TIGHAR

Project Midnight Ghost => General Discussion => Topic started by: Martin X. Moleski, SJ on January 26, 2015, 10:23:28 AM

Title: La Recherche de l’Oiseau Blanc
Post by: Martin X. Moleski, SJ on January 26, 2015, 10:23:28 AM
We were contacted today by:

Bernard Decré
President de l’Association
La Recherche de l’Oiseau Blanc (http://loiseaublanc.over-blog.com/)

They are having a conference this week in Marseille.

Decré will be in the states in March.



Title: Re: La Recherche de l’Oiseau Blanc
Post by: John B. Shattuck on January 27, 2015, 12:50:40 AM
I know resources are always tight and we have to prioritize, but it sure would be nice to be able to direct some energy toward the l'Oiseau Blanc mystery.  Anything going on behind the scenes we could be made more aware of and possibly help out in some small way?

JB
Title: Re: La Recherche de l’Oiseau Blanc
Post by: JNev on January 27, 2015, 03:23:52 AM
Decre' doesn't seem very credible, considering the earlier article posted here under White Bird.  Lots of hype and little substance, if any. 

I suppose many are as afflicted with a sense of loss at this mystery as many of us are with the disappearance of Earhart.  Fertile ground for Decre' it seems.
Title: Re: La Recherche de l’Oiseau Blanc
Post by: Martin X. Moleski, SJ on January 27, 2015, 05:44:12 AM
I suppose many are as afflicted with a sense of loss at this mystery as many of us are with the disappearance of Earhart.

I imagine this might be true of the French.  I've never asked a Frenchman about the case, so this is sheer speculation.

I don't think it has as strong a grip on the American psyche, on average, as Amelia.  There are a couple of elements in common: two people aboard; lost on a long and difficult stunt flight; no verifiable traces of wreckage found yet; many conflicting theories about what caused their loss.  Nungesser and Coli's loss doesn't seem to have been from a failure of navigation.  Weather, disorientation, or mechanical or structural failure seem to be the more likely culprits.


Title: Re: La Recherche de l’Oiseau Blanc
Post by: JNev on January 27, 2015, 06:54:39 AM
I think you may be right; I almost said 'French', but it seemed a bit presumptive on gut check.  However, one couldn't blame them - these were national heroes on the cusp of a terrific breakthrough.

I think there is a good chance that ice got them (weather).  Lindbergh got into it and found warmer air to lose it; White Bird may not have been so fortunate.  No doubt they were as capable as Lindbergh and others at navigation.  Mechanical stuff in those days is also a looming vulture, agreed.  Earhart managed to make it to Ireland solo with a broken exhaust manifold for much of the flight - a big deal that could have easily taken her down due to carbon monoxide poisoning or fire. 

I wish the French well and hope this Decre' is a seriously able guy.  Just looks a bit superflous for now; maybe he's learning.
Title: Re: La Recherche de l’Oiseau Blanc
Post by: Ric Gillespie on January 27, 2015, 03:50:39 PM
I've been corresponding with Decré.  It looks like he'll be coming here to TIGHAR HQ with a French film crew in early March. 
Title: Re: La Recherche de l’Oiseau Blanc
Post by: Monty Fowler on January 31, 2015, 10:03:59 AM
Just remember, if the film crew all start muttering merde under their breath, that's not French for "We agree with everything you're saying wholeheartedly!"

LTM,
Monty Fowler, TIGHAR No. 2189 ECSP
Title: Re: La Recherche de l’Oiseau Blanc
Post by: Jerry Germann on March 30, 2015, 12:33:00 PM
I've been corresponding with Decré.  It looks like he'll be coming here to TIGHAR HQ with a French film crew in early March.

Was Mr. Decre able to appear, or did he postpone?
Title: Re: La Recherche de l’Oiseau Blanc
Post by: Ric Gillespie on March 30, 2015, 02:04:43 PM
Was Mr. Decre able to appear, or did he postpone?

