DE MERODE, Werner
Stats:
rank: F/Lstatus: survived
airforce: RAF (no: 116473 )
born: 1914-03-25 St-Gilles Belgium
added by: Adrian Dwyer
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Bio / Text:
Prior to WW2 and the invasion of Belgium, Prince Werner de Merode joined the 1 Rgt Guides of the Belgian Army. At the wish of his father, Werner passed examination for Active Officer and got a 15 month instruction at the Military School of Brasschaat. He was posted to 2 Rgt Chasseurs à Cheval but requested a transfer to the Aéronautique Militaire. He is instructed at the Flying School of Wevelghem and his instructor was Manu Geerts. His first Solo was on 27 February 1939 and once graduated he was posted to 3/II/2Aé.
At the outbreak of War, de Merode flew on Fiat CR42 and got his sole victory of the War on 10 May 1940, claiming a Do17P (shot down near Waremme). He followed his unit in France and was at Chastres when Leopold III capitulated. He returned to Belgium but regretted not having followed the few who escaped to Great Britain. However, on 5 June 1941 he commenced his escape and and reached the UK on 8 November 1941. He enlisted the RAFVR (15/01/1942).
After a short period of refresher training at Aston OTU (09/03/1942) he was posted to 501 Sqn (12/03/1942) and then to 350 (BE) Sqn - where he arrived on 4 September 1942 and was promoted to F/O on 01/10/1942.
During Circus 242, de Merode - flying Spitfire Mk V MN-N - was shot down by a Fw-190 of JG26. He bailed out and evaded. De Merode arrived back in the UK on 28 March 1943 - from which he was sent to Receiving Center 1.
The 350 (BE) squadron diary records the following:
'12/12/1942 - Circus 242: A clash with Fw-190 (I and II/JG.26) in the vicinity of St-Omer results in 1 damaged each for the "Duke" and L. Collignon and 2 other damaged for A. Plisnier. Plisnier hit during this meleé, crash-landed in the vicinity of Dover. W. de Merode, also hit, had to bail out over enemy territory. He successfully evades capture in France and arrives back in the UK in April 1943.'
Further operational postings saw him joining 91 Sqn (12/05/1943) and 501 Sqn (07/07/1943). His further RAF career saw him as F/Lt, joining the administration of the Belgian Section of the RAF (01/02/1944) and the Air Ministry Unit (26/02/1944).
Post War he followed a Diplomatic carreer as ambassador in several countries. He died at Brussels on 22 December 1995.
(Info Kindly provided by Marc Artiges and André Bar)
Known awards
Grand Officer in the Order of the Crown, Grand Officer in the Order of Leopold II,
Commander in the Order of Leopold,
Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940, French Croix de Guerre 1940,
Commander of the French Légion d'Honneur, Croix des Evadés,
Knight Commander in the Victorian Order,
1939/1943 Star
At the outbreak of War, de Merode flew on Fiat CR42 and got his sole victory of the War on 10 May 1940, claiming a Do17P (shot down near Waremme). He followed his unit in France and was at Chastres when Leopold III capitulated. He returned to Belgium but regretted not having followed the few who escaped to Great Britain. However, on 5 June 1941 he commenced his escape and and reached the UK on 8 November 1941. He enlisted the RAFVR (15/01/1942).
After a short period of refresher training at Aston OTU (09/03/1942) he was posted to 501 Sqn (12/03/1942) and then to 350 (BE) Sqn - where he arrived on 4 September 1942 and was promoted to F/O on 01/10/1942.
During Circus 242, de Merode - flying Spitfire Mk V MN-N - was shot down by a Fw-190 of JG26. He bailed out and evaded. De Merode arrived back in the UK on 28 March 1943 - from which he was sent to Receiving Center 1.
The 350 (BE) squadron diary records the following:
'12/12/1942 - Circus 242: A clash with Fw-190 (I and II/JG.26) in the vicinity of St-Omer results in 1 damaged each for the "Duke" and L. Collignon and 2 other damaged for A. Plisnier. Plisnier hit during this meleé, crash-landed in the vicinity of Dover. W. de Merode, also hit, had to bail out over enemy territory. He successfully evades capture in France and arrives back in the UK in April 1943.'
Further operational postings saw him joining 91 Sqn (12/05/1943) and 501 Sqn (07/07/1943). His further RAF career saw him as F/Lt, joining the administration of the Belgian Section of the RAF (01/02/1944) and the Air Ministry Unit (26/02/1944).
Post War he followed a Diplomatic carreer as ambassador in several countries. He died at Brussels on 22 December 1995.
(Info Kindly provided by Marc Artiges and André Bar)
Known awards
Grand Officer in the Order of the Crown, Grand Officer in the Order of Leopold II,
Commander in the Order of Leopold,
Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940, French Croix de Guerre 1940,
Commander of the French Légion d'Honneur, Croix des Evadés,
Knight Commander in the Victorian Order,
1939/1943 Star
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