new name for airport
- Thread starter elgreaux
- Start date
KevinS
Senior Insider
Here are a few photos to show the Sépulture that I referred to.
There‘s a small garden across from the Catholic Church in Gustavia.
There are two features in the garden, one is a Sacre Cœur.
The other is a Sépulture.
Sister Armelle was a Nun of the order Des Sœurs de St Paul de Chartres.
There‘s a small garden across from the Catholic Church in Gustavia.
There are two features in the garden, one is a Sacre Cœur.
The other is a Sépulture.
Sister Armelle was a Nun of the order Des Sœurs de St Paul de Chartres.
KevinS
Senior Insider
The photos are from 2008, which means that I’ve been puzzling about Rémy de Haenen’s airline, and the 1947 incident (over 75 years ago), for at least 15 years.
A side note - Gustavia has a number of tiny pedestrian alleys which are unknown to most visitors. One runs down the left side of the garden, from Rue de L’Église to Rue des Dinzey. It’s handy if you need to park that far back.
I agree about these obscure passages, Kevin . . . very cloaked in mystery. I can’t help but think of the “Maltese Falcon” & other film noir scenes as I pass through them, especially at night.
Rosemary
Senior Insider
What a beautiful life. Thank you, Izzy.
LuckyKid
SBH Insider
I haven’t followed the details of the council’s debate, but Remy de Haenan’s past should raise concerns when it comes to his name being celebrated on St Barth. For all of his accomplishments and there were many, he is also accused of not just being in business with Vichy collaborators during WWII, but connected directly to Nazi intelligence. He appeared to be an opportunistic businessman who played connections on both sides for his gain. Since these allegations were never formally charged or proven they exist, and persist nonetheless. Whether his name is worthy of such an honor is highly debatable.
According to a 1951 book written by English intelligence (SOE) member during WWII, Patrick Leigh-Fermor:
Don Mitchell's Published Papers
A collection of papers that I may need to refer to when on line, and for which a link can be easily provided.
donmitchellcbeqc.blogspot.com
“According to Leigh-Fermor, De Haenen was a German intelligence officer, an agent of the Abwehr. His mission was to secure a replenishing base for any German U-Boats that might become active in the Caribbean Sea in the event of War.”
…
“With the permission of Mr Fleming (owner of Tintamarre), de Haenen cleared an airstrip on Flat Island and constructed a small forge on it. The ostensible need for the airstrip was to train learner pilots to land and take off. The forge was used for minor U-Boat repairs carried out at night when the Boats could surface unobserved. For the use of the crews, he collected and stored fresh Dominican fruit and vegetables and flew in tinned foodstuffs from Puerto Rico.”
Beachcomber
SBH Member
I wondered if and/or when this was going to make it into this post. From my time in Anguilla I heard the locals talk about the submarine base on Flat Island. The story says the German U boats would "snorkel" while underwater off the coast of Tintamare. German U boats were diesel-electric at the time. They ran on electric motors when submersed but had to either surface or "snorkel" to charge the batteries. I was told they would rest on the bottom at Tintamare (Flat Island) and snorkel to charge the batteries. I thought it was an interesting story so I sailed over in my sailboat and anchored on the west end of the island. I hiked around for a day and all I found were the remains of what looked like an old farm house. I quit looking and went to the north shore looking for some lobsters for dinner. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted something that looked unnatural or manmade. It turns out it was a small handcart with steel wheels with a lip on the inside diameter so it could run on rails. There were two sets of uprights and they were coming up from a 180 degree rounded bottom base. I assumed it was a cart for transporting torpedo's. I think the U boats were being supplied with more than just fruit from down island.I haven’t followed the details of the council’s debate, but Remy de Haenan’s past should raise concerns when it comes to his name being celebrated on St Barth. For all of his accomplishments and there were many, he is also accused of not just being in business with Vichy collaborators during WWII, but connected directly to Nazi intelligence. He appeared to be an opportunistic businessman who played connections on both sides for his gain. Since these allegations were never formally charged or proven they exist, and persist nonetheless. Whether his name is worthy of such an honor is highly debatable.
According to a 1951 book written by English intelligence (SOE) member during WWII, Patrick Leigh-Fermor:
Don Mitchell's Published Papers
A collection of papers that I may need to refer to when on line, and for which a link can be easily provided.
“According to Leigh-Fermor, De Haenen was a German intelligence officer, an agent of the Abwehr. His mission was to secure a replenishing base for any German U-Boats that might become active in the Caribbean Sea in the event of War.”
…
“With the permission of Mr Fleming (owner of Tintamarre), de Haenen cleared an airstrip on Flat Island and constructed a small forge on it. The ostensible need for the airstrip was to train learner pilots to land and take off. The forge was used for minor U-Boat repairs carried out at night when the Boats could surface unobserved. For the use of the crews, he collected and stored fresh Dominican fruit and vegetables and flew in tinned foodstuffs from Puerto Rico.”
JEK
Senior Insider
Did a bit of research on submarines in the Caribbean. Quite interesting.
Beachcomber
SBH Member
Eden Rock with the airport next door would be the perfect exotic hideout for the bad guy, would it not?
amyb
Senior Insider
Terrific find, John.Did a bit of research on submarines in the Caribbean. Quite interesting.
Read the piece and learned so much about the war down here in these tropical waters. Merci.
Last edited:
Beachcomber
SBH Member
I find it interesting that Ian Fleming was a very high ranking British Naval Intelligence officer during the war and (perhaps) Remy de Heanen was a German Intelligence Officer who was instrumental in establishing a secret U boat base on Tintamare and that they both have airports named after them on their adopted Caribbean home islands.