Welllll....here's what happened.  On February 19 Mr. Decré sent me the following email:

Hello Richard
I come from 11 to 20 in Washington...
I would like to know what are your contact with Clive Cussler?
I don’t miss that because one of my daughter Angele give me one of his book: « Wrecks Hunter », for Christmas 2006, I was falling in that very strange and fantastic Story…
I want we organize between USA and France a big Aviation Event, with Erik Lindbergh, a friend of mine, to celebrate this two great pilots  who cross the Atlantic and capsize between Saint Pierre and Miquelon and Halifax, certainly in this biggest french Duty free shop for Bootleggers and Coast Guards area during Prohibition…but we know, the very bad weather in the East Coast of NewFoundland drink the petrol and I suppose they capsize in the fresh water near Saint Pierre….
Well I hope to see you (and perhaps Cussler)?
best regards
Bernard Decré


I have no desire to help Bernard Decré promote his ridiculous theory about the fate of the White Bird nor do I have any wish to debate him on camera.  I told the film maker that I would be happy to have her come and interview me about our investigation of the mystery but not if Decré was going to be present.  She agreed and we did the interview March 21.
Title: Re: La Recherche de l’Oiseau Blanc
Post by: JNev on March 30, 2015, 02:25:36 PM
I yam comming to see big white wing secret warehouse I know Cussler know about cause read book about ships but secret an won't tell while we get dooty free coffee while watch Coast Guard boat they cover up made disappear bootleggers got, yes?

Don't blame you.  Vass takink too long to pick from der kaffee der rahdtt schidtt out on this one - no substance there.
Title: Re: La Recherche de l’Oiseau Blanc
Post by: JNev on March 31, 2015, 07:46:28 AM
I've taken some heat for being snide about Decre' per above - whom I regard as ridiculous -

There IS no discernable position there, there IS no apparent sense of direction - only a desire to flash everybody with White Bird's fame, so far as I can tell -

So let me clarify for the record:

I take what Ric shared about Decre's contact as reliable - Ric would have no reason to fabricate that (and it is too rich by itself, anyway). 

As a communique', I find it utterly wanting for any true working content and absent of any decent working diplomacy. 

That he doesn't speak English fluently, apparently, does not bother me in the least; that he wouldn't bother using someone with better translation / syntax skills in contacting a colleague with more aplomb than the pig English and his foppish ideas about having celebrity novel authors attend (as much as I admire Cussler's writings AND wreck-finding accomplishments AND car collection, that is his chief occupation) at his whim is utter nonsense to me -

So, without apology to any who might be offended, it brings out the most acid lampoonery I can concoct.  I'm not sure what else to say about Decre's 'effort' which is hardly a decent reflection of the sincerity of the French people's pride in Nungesser and Coli and White Bird, so far as I can tell.  It certainly does not reflect the pride I feel for those two French aviators who risked and lost all to try for the first Paris-NYC crossing so many years ago.

If this is all unfair and ugly of me, then I will gracefully accept removal of this and the preceding post, should TIGHAR judge it so.  Having myself at times grown sick of my own posts over time, I may do so as well later, if whim strikes...  :P

As to my German-English wisecrack, it had nothing to do with language, but an old German-English fable about products that were not worth the effort because of the tedium involved in using them - which is precisely the sum of what I find in attempting to follow Decre's 'effort'.

So there I go again, mean-mean-mean...  :D
Title: Re: La Recherche de l’Oiseau Blanc
Post by: Jeff Lange on April 01, 2015, 05:51:48 AM
Really? You took heat for that? I found your reply perfectly appropriate in light of the reasons you have just explained. After all the hard stuff TIGHAR has gone through in recent months, especially the lawsuit, a little light humor is ALWAYS welcome. Perhaps it is because we have met and spoke in person, Jeff, but I got a good chuckle out of you original reply. If that makes me unfeeling or insensitive- well, so be it. I've been called worse!
Title: Re: La Recherche de l’Oiseau Blanc
Post by: JNev on April 01, 2015, 06:20:25 AM
Thanks, Jeff!

Yes, it helps to know each other personally a bit, I suppose.  I should remember that - not all who watch will catch the nuance in my humor. 

I admit an acid edge at times - and there's just something about poor Decre' that brings it out...  :P

I will amend by saying I don't wish the man ill - and in fact, all good success to any who search with sincerity.  But I think he's groping in the dark on this one - while blinding us with his flashlight.
Title: Re: La Recherche de l’Oiseau Blanc
Post by: Monty Fowler on October 22, 2015, 05:32:15 PM
Have there been any further communications with Bernard Decré or French television?

LTM,
Monty Fowler, TIGHAR No. 2189 EC