Two French Naval Aviators, in honor of the Centennial of Naval Aviation and San Diego Fleet Week, presented the USS Midway Museum with a very rare French F8 Crusader Squadron plaque, a hand made crest, and several French Navy decorative patches.
These gifts were formally presented by Monsieur Gerard Castel (shown on left) to Captain Len Kaine, USN (Retired) and are now on display in the F8 Crusader Ready Room aboard the USS Midway Museum, the most visited military museum in the USA.
The plaque is engraved with these profound words:
Across the Ages, Friends through it all.
Best Regards, French Navy Squadron 12F.
In the early 1960s, French Naval Aviation was in need of state of the art carrier-based fighters for use aboard their new carriers Clemenceau and Foch.
At the time French evaluators selected the Chance-Vought F-8 Crusader.
Based on the superior handling attributes, versatile combat roles and successful carrier tests, the French government ordered 42 F-8E (FN)sthe last Crusaders ever produced.
It seemed a “fait accompli” the U.S. Navy would provide the required Crusader training for the French fighter pilots.
As luck would have it, in 1964 then Lieutenant Len Kaine, USN was one of the instructor pilots chosen to train the first contingent of French Crusader pilots.
During that assignment, life long friendships were established with the French fighter pilots undergoing training.
Forty-seven years later Len Kaine was chosen by the French to receive the gifts on behalf of the USS Midway Museum from none other than his long time friend and a fellow Crusader Fighter Pilot, Monsieur Gerard Castel.
The French pilots took advantage of the opportunity to watch the MCAS Miramar Air Show where, for their kindness, had their photos taken with the Blue Angels Flight Demonstration team and were each presented with a handsome autographed lithograph of the Blue Angels flying over NAS Pensacola, FL.
Following their San Diego visit to the birthplace of Naval Aviation at NAS North Island, the French toured the Bay Area for San Francisco Fleet Week.
While here the French also provided gifts to the Golden Rule Society charity.
Among his many accomplishments, Len Kaine is also the non-paid founder and president of the Golden Rule Society. www.goldenrulesociety.org
Len summarized the events nicely, “It was an honor and a pleasure to host the French visitors.
The French have been steadfast supporters of the free programs the Golden Rule Society has been providing for our Troops, Veterans and their families for the past 40 years.
“It’s our way of making it a better world and our French brothers have helped significantly.”
