This is how Lucky Lafoy’s grandson and I met last August. He had mentioned my name on a Facebook group page and I got a notification…
This is my Grandfather, Lloyd « Lucky Red » Stanley Lafoy, he was a member of the 425 Alouette and later the Thunderbird Squadrons. He was a tail gunner. He passed last year but left me many photos which I will upload once I have scanned them all.
He survived 35 missions, which is how he earned his nickname, crashing once in England upon return from a mission over Germany. He wrote the story down before passing but it needs some editing. It is quite a tale.
He wore a scarf every mission as well given to him by an English lass who he found living in Florida via Facebook when he was 95. His pilot wouldn’t take off unless he had the scarf, sending him back to the barracks once to get it.
The third photo I found through Pierre Lagacé years ago of him shaking hands with the Prime Minister before their mission. We showed him this photo several years ago which he got quite a kick out of.
Needless to say he didn’t talk a lot about the war until he got older but he had a sister and 3 brothers who all served in various ways.
Since last August, Che Lafoy has shared with me close to 100 photos of his grandfather and he gave me permission to share them on this blog.
This was the first photo he sent me.
Lloyd « Lucky Red » Stanley Lafoy was the second airman on the left.
« Lucky Red » in Tunis
This was another photo from the album. The pilot on the left is « Spud » Talman.
« Lucky Red » with his crew
« Spud » Talman was killed on an operation flying as a second dickie. More about « Spud » later.
Here is « Lucky Red » again this time in Yorkshire, probably at Tholthorpe.
« Lucky Red » in Yorkshire
He is holding what looks like a camera. Lucky Red has an anecdote which explains why the Alouettes in the background were not that elated about the visit of the Prime Minister.
« Lucky Red » sharing hands with the Prime Minister
I will tell you more later.
Here is another photo. The war is over.
« Lucky Red » with a friend after the war
There is so much information both Che and I have and the need to validate some that we will pause for awhile. Before pausing though there is something Red wanted to tell.
It was about how Wing Commander had save his life on a sortie. This is what Che and I have to validate.
Next time, I will pay homage to Wing Commander Hector Lucien « Joe » Lecomte.
RCAF 425 Alouettes III 