A beautiful tribute to the lost sailors of the sky
Since its creation, the Aéronautique navale of the Marine nationale has mourned 1,600 lost sailors of the sky who gave their lives in service.
On November 18, a ceremony paid tribute to the lost sailors of the Aéronautique navale. Families of the lost sailors of the sky, active-duty sailors, patriotic associations, and civil and military authorities gathered for a military ceremony, presided over by Rear Admiral David Desfougères, commander of the force de l'aéronautique navale, in the presence of Captain Paul Zanassi, commander of the aéronautique navale d'Hyères. After the religious service at the Notre-Dame de Consolation church, the participants proceeded to the military ceremony in front of the Costebelle memorial, where the names of those lost since the creation of the aéronautique navale are inscribed.
In the presence of Jean-Michel Eynard-Tomatis, alternate deputy representing Deputy Stéphane Rambaud, Jean-Pierre Giran, mayor of Hyères, Doctor Francis Roux, vice-president of the Département and Defence correspondent, elected officials representing the mayors of La Crau and Solliès-Pont, Retired General Daniel Hubscher, president of the Comité de coordination hyérois des associations patriotiques (CCHAP), and numerous association presidents with their flags. After the many wreath-layings, in which the great-grandchildren of a pilot who went missing in 1944 participated, and in front of a class from the lycée polyvalent de Costebelle, Rear Admiral Desfougères recalled the history and the duty to remember those lost from the Aéronautique Navale.
The authorities greeted the 10 flag-bearers, including that of the ANM-ONM, carried by Yves Boyer, who was accompanied by Gérard Ramat, an Algerian War veteran, aviator, and one of the last members of the association des Combattants Volontaires de Hyères et environs, which is set to be dissolved following the death of its president.
" Photos by Philippe OLIVIER.
Photos by Philippe OLIVIER.