Memorial to the Crew and passengers of TC-JAV

I managed to find the Turkish DC-10 memorial in the Ermenonville forest some years ago. It was difficult to locate and you can only reach it on foot as far as I remember. The self is not very striking but what I was amazed by is that there were pieces of wreckage, a burnt lifejacket and a passenger shoe left there which presumably got passed over during the initial investigation. There is still a very noticeable difference among the trees in the forest. Many thousands of trees were destroyed in the area of the crash but these were later replaced and the growth of younger trees is still obvious from the air.

The memorial at Ermenonville, Paris for the passengers and crew of TC-JAV. Courtesy of Bruno Druesne

Parts of the wreckage found in the forest after thirty years. Courtesy of Bruno Druesne

The granite memorial with the names of the victims engraved in stone. Courtesy of Bruno Druesne

Within the Sea of sand, Ermenonville

In memory of the victims of March 3rd, 1974
And that for the eternity this corner of earth be sacred”

“To all of you who were happy that day,
Flying to a far country
To all of you, entrusted in the hands of god,
Were living their last morning,

To your souls, no more question of fatherland,
Quickly leaving hell and fire,
Leaving poor hurt bodies,
They acquired peace, this is our wish.
I do come sometimes in front of your stone,
And I do often ask why,
Why this, accursed glade,
Made from flesh and blood, yes, why?

Honour to you all, martyrs,
Honour to all those who love you,
And do cry with no end,
This stone is your emblem!

In memory of the victims of March 3rd, 1974
And that for the eternity this corner of earth be sacred

Translations courtesy of Bruno Druesne

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Richard Bolai / Bruno Druesne © 2008