Jean de Selys Longchamps
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Jean de Selys Longchamps
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|---|---|
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| Born | 31 May 1912 Brussels, Belgium |
| Died | Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day Kent, United Kingdom |
| Allegiance |  Belgium |
| Service/ |
Belgian Army (until 1940) Royal Air Force (1940-1943) |
| Rank | Captain (RAF) |
| Unit | No. 609 Squadron RAF |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross Knight of the Order of Leopold (Posthumous) |
Baron Jean Michel P.M.G. de Selys Longchamps DFC (31 May 1912 – 16 August 1943) was a Belgian aristocrat and RAF fighter pilot during World War II who is chiefly notable for his 1943 attack on the Gestapo headquarters in Brussels in German-occupied Belgium.[1][2][3]
Military career
A Belgian cavalry officer with the 1er Régiment des Guides, he escaped with the BEF from Dunkirk returning to France before it finally fell. Trying to join the allies again he was interned by the Vichy authorities but escaped to Britain and was accepted for flight training with the RAF. He was posted to No. 609 Squadron RAF and flew Hawker Typhoons
He is best remembered for his airstrike on the Gestapo headquarters located at 453 Avenue Louise[lower-alpha 1] in Brussels on 20 January 1943, which led to his demotion (to Pilot Officer) for acting without orders, but he was also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions.[4]
He was killed 16 August 1943 when his aircraft crashed on landing at RAF Manston after a sortie over Ostend.[1]
He is buried in Minster-in-Thanet. A commemoration of his life was held on 16 August 2013 in conjunction with the Royal British Legion.[5]
References
- Notes
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- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Donnet 2007, p. 117
- ↑ Baron Jean de Selys
- ↑ World War II Aces: Jean de Selys Longchamps
- ↑ Donnet 2007, p. 128
- ↑ Minster & Monkton Royal British Legion
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- Pages with reference errors
- Use dmy dates from April 2012
- Age error
- 1912 births
- 1943 deaths
- People from Brussels
- Barons of Belgium
- Belgian Army personnel
- Belgian people imprisoned abroad
- Prisoners and detainees of France
- Belgian escapees
- Escapees from French detention
- Belgian World War II pilots
- Royal Air Force officers
- Belgian Royal Air Force personnel of World War II
- Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in the United Kingdom
- Belgian military personnel killed in World War II
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
