Arc De Triomphe

[Jawnee]

Is there ANYONE out there who knows if pilots in WW II actually flew through the Arc de Triomphe? Apparently there is video footage "somewhere" that claims they did. If anyone has any photos of this, I'd be very grateful!

thanks much

[Loki]

I believe a Beaufighter made a very low pass down the Champs Elysee during WW2....but no knowledge of the Arc incident.

[andymac]

slightly more modern, but I'm sure I've seen a photo of a Rallye being flown through the Arc. Nothing noted on internet searches though.

[Skylark4]

The Rallye went through the Eiffel Tower.

Mike W

[TheOddOne]

...and DEFINITELY the Arc de Triomphe

TOO

[Jawnee]

Thanks gents.... anyone else got anything "concrete" on this flight through the Arc? If it's indeed true, I'd love to have some hard facts (and photos)

J

[cringe]

Found a mention of three flights (sorry, no photos):

At 7:30 on Aug 7th 1919, Charles Godefroy flew through the Arc de Triomphe in an Nieuport XXVII, in a protest against the insufficient role the aviation was given in the July 14th parade.

After his unauthorised flight through the Arch de Triomphe in October 1981, Alain Marchand was fined and had his license suspended.

On Aug 16th 1991, a Mudry Cap 10B was flown through the Arch de Triomphe and then through the Eiffel Tower.

[Atcham Tower]

I read somewhere that quite a Few French fighter pilots flew through the Arc during the First World War. Wing tip clearance is minimal even for a SPAD! The Beaufighter dropped a weighted tricolore flag on the Arc and shot up the Gestapo HQ etc etc in a morale-boosting stunt for the French in 1942. Pilot's name was Gatward but I don't have the rest of the details to hand.

[Skylark4]

The Eiffel Tower was a Bonanza.

http://www.airandspacemagazine.com/a...HR/Eiffel.html

Mike w