DONNET, Michel
Stats:
rank: W/Cstatus: survived
airforce: RAF (no: 102522 )
born: 1917-04-01 Richmond United Kingdom
added by: Bravo Bravo Aviation
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Bio / Text:
Lieutenant General Baron Michel "Mike" Gabriel Libert Donnet CdG, CVO, DFC (1 April 1917– 31 July 2013) was a Belgian pilot who served during World War II in the Belgian and British air forces. He shot down four enemy aircraft confirmed, and achieved the RAF rank of Wing Commander. After the war, he returned to the Belgian Air Force, and held several important commands before retiring in 1975.
From the 350 (BE) website
The Belgian fighter pilot Michel 'Mike' Donnet was born in Richmond (UK). As a military pilot at the Aéronautique Militaire Belge in 1939, he was serving at the 9/I, based at Bierset when theGermans invaded Belgium. He famously escaped the country by air with Léon Divoy in a StampeSV-4b with a - homemade exhaust - on the night of 4/5 July 1941 (see FrROM link).
On 26 July 1941 , Donnet is accepted by the RAFVolunteer Reserve . After conversion at 61 OTU on Spitfire from 27 July - 6September 1941, he moved to 143 Sqn but was sent to 64 Sqn on 15 September 1941. Promoted F/O, 26 July 1942, he was awarded a DFC on 19 February1943. He was appointed Acting S/Ldr on 26 March 1943; then posted to Fighter Command on 5 November 1943 and to 52 OTU on 19 November 1943.
On March 23, 1944, Mike was posted to command 350 (BE) Sqn - leading the Sqn till 23 October 1944. PromotedW/Cdr, he moved to led the Hawkinge Wing and the Bentwaters Wing in 1945.
After the war, he was posted to the Ministry of Defense. He then led the HQ of the 83Anglo-Belgian Group, he became commander of Air Defense Central Europe and thenCommander of HQ of 2 TAF. He took presidency of the direction comity of the project NADGE and afterwards became Military Attaché at the Embassy in London. He was a member of the Military committee of the NATO and finally he retired as Lt - General in1975 and wrote several books.
Baron Michel died at Waterloo on the night of 31 July2013.
Known awards
Distinguished Flying Cross, Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, Grand Officer in the Order of the Crown, Commandeur in the Order of the Crown, Officer in the Order of the Crown with Palm, Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with 4 Palm, Croix des Évades, Atlantic Star & Clasp, 1939 - 1943 Star, Air Crew Europe Star with one Silver Rose, Defence Medal, Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur, Médaille de la France Liberée
DFC citation of 19 February 1943:
" This Officer has completed 100 offensive sorties over enemy territory including low-level attacks in which locomotives, flak ships, flak posts and barracks were attacked. He has at all time shown the greatest keenness to engage the enemy and his leadership and determination have done so much to contribute tot the success of the squadron. He has destroyed one enemy aircraft an damaged four."
(Info: André Bar)
From the 350 (BE) website
The Belgian fighter pilot Michel 'Mike' Donnet was born in Richmond (UK). As a military pilot at the Aéronautique Militaire Belge in 1939, he was serving at the 9/I, based at Bierset when theGermans invaded Belgium. He famously escaped the country by air with Léon Divoy in a StampeSV-4b with a - homemade exhaust - on the night of 4/5 July 1941 (see FrROM link).
On 26 July 1941 , Donnet is accepted by the RAFVolunteer Reserve . After conversion at 61 OTU on Spitfire from 27 July - 6September 1941, he moved to 143 Sqn but was sent to 64 Sqn on 15 September 1941. Promoted F/O, 26 July 1942, he was awarded a DFC on 19 February1943. He was appointed Acting S/Ldr on 26 March 1943; then posted to Fighter Command on 5 November 1943 and to 52 OTU on 19 November 1943.
On March 23, 1944, Mike was posted to command 350 (BE) Sqn - leading the Sqn till 23 October 1944. PromotedW/Cdr, he moved to led the Hawkinge Wing and the Bentwaters Wing in 1945.
After the war, he was posted to the Ministry of Defense. He then led the HQ of the 83Anglo-Belgian Group, he became commander of Air Defense Central Europe and thenCommander of HQ of 2 TAF. He took presidency of the direction comity of the project NADGE and afterwards became Military Attaché at the Embassy in London. He was a member of the Military committee of the NATO and finally he retired as Lt - General in1975 and wrote several books.
Baron Michel died at Waterloo on the night of 31 July2013.
Known awards
Distinguished Flying Cross, Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, Grand Officer in the Order of the Crown, Commandeur in the Order of the Crown, Officer in the Order of the Crown with Palm, Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with 4 Palm, Croix des Évades, Atlantic Star & Clasp, 1939 - 1943 Star, Air Crew Europe Star with one Silver Rose, Defence Medal, Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur, Médaille de la France Liberée
DFC citation of 19 February 1943:
" This Officer has completed 100 offensive sorties over enemy territory including low-level attacks in which locomotives, flak ships, flak posts and barracks were attacked. He has at all time shown the greatest keenness to engage the enemy and his leadership and determination have done so much to contribute tot the success of the squadron. He has destroyed one enemy aircraft an damaged four."
(Info: André Bar)
Squadrons:
| Squadrons add | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Airforce | Sqdrn | Start | Finish |
| none provided | |||
Aircraft:
| Aircraftadd | ||
|---|---|---|
| Serial | Note | Date |
| EE613 | MN-L | 1944-06-01 |
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