On June 18th, 1945  a great victory parade of Allied troops on the Champs Elysées in Paris was overflown by three FAC Piper Cub of the Free French airforce.

The daring young men decided to have a little extra fun and also flew below and through the Eiffel tower legs. 

One of them was a hero of the war in Africa, in Italy and in France after he decided in June 1940 not to give up and join the French resistance in London.

Pierre Simonet died yesterday at 99. One of the greatest generation.  Good wind and thanks Pierre.

Bon voyage Pierre

I salute him.  That generation were something -- I don't know if it is their outlook on things or the way they approach things.  Being a Gen X guy I'm glad I was old enough to know many of them, and be taught by them.  The millenials missed out on their wisdom and knowledge.

My grandfather was one of the WW2 Gen.  He was an electrician, and was supposed to stay in port (Mare Island, CA) and work on ships.  However, on two different occasions, he got shanghai'ed into going to sea, when the seagoing electrician couldn't make the trip.  One of those times, he ended up in a submarine.  His CO figured my grandfather could handle being locked inside a metal tube since he had some life experience (he was in his mid 30's) and had a calm demeanor.  When he concentrated on something, he CONCENTRATED.  One thing my grandfather wasn't aware of about sub service -- when the submariners yell "PLANE!" it means "get below deck" -- my grandpa just looked up like a landlubber and said "where is the plane?".  He was the last one down the hatch, water spilling in around his feet, with the second-to-last guy yelling to him, "Get down here, you word not allowed fool, unless you want to drown!"

Rest in peace Pierre. Belated thanks for your service.