Head of the French Air Force to be Vice President of Yorkshire Air Museum
It was announced today that General Jean-Paul Paloméros, Chief of the French Air Force has become a Vice President of the Yorkshire Air Museum & Allied Air Forces Memorial.The General joins Sir Stephen Dalton, Chief of the Royal Air Force in this role, as well as the Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu; RAF historian, author and Daily Telegraph columnist Air Commodore Graham Pitchfork and TV celebrity Jan Leeming, who recently accepted the same invitation, in this ‘ambassadorial’ role in support of the work of the Memorial to preserve the memory of allied servicemen and women. This is the first time that the Heads of two Air Forces have ever come together as Vice Presidents for a Museum.
Born in Paris in 1953, General Paloméros became the 49th Chief of Staff of the French Air Force on 25 August 2009. He gained his flying wings in 1976 and holds the Grand Officer de la Legion d’Honneur, Officer de l’Orde National Mérite and Médaille de l’Aeronautique. His Battle Honours include Operation Crécerelle and Operation Deny Flight. He was involved “on the ground” in Libya in support of the highly effective Anglo-French air operations.
In his letter, General Paloméros expressed his enjoyment of his recent visit to York for the Inauguration of the French Memorial at York Minster on 20th October last year, and that it was his great pleasure to accept this Honorary role for the Allied Air Forces Memorial.
Museum Director, Ian Reed said, “We are delighted that the French Air Force have honoured us in this way, which underlines the close aviation links between our two countries and the important significance of the work of the Allied Air Forces Memorial. The Yorkshire Air Museum & Allied Air Forces Memorial is one of the largest museum memorials of its type in Europe. It is located at Elvington near York and was the former base of the only two French Heavy Bomber squadrons within RAF Bomber Command.”
