Only 75 Companions of the Liberation still alive!

[Christophe]

Only 30 surviving Companions of the Liberation.

On 2 December 2011 died Henry Lafont, Companion of the Liberation.

Henry Lafont, born in 1920, was at the fighter school in Oran, Algeria. With some of his fellow pilots, led by René Mouchotte, they decided to steal an aircraft and fly to Gibraltar. A few days later they sailed for England, from where he flew patrols during the Battle of Britain. Over the next few months he flew more than 100 patrols and was credited with shooting down two enemy aircraft. On February 26 1941 he was the first of the pilots who had escaped to England to achieve a success, although he was the only one in his formation of six aircraft to return safely to base. In July 1941 Lafont became an instructor, and trained more than 60 Free French Air Force fighter pilots. Six months later he joined the Groupe Alsace flying Hurricanes on convoy patrols and fighter cover over Tobruk, when he probably shot down an enemy bomber. In May 1942 he volunteered for service in Russia with the Normandie Squadron, but before joining he was shot down and wounded. He returned to England. Throughout 1943 Lafont flew on operations over France and the Low Countries. By war’s end he had completed 230 operational missions.

After the war, Henry Lafont remained in the French Air Force, serving in Algeria during the conflict there and for six years in London. He was later, in 1967, appointed Director General of the Paris Air Show.

Here is his bio (in French) :

http://www.ordredela...pagnon/538.html

After his death, there are now only 30 surviving Companions of the Liberation.

Ch.

Pic : Chancellerie de l'Ordre de la Libération.

[Christophe]

Only 30 surviving Companions of the Liberation.

Here is the list of these 30 Companions :

Henri BEAUGE-BERURE

Guy CHARMOT

Daniel CORDIER

Louis CORTOT

Yves de DARUVAR

Bernard DEMOLINS

Victor DESMET

Constant ENGELS

Robert GALLEY

René GATISSOU

Alain GAYET

Hubert GERMAIN

Charles GONARD

Jacques HEBERT

Paul IBOS

François JACOB

Pierre LANGLOIS

Claude LEPEU

Louis MAGNAT

Jean-Pierre MALLET

Fred MOORE

Roland de la POYPE

Claude RAOUL-DUVAL

André SALVAT

Etienne SCHLUMBERGER

Pierre SIMONET

Gérard THEODORE

Jean TRANAPE

Edgard TUPET-THOME

André VERRIER

Ch.

[Christophe]

Only 29 surviving Companions of the Liberation.

On 3 February 2012 died Bernard Demolins, Companion of the Liberation.

Bernard Demolins, born in 1918, Bernard Demolins is incorporated in Casablanca, doing his military service. He is then appointed in Algeria, from where he joins Lebanon, and then London. On the July 1st, 1940, he meets the general de Gaulle in St Stephen' s House and gets involved in the Free French Force. He wil then participate in operations in Dakar and Gabon. He will then take part in operations against the Italian army in Eritrea, and then fights in Syria, where he is wounded. He will the take part in the battle of El-Alamein, in the Italy campaign in 1943, where he is again wounded in May 1944, in Garigliano. He will then fight as part of the France campaign.

After the war, will start an Administrator career in Chad, New Caledonia, Mauritania and work for the United Nations.

Here is his bio (in French) :

http://www.ordredela...pagnon/275.html

After his death, there are now only 29 surviving Companions of the Liberation.

Ch.

Pic : Chancellerie de l'Ordre de la Libération.

[Christophe]

Only 28 surviving Companions of the Liberation.

On 13 February 2012 died René Gatissou, Companion of the Liberation.

René Gatissou, born in 1915, is affected in Djibouti when the armistice is signed. He enters resistance and joins the Royal Air Force in British Somalia, and Aden.He performs several missions of battle as gunner above Abyssinia and Eritrea. In September, 1941, as part of the Group of Bombing "Lorraine", he joined Syria and fought in Libya. He will then join England with the Group Lorraine. He will take part in an audacious raid on Boulogne-sur-Mer as well as in a night attack on an enemy armoured column. In 1945, the officer counts then 420 hours of flight for 17 missions of battle.

