CLAESEN, Antoon E.L.

Stats:

rank: F/O
status: kia
airforce: RAF    (no: 125746 )
born: 1921-09-10 Merksem Belgium

added by: Adrian Dwyer

Antoon 'Clash' Claesen was a trainee at the FlyingSchool in Aé Mil when the War started. Like many pilots, he transferred to France and then onward to Oujda (Morocco) when France capitulated. He escaped with to Great Britain where he arrived on August 5th, 1940. He joined the RAF Depot at St. Athan on August 13th,1940 and trained at the EFTS at Ternhill (15 May 1941 - 16August 1941) before joining 61 OTU (17 August 1941 - 6 October 1941). He was posted to 74 Sqn (7 October 1941), 1486 Flight (4 November 1941), 350 Sqn (14 November 1941).

On 24 November 'Clash' Claesen was seriously injured in a A/C accident at Valley involving the transfer of Spitfire IIA P7284 from 610 Sqn to 350 Sqn (BE). The Sqn diary notes:

'Notified by No 3 Delivery Flight at Hawarden, that 5 Spitfire Mk II would be delivered. One pilot of the delivery flight crashed near the Menai straits, killing the pilot. Sgt A. Claesen posted to 350 Squadron, on attachment to No 3 Delivery Flight, pending his arrival with aircraft, crashed off the runway and was seriously injured. The three remaining aircraft did not attempt the journey.'

In May '42 he was posted, briefly, to 232 Sqn, returning to 350 Sqn on the 3rd September 1942. He was posted to 53 OTU (19 June 1944), 84 GSU (1 January 1945) and 349 Sqn (7January 1945).

On April 25, 1945 , a Armed Recce south of Wesermunde (Stottel) saw hisplane (MK488) hit by ground fire and killing him.

Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palme, Croix de Chevalier de l'Orde de Léopold with palme, War Medal
1939-45, 1939-45 Star, Defence Medal

(Source : Guy De Win )

Note: clarification required re: events of Nov '41