L’ESCADRILLE TROIS-IEME FOUS EN FRANCE
LA BELLE VIE EN FRANCE 15th – 21st JUILLET

Once again Phil Moore organised our annual summer deployment across the channel, this time to spend two nights each at Quiberon, La Rochelle and Angers.
Sadly Phil’s Auster decided to go u/s and despite desperate efforts to fix the problem time ran out. Fortunately Michael and Eve Bonham Cozens were leaving Bournemouth Airport in the Bonanza on the 14th and took Phil and Sue with them to La Baule.
The weather on the 15th was not kind and the well laid plans were definitely ‘agley’ this time. The intention was for the aircraft to muster at Bembridge and fly over together, but because of the cloud cover and varying weather conditions, proceeding independently became the order of the day.
‘Tank’ and Shirley Sherman were clamped in Pembrokeshire and were unable to make it despite several tries. Roger and Carol Richardson – Bunbury flew direct from Bodmin International to Dinard and thence to Quiberon. Michael and Charlie Ryan flew from Yeovilton to Quiberon via Rennes. Tony and Jill Ashmead flew direct from their strip near Milford on Sea. Pat and Jackie Mountain flew from their strip at Curry Rivel , picking up David Lockspeiser from Popham and thence to Bembridge. David had planned to fly with Arthur Record and Beryl but sadly Arthur was detained in hospital. Nigel and Alison de Candole flew from Nigels farm strip at Askerswell to Bembridge and thence to France.
Because of the cloud base no aircraft flew into Cherbourg as had been planned , but because Quiberon was also clamped at that time, Rennes proved to be a welcoming friendly port of call for the Ryan, de Candole and Mountain aircraft. After re-fuelling, and Quiberon had opened , all Squadron aircraft converged on that airfield which is conveniently situated just the other side of the hedge from our chosen hotel – the Europa.
Also converging at Quiberon were Dick and Mags Roberts by car via Portsmouth – Cherbourg, and Ron and Jan Dobree-Carey by car from Poole, conveyed by the Condor ferry at an impressive 38 knots. From Cherbourg it was just a quick run down the motorways to Quiberon. During the week in France it was handy having the cars around because there was a certain amount of juggling around with people, gear and fuel to fulfil weight and balance considerations.
Quiberon is a super place for a holiday (as is most of Brittany) especially if you have children- the beaches are lovely; clean white sand and the French are particularly good at entertaining children with games, sports, sailing or just supervision. At this visit, as at La Belle Isle last year, the squadron’s second favourite mode of transport – les bicyclettes, was utilised. It was an admirable way of getting around town, of seeing the beaches and the two harbours, and settling the assiettes de mer.
Saturday 17th. Aircraft and cars departed for lunch at La Baule airfield where we had the pleasure and bonus of seeing a visiting Vought Corsair in US Navy colours start up, unfold its wings and taxi out for take off, followed by a mild beat up of the airfield.
The next watering hole was the Hotel Mercure, on the harbour front, at La Rochelle. Finding it was a nightmare for the car drivers. Roads were cordoned off, or full of thousands of revellers for the La Rochelle week long, street performance artists, festival. The police were very much in evidence, but when asked for directions, merely shrugged their shoulders helplessly. However all spirits soared again at an excellent dinner at The Four Sergeants restaurant.
Sunday was spent exploring the town and then on Monday once again aircraft and cars took off for Angers calling in at Cholet airfield for lunch. One wishes that there were more GA airfields in England with facilities and a restaurant like Cholet. It was here that an elderly gent approached and enquired after examining the Squadron crests on our aircraft – were we Fleet Air Arm ? He was delighted when we assured him that we were indeed retired Fleet Air Arm pilots. He said that he was Belgian and had been trained to fly with the RN at Culdrose .
On the next leg to Angers the cars easily won, arriving at the Hotel Bleu Marine in the centre of the city. The airfield was several miles away from Angers and there was a long delay in ‘checking in’ the aircraft, followed by a ‘bus ride through almost impenetrable traffic jams during the Angers rush hour. However we really enjoyed the visit to Angers – capital of Anjou. It is a beautiful city on the Loire which we explored on foot and by Le Petit Train. The huge 13th century fortress chateau with its amazing tapestries of the Apocalypse, La Maison d’Adam, the craftsmen’s house, St.Maurice Cathedral with its stained glass windows, the fascinating Old Quarter and the gardens and fountains were all well worth visiting.
One thing for which we will long remember this trip was the succession of wonderful sea fresh feasts we had in a variety of restaurants in Quiberon, La Rochelle and Angers.
On Wednesday 21st July all aircraft returned to UK and landed safely, although Nigel de Candole had a certain amount of difficulty with hill fog on returning to his strip at Askerswell. However all ended well and probably Phil Moore is already planning next year’s adventures………………….

Report and photographs by Ron Dobree-Carey (Quiberron Airfield by Phil Moore).