base in France, at Marville, was supposedly during WW1 used by a German Sqn commanded by Herman Goering and his picture was in the Officers Mess along with the other RCAF commanders. While we were there, we noted young German students would come in the summer to take care of the nearby cemeteries and they also uncovered in the wall of a hill just outside the Marville Base, a sculpture in a round shape of a Pilot, with leather helmet and goggles on.
I hope to meet and get information on the base at Marville from others in The Aerodrome. As well, I have an uncle who served in the Canadian Army, was wounded and treated in England, was discharged from the army and joined the Royal Flying Corps and trained as a pilot. He is not on the Canadian list of RFC members and I was told that those people who enlisted in the RFC in the UK were not recorded. I have some of his military documents and have been in touch with RAF authorities who advise that many records were stored in warehouses in London that were destroyed during the blitz/ Perhaps I may be lucky enough to get info on him as well.
Best regards......Jack

tcrean7828 · 14 October 2009, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John410

I am a new member and have some interest in WW1. I was in the RCAF for 21 years then taught High School Instrumental and vocal music in Scarborough Ontario for 21 years. While in the RCAF I was stationed in North Luffenham England 1952 to 1954 (lSabre Sqns) and then in Marville France from 1963 to 1967. I did not fly but aircraft and the wars fascinated me, especially as we were very close to Verdun France. Our base in France, at Marville, was supposedly during WW1 used by a German Sqn commanded by Herman Goering and his picture was in the Officers Mess along with the other RCAF commanders. While we were there, we noted young German students would come in the summer to take care of the nearby cemeteries and they also uncovered in the wall of a hill just outside the Marville Base, a sculpture in a round shape of a Pilot, with leather helmet and goggles on.
I hope to meet and get information on the base at Marville from others in The Aerodrome. As well, I have an uncle who served in the Canadian Army, was wounded and treated in England, was discharged from the army and joined the Royal Flying Corps and trained as a pilot. He is not on the Canadian list of RFC members and I was told that those people who enlisted in the RFC in the UK were not recorded. I have some of his military documents and have been in touch with RAF authorities who advise that many records were stored in warehouses in London that were destroyed during the blitz/ Perhaps I may be lucky enough to get info on him as well.
Best regards......Jack

Mate,
Welcome to the flagship of the Aerodrome - where the greatest minds on the planet get together and talk about their favorite subject - WW1.

ttfn

tcrean7828

tom

P.S. Werner Voss fan here.

TomVrille · 14 October 2009, 09:21 AM

Greetings Jack, and welcome to the Aerodrome. Good luck on your historical research. I can't be of any help for your topics of interest, but I'm sure there are a few folks on this site who can. ................

TV

frontflieger · 28 October 2009, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John410

While we were there, we noted young German students would come in the summer to take care of the nearby cemeteries and they also uncovered in the wall of a hill just outside the Marville Base,...

Yes, that were and are young boys and girls travelling with the http://www.volksbund.de working for peace and remembering the results of war. I took part in many of those camps in France, Hungary and Estonia (BTW).

Quote:

Originally Posted by John410

... a sculpture in a round shape of a Pilot, with leather helmet and goggles on.

Do you have a picture of this sculpture? That would make it easier for us

Thorsten

John410 · 28 October 2009, 06:43 PM

Guten Tag Mein Freunde Frontflieger. Pardon my German, it is very rusty, even though I had the privilege of working in Germany from 1980 to 1984..four marvellous years in the Schwartzwald. I was the music teacher at the Canadian Forces School in Lahr for four years. I have been on the internet trying to find information on the WW1 Pilot Plaque in the roadside near the Marville air base. I know that Herman Goering was the staton commander (Sep 1918) at one point and in reading the history of Ernst Udet, I note he took command of Jasta 4 in May of 1918 at Marville.
I took many pictures while we were there, mostly in the Verdun area where the terrible battle of Verdun took place, and I now regret I did not photograph the plaque. If memory serves me right, no one knew the plaque was there until it was uncovered by the German students one Summer. I was there from 63 to 67 so it would have been about 1965. Would you have any idea of any information sources in Germany that might have information on war memorials? Thanks for your interest.....Jack