SHAA/SHAT visits

[Billy9]

I am in need of someone in the Paris, France area who can read French to make periodic visits to SHAA/SHAT at the Château de Vincennes to search for information.

Bill

Wrong approach. What you should actually do:
1) Learn French. Fantastic language of a fantastic people
2) Go there yourself. Besides the fact that the Chateau de Vincennes is a wonderful monument, the Archives there are excellently run, with helpful and competent people, and it is an intellectual pleasure to visit that institution.
I have the impression that doing historical research with somebody else to visit the archives for you just doesn't work (unless one needs one single, exactly defined piece of information).

[Vigilant]

This may be a stupid question, but what is at the Chateau de Vincennes?

Merci

Vig.

I'm with Vigilant, here. I clicked on to find out what a SHAA/SHAT is/was!
I still don't know whether to step on it, or walk around it.

[Rick]

I was mightily trying to restrain myself from commenting on this thread, but I have failed miserably. To begin at the end:

SHAA = Service Historique de la Armee de la Air
SHAT = Service Historique de l'Armee de Terre

both are located in/at the Chateau de Vincennes near Paris, and are, respectively, the repository for the Aviation and Ground (for the lack of a better term) histories for the French 1914-1918 services (and possibly WW II also).

Rogentil: although I fully realize you are fairly new to the Forum, I might suggest the following before 'dis-ing' a fellow contributor:
a) consider where they are located vs. travel time, distance, and cost
B) consider that they very well could speak French fluently, otherwise why would they be asking for French material from the French National Archives
c) and finally, consider who they are vis-a-vis French aviation history. I don't think I would begin a response with "wrong approach"! R.

OK Rick, you are right on all three points and I stand reprimanded.
I must explain that in my long years of research I was always puzzled by the large number of Americans who study WW1 aviation in other countries, sometimes using paid researchers, when there is so much about AMERICAN WW1 aviation history that still has to be revealed. On the other hand, the French themselves are not producing what we expect about French WW1 aviation and, if one reads their magazines, one gets the impression that Frech researches study mainly... the Luftwaffe and the USAAF.
The only people, in my opinion, who study correctly their own histories and who publish good, well balanced material are the British and the Austrians (possibly the Russians too, but I can't read the language so really I don't know).
Anyway I apologize.

[gregoire]

A small correcion to the definition of SHAA, it is in charge of all the archive for the french Air force since its begining, never the less as the air force was part of the army until the 30's you may find some document in the SHAT
the SHAT is in charge of all the army archive and history since at least 1500

[ONEALM]

If Billy9 will excuse my interjection -

Bill has been to the SHAA many, many times over the past 25 years or so, but family and health will probably keep him on this side of the Atlantic.

I think the question should have started "....after years of studying French (and actually learning enough to do some good!), and having spent many, many hours there myself, ......"

I'm sure most people here are familiar with Bill's work on the French War Chronology, Above the Lines, Over the Front, C&C (US) and C&C Intnl over the years.

Hopefully I don't overstep my bounds by saying Bill is just looking for someone local who can help him complete his life-long work.

Bill, I apologize for pre-empting your reply, but I just could not help it ! If I'm off base anywhere, I'll take the lumps in the public forum.

Keep at it,
Mike

[Billy9]

Mike and Rick, thanks for the defense. I really should have been more specific, but I figured anyone interested in WWI aviation would know what I was referring to.

Bill

[Rick]

Well guys, I guess this little tempest in a teapot has been has been quietly brought to an end!! * * And thanks for the SHAA and SHAT definitions Gregoire. *My knowledge of them is much pretty limited to 1914-1918. *Rogentil, all's well that ends well. Welcome to the Forum!! * *;D * *R.