To mark 100 years of bilateral cooperation in the air, two vintage aircraft from World War I were on a free-to-public display in the central courtyard of Les Invalides…
As part of the events marking RAF100, Lord Edward Llewellyn, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to France, hosted Madame Florence Parly, French Minister for the Armed Forces; Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, the Chief of the Air Staff; and his homologue General André Lanata, the Chief of the French Air Force, at his Residence in Paris.
More than 2000 guests attended an event at the Embassy on Thursday 24 May 2018 to celebrate the Queen’s birthday and recognise the dedication of those who have served, and continue to serve, in the RAF over the last 100 years.
Guests were joined by distinguished World War II RAF veterans Air Commodore Charles Clarke OBE and Squadron Leader Martin Grugeon, who flew as a Lancaster bomb-aimer and a Spitfire pilot respectively.
Attendees were able to enjoy a reconstructed Spitfire on display during the event, and were greeted with music from the Central Band of the Royal Air Force and a Continuity Drill Display from the Queen’s Colour Squadron.
To mark 100 years of bilateral cooperation in the air, two vintage aircraft from World War I were on a free-to-public display in the central courtyard of Les Invalides. The aircraft were an AVRO 504C British biplane fighter and a French SPAD VII in Georges Guynemer’s colours.
This was the first time that a UK aviation museum had been granted permission to stage a display in the Cour d’honneur at Les Invalides.
The two Air Force Chiefs gave a combined presentation to an audience of 150 people at Les Invalides, which included the Ambassador and General Bruno Le Ray, Military Governor of Paris.
