Theodore ("Dutch") Van Kirk, last surviving member of the crew of the bomber, "Enola Gay", that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, 6 August, 1945, died at his retirement home last Monday, aged 93.

In later life, Mr Van Kirk opposed the use of nuclear weapons, but (like other members of "Enola Gay's" crew, defended the use of the weapons against Japan, as a necessity in order to force Japan's surrender.  JR.

Last "Enola Gay" crewmember dies.

Believe it or not I found this plaque by accident at Santec beach, near Roscoff, Bretagne, were I was doing some field work. Translation: "On the 29 of April 1944, the Canadian destroyer "HMCS Athabaskan" was torpedoed on this coast, during a naval combat. Of 261 allied sailors, 128 died for the liberation of France and the return of peace. 91 of them rest on breton land, 11 have been buried at Santec. "In there memorie, let's remember that peace aand freedom are never aquired"". Interesting note: the french, arrogant and xenophobic as they may be, never forgot the sacrifice of allied soldiers in ww2, every plaque or memorial, in every small village has flowers like the ones we see here.

Athabaskan plaque

The web got me to info on the Bulgarian helmets fast.  The model is M36.  Types are A, rolled rim, B&C, unrolled rims, different liner details.  This image shows a type A.  In the mid 1990s I found one of these at the Athens flea market.  I didn't know what it was but bought it.  It had a great, clearly old, large, handpainted red star, edged in white, on the front.  Wish I'd kept it.  It was probably from the Greek Civil War following WW2.  I had a very difficult time finding identification then.  Took about 20 minutes last night.