First photo post in a while, and thought it would be a good time to do so after a brilliant couple of days over in northern France last week. Having spent the 5th of June at Upottery and Dunkeswell airfield shooting the Aerolegends C-47s, my plan for the rest of the week was to head to the Mach loop. The weather forecast looked fairly dull in North Wales, so after a quick google, I found and booked a cheap ferry crossing the next morning. Few hours sleep later and an uneventful transit over, I arrived in northern France and went off on my trip. ADSB was a great help for planning purposes, and the week prior I had seen lots of RCH c/s going into Caen-carpiquet airport, so this was my first stop.
Caen was host to most if not all VIP aircraft, including the POTUS contingent. I had not long been at the airport when the US Army CH-47Fs arrived and landed straight onto their dispersal, so a bit far away for photos, but I've included one to show the markings applied for their visit, showing all the US army units involved in D-day, 80 years ago. These were providing the support as is standard for when POTUS is in Europe.
US Army Chinook DDay80 CAEN24 by Stu Weston, on FlickrShortly followed by my main reason for my last minute visit: the VH-3Ds. I'd never shot them before, particularly missing them in 2021 when they were down in the southwest for the G7 summit in Cornwall, due to covid isolation! These flew a much closer approach to where I was stood, and gladly got some shots.
DDay80 VH-3D Caen24 by Stu Weston, on Flickr
DDay80 VH-3D Caen24 2 by Stu Weston, on FlickrBiden and his entourage proceeded straight onto the awaiting C-32s, but these departed off the "wrong" runway for me and therefore no real usable photos.
I did shoot other aircraft during the afternoon, including a pair of French Super Pumas I would see the next day at cherbourg; a pair of RAF Chinooks; VIP Italian A319; Charles and Camilla's chartered jet and some other local helicopter movements.
The evening saw me drive to my overnight stop in cherbourg, made a little further as they closed the main A road that runs through and along the normandy coastline. Passing through Carentan I snatched a couple of photos of the US Army Blackhawks based at the local racecourse, which were used to transport VIPs around the area.
DDay US Army blackhawk Carenten24 by Stu Weston, on FlickrDay two dawned and my rough plan was to head to Cherbourg airport, to see the USAF C-130s and the D-Day squadron which I'd read online were there, before passing by Caen again before my ferry at midnight back to the UK. What followed was a day of almost airshow-like traffic- in that there was such variety. Over a space of 6 hours I shot: USAF C-130s, USN Metroliner, Slovakia C-27, the D-Day squadron C-47s, French Squirrel Super Pumas and VIP Falcon, multiple C-37s and a variety of warbirds. I hope the Mods don't mind me including a couple shots of the D-day squadron.
DDay 80th Squirrel Caen24 by Stu Weston, on Flickr
DDay80 Slovakia C-27 CHER24 by Stu Weston, on Flickr
DDay80 C-130J-30 CHER24 by Stu Weston, on Flickr
DDay80 RS C-130J-30 CHER24 by Stu Weston, on Flickr
DDay80 B-26K Cher24 by Stu Weston, on Flickr
DDay80 C-47As start CHER24 by Stu Weston, on Flickr
DDay80 MD C-130J CHER24 by Stu Weston, on Flickr
DDay80 Dyess C-130J-30 CHER24 by Stu Weston, on FlickrCherbourg done, it was time to start the long drive back to the ferry port, via Caen. I luckily arrived before Biden and co basically repeated the same movements as the day before, with the CH-47s arriving before him before departing off the wrong runway to Paris aboard the C-32s. However, what differed today was the fact that when the VH-3Ds were towed from the main ramp across the runway to their temporary set up in some old hangars, the French Police were okay for the small crowd gathered to get right up to the fence and photograph them. Feel very fortunate to have got such up close photos of these awesome looking helicopters.
DDay80th VH-3Ds x2 Caen24 by Stu Weston, on Flickr
DDay80 VH-3D Caen24 tow by Stu Weston, on Flickr
DDay80 VH-3D Caen24 tow 2 by Stu Weston, on FlickrThat concludes my little report of just over 30 hours in northern France. Thanks for looking!
