Jean, aged 96, passed away on November 5th, 2023.

Then close to 17, he was one of the French people (and his main contact since he spoke English) who helped Jack Ilfrey hide in Andigné and escape with civilian clothes, a bicycle, forged identity papers and a medical certificate to Allied Forces then in Bayeuxm after being shot down in German flak over Western France on June 13, 1944 (*).

Jean, who had lost contact with Jack for about 35 years, was able to reunite with him in 1983 in France, then in 1991 in the US and lastly in 1994 in France during the commemorations of the 50th Anniversary of D-Day; he would often speak of the AFEES 991 Annual Reunion in Irvine where he was kindly invited and attended with Jack Ilfrey.

On Wednesday, January 3rd, Le Courrier de l’Ouest, a local newspaper of the Anjou area of the Loire Valley, recalled these events in an article.

“We will never forget”.

• Jack Voileau