last connection - alex , dan-san , norman et al

FOKKERJ · 13 October 2009, 07:28 PM

Thank you Dan-San for another great story.
Hopefully Alex will join in the spirit of this great Thread that Fill created and share his memories of knowing Pilots from the 56 Squadron.

Best Wishes, Jay

P.S.

Willy Coppens was genuinely a great guy from what I have read in his autobiography.
A bit of a Rebel, I do believe.

Fill · 14 October 2009, 03:56 AM

Blue skies Dan-San
A truely wonderful story mate !.. Thank you so much ! . and the true idea behind the thread ... not just to embezzle your memory's from you " older eagles " ,, but that hopefully you would enjoy telling these stories .
I don't want to sound like a priest ...but this thread should keep going . It's not my thread ...it is our thread ,,, a band of brothers who love this subject , both younger and older .
I'm proud to say I have stood under the same Guynemer memorial as you Mr Abbott ...but I didn't do it with royalty !

Dan_San_Abbott · 14 October 2009, 07:11 PM

Hi Jay:
Our first night at Hotel du Parc, after dinner Willy and I chated until 1:30 in the morning. We talked about politics, Willy was a monarchist, He said to me, quote, "You are born to rule!" Not elected. he did not understand how you can elect a President, no blood line, Willy said, "How can that be? A royal prince is groomed, to be king from his birth. How are candidates prepared to be president?" That might explain some of the winners we have gotten.
There was Prime Ministry, Willy hated with a Passion, He later was the Belgian Ambassador to te United Nations. The man was a Communist. Willy's anger raised as he talk about him. He got up , left the room and came back with a small book. It was written in French and Flemish. It was the history of this man, the Communist. Willy said he had taken the manuscript to all the publishers in Belgium and France, He want it published and given to every school kid in Belgium. It was so controversal, none of the publishers would touch it with a ten foot pole. So, Willy published it himself, and gave the book to every school kid in Belgium.
I did not ask Willy about the Balloon attack when he was severely wounded, but he told me about it anyhow. He said he was adamate that he would walk to the King for his last medal, which he did.
He rubbed a lot people the wrong way, this affected his promotions. He should have retired as the Commanding General of the Belgium Air Force, but as a result of controversial manner, he made Colonel on his Retirement.
Willy was the Air Attache in Belgium Embassy in Paris when Lindbergh landed on 27 May 1927. He was the first person who spoke to Lindbergh in English. They had moved the "WE" into a hangar and Lindbergh was examining the plane when Willy walked up to him. Somewhat unfair of Willy, after 57 hours without sleep, I guess Lindbergh was not very coherant, Willy told me he thought Lindbrergh was rather dumb! He said he did not make sense.
The Story I relished was his flight to his home in Brussells, and circled over his home and got to see his Mother and Father. I had read the story in his book "Days on the Wing", but getting first hand with his excitement was something else.
It was a wonderful day with Willy.
Blue skie Jay,
Dan-San

Roadhog · 16 October 2009, 09:01 AM

Dear Dan, Greg and gang, All these stories have the makings of a great book. I still cherish the conversations I had with my uncle who served in the trenches with the Big Red One and spoke fluent German. Threads like this one are the reason I love the Forum so darn much. VR, Scott Price

FOKKERJ · 17 October 2009, 05:54 PM

Hi Dan-San,

Perhaps "Free Thinker" would have been a better description, but it sounds llike my assessment was pretty accurate and meant with only the highest respect due to the Man that earned it.

Thanks again for sharing these great memories.

Best Wishes, Jay

P.S. I found it.... The

Willy Coppens' Autobiography: "FLYING IN FLANDERS". I thought that was the title, but had to check.

FOKKERJ · 17 October 2009, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex_revell

Fokker,
People may well be able to achieve some kind of knowledge of the mind set of people in the past, through letters, diaries etc. But in my opinion, to gain an understanding of their moral and ethical values, by which lived in the ethos of their time, and to get a real insight one needs to met the actual people.

Hi Alex,

I can appreciate that.
Unfortunately my Father's parents had both passed away by the time he was twelve years old, otherwise I might have had first hand knowledge of people born around 1880/1885. My Maternal grandparents and some Aunts and Uncles were born around 1901 to 1909, I did know them intamately and that was as close to this time period as I would come, along with their memories and histories.
Plenty of people have good moral and ethical values even today, but yes we have been exposed to a Hell of a lot more which would num anyone's senses.

Best Wishes, Jay

P.S. When I was young, I asked about Grampa's uniform or anything else from his service in the Great War. I was told that upon returning to America/Home that he burned his uniform and went to Canada to ride his horse and gather his thoughts. I was able to accept that. I believe that all that was left is his Diary, Service Medal, a fotograf in uniform, and his Coffin Flag.