Prisoner of war number 3418 from Stalag VIG in Boon Duisdorf near Cologne (Köln) – Kommando 569​

This photographic collection was donated by Mr. Alain Casas to the Loiret (45) branch of the Souvenir Français (French Remembrance Association), represented by Mr. Jean-Christophe Denis, the branch's delegate. These photos were loaned to the association "History and Memory of Captivity – 1939-1945" for digitization and online publication on its website, with Mr. Jean-Christophe Denis's permission. Unfortunately, very few have captions. The name of the photographer who developed them during the Second World War appears on the back of several: "Foto Clemens – Bonn".

Photo Numbering: Photos 1 through 7 were most likely taken at the front between September 3, 1939, and an unknown date and location in France where Brigadier Maurice Collet was captured. Among these, photos 1 and 2 depict a British Hawker Hurricane, identified by experts at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace (Air and Space Museum) at Le Bourget. We thank them for this identification and for their assistance.

Here is the information they provided: "This is a British Hawker Hurricane that may have been shot down in France. This type of aircraft was used over France throughout the Second World War, from the Battle of France (with the Royal Air Force Expeditionary Force based in France) until the Liberation. We do not have this type of aircraft in our collections (we primarily focus on French aircraft)." However, on the Royal Air Force Museum website, you can see 3 aircraft of this type:

• https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/hawker-hurricane-iic/

• https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/hawker-typhoon-1b/

• https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/hawker-hurricane-1/

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• Photos 8 through 32 depict prisoners from Stalag VIG. Brigadier Maurice Collet appears in photos 8 through 22. Photos 33 through 38 depict scenes from a theater or orchestra, possibly taken at Stalag VIG.

• Photos 39 through 42 may depict students or trainees, or perhaps members of Brigadier Maurice Collet's family

 

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