Paris, France
Photographs

Skip McKimm was a CommOp who was transferred to Metz in the summer of 1953. He was subsequently transferred to 1 Air Div Movements Unit in Paris in the spring of 1954. He spent a year in Paris working with a very small number of RCAF personnel, before returning to Canada in 1955.

Skip explained his unique situation as follows: The normal tour of duty for communications personnel in Paris was only three months. There really wasn't very much to do as a ComOp so I used to help out in the Steno's typing pool since I was a fast typist. I also got my ME6 drivers licence and drove the CO to a number of meetings at SHAPE and other locations in the area. While at these meetings, I would tape the proceedings, i.e. what was siad by whom etc, then when we got back to the office, I would type these up for the CO. He thought this was great and he was very pleased with my work at the Movements Unit.

When it came close to the end of my tour in Paris, and I was scheduled to return to Metz, the CO drove to Metz and spoke with the appropriate people. This resulted in an extended tour of duty for me. I am certain that there would have been a number of people in Metz in Metz who were ticked off at me, but what the heck - I didn't really want to live on the station in Metz (after being on the economy for well over a year). I was able to spend the rest of my tour in France working out of Paris and I returned to Canada in the early summer of 1955.


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  1. (L-R) LAC Chuck Lambert and his wife - December 1954.
    They lived on the economy in an old French house owned by a very charming French lady.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  2. (L-R) Skip McKimm, Chuck Lambert's wife, and the woman who owned the house they were renting - December 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  3. (L-R) Skip McKimm and Chuck Lambert's wife - December 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  4. Friends getting together for a Christmas cheer - December 1954.
    (L-R) Two fellows who worked at the Embassy with their lady friend, Chuck Lamberts wife, my girlfriend, Skip McKimm.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  5. The view from the cafe at the Alma Hotel where I lived - 1954.
    This was just down the street from 35 Ave Montaigne where I worked. Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  6. My buddy George at the Eiffel tower - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  7. My buddy George at the Eiffel tower - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  8. George's girlfriend at the Eiffel tower - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  9. George's girlfriend at the Eiffel tower - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  10. George's girlfriend at the Eiffel tower - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  11. My buddy George and his girlfriend with the Eiffel tower in the distant background - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  12. A community washing "clothes" area in Paris - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  13. A community washing "clothes" area in Paris - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  14. This was the view from the end of the street which I lived on (Ave Montaigne) - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  15. Looking up the Champs Elysees towards the Arc de Triumph - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  16. The Louvre Art Gallery - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  17. The Louvre Art Gallery - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  18. The Louvre Art Gallery - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  19. Unidentified location in Paris - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  20. Unidentified location in Paris - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  21. Unidentified location in Paris - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  22. Unidentified location in Paris - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  23. Unidentified location in Paris - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  24. Unidentified location in Paris - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  25. Unidentified location in Paris - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  26. Unidentified location in Paris - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  27. Unidentified location in Paris - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  28. View from the cafe outside the Hotel Alma. They were filming a movie and it drew quite a crowd - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  29. View from the cafe outside the Hotel Alma. They were filming a movie and it drew quite a crowd - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  30. View from the cafe outside the Hotel Alma. They were filming a movie and it drew quite a crowd - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  31. View from the cafe outside the Hotel Alma. They were filming a movie and it drew quite a crowd - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  32. View from the cafe outside the Hotel Alma. They were filming a movie and it drew quite a crowd - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  33. View from the cafe outside the Hotel Alma. They were filming a movie and it drew quite a crowd - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  34. View from the Eiffel Tower - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  35. View from the Eiffel Tower - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  36. View from the Eiffel Tower - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  37. View from the Eiffel Tower - 1954.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.


Photographic Credits

All photos are used with permission.

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Updated: December 5, 2002