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Phoenix09
31st May 2004, 10:28
Just a little encouragement to read the NOTAM's!

From the front page of the Daily Telegraph.

Planes that breach D-Day air space 'will be shot down'
By Ben Fenton in Arromanches
(Filed: 31/05/2004)


Private pilots who stray into Normandy air space during the 60th anniversary of D-Day next weekend will be shot down, French officials said yesterday.

With at least 16 heads of state, including the Queen and President George W Bush, attending the ceremonies, organisers are guarding particularly against an al-Qa'eda attack from the air.


French troops near the town of Arromanches

It is one of the biggest security exercises in Europe since the war. An enormous network of radar equipment has been stretched between Deauville and Cherbourg, with Awacs early warning aircraft already in the skies.

The aircraft will be joined this week by small, remote-controlled drones. Advanced Crotale anti-aircraft missiles have been primed and two squadrons of Mirage 2000 fighters are stationed nearby.

The French ministry of defence has spared no expense. It has established a temporary air base at Carpiquet, outside the city of Caen, as the hub of its defences.

There, more than 800 soldiers will maintain round-the-clock surveillance, backed by more than 50 military helicopters.

A spokesman for the 120-acre camp said: "The dangers are multiple, from a hijacked airliner being crashed into the stands at the main international ceremony at Arromanches to a tiny bomb being detonated remotely. But we are stretching an impenetrable fabric of protection above Normandy."

At sea, fishermen and pleasure craft have been banned from the Seine Bay that stretches along the beaches which were codenamed Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword on June 6, 1944.

A French carrier, Charles de Gaulle, and an American carrier, George Washington, will be patrolling the bay, which will also be swept for mines. There are unconfirmed reports that submarines will be used in the security precautions.

On land, more than 9,000 French troops are arriving this week, supplementing the 6,300 gendarmes and 2,300 police officers already on duty.

The focus of all this protection will be a series of events marking the contribution of the allied nations to the Normandy landings, a theme that will be brought together at an international ceremony on cliffs above the small seaside town of Arromanches next Sunday.

There the heads of state will watch President Jacques Chirac symbolically award the French Legion d'Honneur to 10 veterans of each of the 14 countries that took part. For the first time, Germany will be represented - by Chancellor Gerhard Schroder.

Most people believe that this will be the last big commemoration of D-Day. The security operation will be twice the size of that for the last major ceremony in 1994 and is graphically illustrated at Arromanches.

The town's residents have been told that they must either stay indoors throughout next Sunday or leave the area. Even Patrick Jardin, the mayor, one of the few local people invited to the international ceremony, will have to travel by bus to Caen, 45 minutes' drive away, and board a special bus to return to Arromanches that afternoon.

doubleu-anker
31st May 2004, 11:57
Sounds like a big do indeed, next weekend.

There are going to be ssssoooo many itchy trigger fingers, I hope we don't have a "friendly fire" incident.

Wouldn't it be terrible if a head of state A/C was shot down.

J.A.F.O.
31st May 2004, 12:32
Planes that breach D-Day air space 'will be shot down'

Oh, they said that 60 years ago, too.

BEagle
31st May 2004, 14:03
At least the French learned from their WW2 failure. Unlike the RAF, which has been steadily eroded over the last 15 years or so thanks to the so-called government and is now in a quite desperate situation, the FAF is actually supported by the government and is seen as a highly effective and credible military force.

I wonder what lunatic and totally over-the-top levels of protection are being afforded to Mad George Dubya Bush?

skua
31st May 2004, 16:47
IFR
how are you, me old c***k?

I flew the length of the beaches yesterday, and the encampments of the French army and the Armee de l'Air, were plain to see, with plenty of radar etc. Glad I passed through before the notams take effect. Always a nostalgic route, and never more so. Intending to go over by car next weekend to see teh para drop at Ranville, if you happen to be there!

Rgds

Skua

InFinRetirement
31st May 2004, 18:57
Skua.

Would love to be there but no, I will be at OW. Tried many moons ago to get on the list to go over but it was booked up months ago.

Still OW will be nice - as usual.

Timothy
31st May 2004, 21:52
IFR
I can fly you out to Quiberon on Saturday, back on Sunday. You have my number, call me if you'd like a lift.

Charlie Fox
1st Jun 2004, 06:47
Normandy Restrictions 1st to 15th June can be found here (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=129459)