In this amazing book, the author - a Free French bomber pilot in the R.A.F. - tells the story of the brave but little known body of men, and describes his service in North Africa...

FOREWORD

 

Seven years have passed since the end of the Second World War and there have been several accounts describing the life of the pilots and crew who were engaged in this tragic conflict. Only a few of them, admittedly outstanding, but in my opinion far too rare, have told of the exploits of the French Heavy Bomber Groups stationed in Great Britain. Jules Roy in exquisite academic French has analysed in detail the agony of the Halifax crews who faced the ’ Flak ’ of ’ Happy Valley ’1. In his Bomb Aimer’s post he tremble as we all did. Captain Germain, a stalwart Navigator, was rather more technical but perhaps less human in his Memoirs of an Incendiary.

 

I consider, however, that the feelings of the pilot, the Leader responsible for the crew, have never been sufficiently explained, and that is what, after some hesitation, I have now tried to do.

 

( ... ) In this tale I have tried, without literary embellishment, to raise a corner of the veil which has slowly descended upon the glorious past of the small French phalange - slender in effectives and great in courage - which joined the ranks of the British Bomber Command.

 

The morale and faith of those who died for France must remain engraved in the memories of their countrymen. Their example, which attained the highest peaks of human valour, once more bears witness to the qualities of our race, and from their example we must base our hopes for the future.

 

1 Return from Hell, by Jules Roy. Published by William Kimber.