After the war, René Gatissou joins Calcutta, in India, and then Indochina. In 1960, he leaves the air force with the rank of commander to start a new career within the group Technip.

Here is his bio (in French) :

http://www.ordredela...pagnon/383.html

After his death, there are now only 28 surviving Companions of the Liberation.

Ch.

Pic : Chancellerie de l'Ordre de la Libération.

[Christophe]

Only 27 surviving Companions of the Liberation.

On 8 June 2012 died Robert Galley, Companion of the Liberation.

Robert Galley, born in 1921, refuses defeat in June 1940 and joins England disguised in Polish soldier. He then joins the Dakar expedition and participates in operations in Gabon. He will the fight in Syria and Egypt. Tank platoon leader, he will fight from El Alamein to Tunisia, and then the General leclerc troops. He will later after the war marry General Leclerc's daughter.

He lands in France in August 1944, and will take part of the Liberation of Paris, before partcipating to the Alsace and Lorraine battles and go through Germany until Berchtesgaden.

After the war, Robert Galley, will have a nice career in the nuclear ane energy industries, before being a well known political man, at local and national levels, several times a Minister, including the position of Minister of Defense.

Here is his bio (in French) :

http://www.ordredelaliberation.fr/fr_compagnon/374.html

After his death, there are now only 27 surviving Companions of the Liberation.

Ch.

Pic : Chancellerie de l'Ordre de la Libération.

[Christophe]

Only 26 surviving Companions of the Liberation.

On 10 June 2012 died Gérard Theodore, Companion of the Liberation.

Gérard Theodore, born in 1920, refusing the Armsitice, heared the call of General de Gaulle, and joined England in June 1940. Engaged in the Free French forces, he is assigned to a section of artillery FFL, and participates in the campaigns of Dakar, Eritrea, Libya and Syria. Slightly wounded at Bir hakeim on 8 June 1942, he will lose his left leg the same day. Evacuated to Beirout, he will coma back to fight in Libya, and then France, where he took part to the Liberation of Paris in August 1944.

After the war, Gérard Theodore will become one of the directors of the French National Institute for Statistics (INSEE) working in several former French colonies.

Here is his bio (in French) :

http://www.ordredelaliberation.fr/fr_compagnon/963.html

After his death, there are now only 26 surviving Companions of the Liberation.

Ch.

Pic : Chancellerie de l'Ordre de la Libération.

Edited April 13, 2013 by Christophe

[Christophe]

Only 25 surviving Companions of the Liberation.

On 21 August 2012 died Jean Tranape, Companion of the Liberation.

Jean Tranape, born in 1918 in Noumea, New Caledonia, volunteer, rallies Free france in September 1940. he arrives in the Middle-East in 1941, and takes part to the battle of El-Alamein. he will then fight in Libya, Tripolitania and Tunisia. In April 1944, he is fighting in Italy, where he is wounded. He will then land in Provence and take part in the liberation of Toulon. Wounded again, he is back to North Africa, before joining Paris at the City liberation.

After the war, Jean Tranape becomes again an industrial designer.

Here is his bio (in French) :

http://www.ordredelaliberation.fr/fr_compagnon/981.html

After his death, there are now only 25 surviving Companions of the Liberation.

Ch.

Pic : Chancellerie de l'Ordre de la Libération.

[Christophe]

Only 25 surviving Companions of the Liberation.

Here is the list of these 25 Companions :

Henri BEAUGE-BERURE
Guy CHARMOT
Daniel CORDIER
Louis CORTOT
Yves de DARUVAR
Victor DESMET
Constant ENGELS
Alain GAYET
Hubert GERMAIN
Charles GONARD
Jacques HEBERT
Paul IBOS
François JACOB
Pierre LANGLOIS
Claude LEPEU
Louis MAGNAT
Jean-Pierre MALLET
Fred MOORE
Roland de la POYPE
Claude RAOUL-DUVAL
André SALVAT
Etienne SCHLUMBERGER
Pierre SIMONET
Edgard TUPET-THOME
André VERRIER

Ch.

