DE CALLATAY, Jean

Stats:

rank: F/O
status: survived
airforce: RAF    (no: 137228 )
born: 1906-11-27 Antwerp Belgium

added by: Adrian Dwyer

'Jean-Jean' de Callatay enlisted in the Belgian Army on 8 August 1927, joined the Military School in the November and was detached to the Aéronautique Militaire on 1 December 1929. CO of 3/II/2Aé when War broke out, he claimed two destroyed during the invasion of Belgium. As with many Belgian flyers, he moved with his unit to France on 15 May 1940, returned to Belgium in the 20 August only to escape to England. He arrived in Great Britain on 27 March 1942 and enlisted into Belgian Section of RAF on 4 May. He trained at 5 PAFU from 5 August 1942 and 58 OTU from 20 October 1942.

Promoted P/O on 12 January 1943, a week later he was posted to 616 (South Yorkshire) Sqn. He moved to 350 (BE) Sqn on 3 March 1943 but left on 1 July 1943 to join 3 Sqn, where he was promoted F/O on12 July 1943. De Callatay was Shot down on 25 September 1943 (flying Typhoon MKIB JP439), and was made a POW, imprisoned at Stalag Luft III.

After the war he joined the Belgian Air Force. 'Jean-Jean' de Callatay died at Ostend on 31 May 1995.

Known awards
Knight in the Order of Leopold II, Knight in the Order of the Crown, Evader Cross

(Info: André Bar)

His claims are :
10/05/1940 1 Ju-52 Near Alken 05.30 am (Aé Mil)
14/05/1940 1 Bf-109 Fleurus 13.00 pm (Aé Mil)