Commemoration of the Companions of the Liberation

On this date, we mark the 85th anniversary of the death of Henry Bouquillard, a native of Nivernais and the first aviator member of the Order of the Liberation Council. He fell in combat during the Battle of Britain and was known as “Father Bouquillard” to his fellow Companions. This iconic figure was the focal point of a significant event for the Avord air base, titled The Companions of Avord. In addition to his name, 30 other Liberation Companions who passed through the Avord camp were also honored.

Coming from all over France, including Ardèche, Lorraine, Nièvre, Vendée, Île-de-France, Puy-de-Dôme, and Haute-Saône, these individuals from diverse backgrounds and ages represent the diversity of the French nation. Some were only in their twenties at the armistice, while others had previous experience from World War I. All embody the commitment and passage through the Avord camp. It is where they became pilots or observers, were trained as officers or non-commissioned officers, learned to fly, to lead, and to communicate.

The event “The Companions of Avord” at BA 702 was designed as a significant moment for the youth to connect memory, youth, and commitment around a common goal. The focus was on transmitting the heritage of the Liberation Companions to revive moral strength and strengthen cohesion in the face of future challenges.

In the presence of families of nine Companions who passed through Avord, including Henry Bouquillard, René Mouchotte, and Louis Ferrant, the second memorial pillar began with the inauguration of a monument and a journey detailing the commitment of the Companions. As night fell, lights shone in memory of France’s dark times. The base was illuminated in the colors of the Order of the Liberation, honoring the Rafale squadron, highlighting units such as the 3/30 “Lorraine” fighter squadron, the 2/30 “Normandy-Niémen” fighter regiment, and the 1st Marine Paratrooper Infantry Regiment.

The commemorative dimension was a solemn and meaningful moment, blending air units, inheritors of the Order of the Liberation, and decorated Resistance members. It was a symbolic and profound ceremony intended to remind all present of the risks and successes intertwined in military service.

More than just a commemoration, the events of March 11, 2026, aimed to make memory a living force, inspiring, uniting, and preparing for future commitments.