“Did they really fly?” someone whispers, their voice echoing slightly as we stand before a building on Rue des Frères Caudron. It seems almost impossible, doesn’t it? Two farm boys from a village near Rue, daring to dream of flight in a time when the sky seemed an impossible frontier. Rue des Frères Caudron, a street named for these daring brothers, Gaston and René Caudron. In 1909, inspired by the Wright brothers and the dreams of flight pioneers, they dared to build their own “flying machine”. Imagine them, these young men, piecing together wood, fabric, and wire, fueled by ambition and an unwavering belief in their vision. In May of that year, with their trusty horse “Luciole” pulling their creation, they took to the skies for the first time, right here in the heart of Picardy. The success of their flight was just the beginning. Gaston and René Caudron established a flying school in Crotoy and a factory here in Rue, forever etching their names in the history of aviation. Over 10,000 planes and thousands of trained pilots emerged from their endeavors. Sadly, Gaston’s story ended tragically in 1915 during a test flight for the French army. But his legacy, and that of his brother, lives on, not just in the skies but here on Rue des Frères Caudron, reminding us that even the most impossible dreams can take flight.
Église Notre-Dame de l’Air
Beneath what appears to be a simple stone and wood structure lies a history interwoven with faith aviation and community.