[Christophe]

Only 24 surviving Companions of the Liberation.

On 29 August 2012 died Louis Magnat, Companion of the Liberation.

Louis Magnat, born in 1915, an oil engineer, worked in Argentina before the war. Assigned to Cote d'Ivoire in may 1940, he heared the call of General de Gaulle and rallied the British and then the French free Forces in Cameroon. He will then participate in the occupation of Tripolitania and Fezzan. From Tunisia, he joins England, with the 2nd Armored Division (2nd DB). He lands in Normandy in August 1944, and will participate to the Liberation of Paris and Strasbourg. he will then join the Atlantic Front, to reduce the pocket of Royan, in April 1945.

After the war, Louis Magnat will continue his career in oil prospecting in Argentina. He will then move to the United States and Spain.

Here is his bio (in French) :

http://www.ordredelaliberation.fr/fr_compagnon/1056.html

After his death, there are now only 24 surviving Companions of the Liberation.

Ch.

Pic : Chancellerie de l'Ordre de la Libération.

[Christophe]

Only 23 surviving Companions of the Liberation.

On 23 October 2012 died Roland de la Poype, Companion of the Liberation.

Roland Paulze d'Ivoy de la Poype, born in 1920, is a young Air Force pilot when he hears the call of the General de Gaulle. He joins England in June 1940. he will then take part in the dakar expeditiona nd the campaign of Gabon as a gunner. in November 1940, he is back to England to complete his training in flight schools of the Royal Air Force. Until march 1942, he is escorting bombers in their missions. Promoted to the rank of ensign in March 1942, he damages a Messerschmitt 109 in April, and shot down his first enemy plane, a Mersserschmitt 109, on 22 August 1942. After 60 missions, he joins the Fighter group Normandie, based in the Middle-East, ready to join Russia.

Pilot patrol leader on board his Soviet made Yak, he is appointed deputy Commander of the "Normandie" in October 1943. Promoted lieutenant in December 1943, he distinguised himself during the operations of the Eastern Front, and specially over the Niemen. he shot down 15 enemy aircraft, including 4 of them the same day, on 16 October 1944. He is made Hero of the Soviet Union, promoted Captain a,d becomes the leader of the Normandie group. Because of his success, Stalin eceptionally allows him to go back to France with his Yak aircraft.

After the war, Roland de la Poype, leaves the Air Force in 1947. he will make a superb civil, career in several domains and in particular in the plastic industry. He is the inventor of the "Dop berlingot", and the plastic car "Mehari". He also is the founder of the Marineland aquatic park in Antibes, South of France.

Here is his bio (in French) :

http://www.ordredelaliberation.fr/fr_compagnon/804.html

After his death, there are now only 23 surviving Companions of the Liberation.

Ch.

Pic : Chancellerie de l'Ordre de la Libération.

[Christophe]

Only 22 surviving Companions of the Liberation.

On 20 April 2013 died François Jacob, Companion of the Liberation.

François Jacob, born in 1920, was a student when the war broke out. He joins the Free French Forces in London in July 1940. He will take part to the expedition to Dakar, and to the end of the campaign of Gabon. He will then participate to the campaigns of Chad, Fezzan, Tripolitania and Tunisia, where he is wounded. Repatriated to Britain, he will land at Utah Beach in August 1944. Wounded again, he is evacuated to Cherbourg, and then Paris.

After the war, François Jacob will complete his medical studies and supports a PhD in Medicine in Paris in 1947. He will become a Doctor in Sciences, and join the Institut Pasteur. He will make a very beautiful career in Genetics, crowned by several prizes, including the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1965. In 2007, he was appointed Chancellor of the Order of the Liberation, until 2011.

Here is his bio (in French) :

http://www.ordredelaliberation.fr/fr_compagnon/490.html

After his death, there are now only 22 surviving Companions of the Liberation.

Ch.

Pic : Chancellerie de l'Ordre de la Libération.

Edited April 26, 2013 by Christophe