DE PATOUL, Guy
Stats:
rank: F/Lstatus: survived
airforce: RAF (no: 87684 )
born: 1918-03-18 Brussels Belgium
added by: Adrian Dwyer
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Bio / Text:
On 31 October 1936, Guy "Papou" de Patoul was admitted to the Royal Military Academy, later detached to the 13 Artillery Regt. He relocated to France when Belgium was invaded and escaped from Bayonne to Britain where he arrived on June 24, 1940. One day later, on 25 July 1940, de Patoul enlisted in the RAFVR. He was sent to the RAF Depot in Gloucester on 2 August 1940), RAF St-Athan (on 13 August 1940), EFTS Odiham (2 November 1940), SFTS (15 April 1941), OTU (20 August 1941).
After Training , he was posted to 610 Sqn (29 September 1941), 350 Sqn (2September 1942). He joined the Headquarters ADGB on 27 July 1944. After a passage to the RAF Belgian ITS (17 August 1944) and 84 GSU (24 March 1945) he rejoined 350 (BE) Sqn, very close to the end of the war, on 13 April 1945.
On a mission in the Lübeck area on 24 April 1945, having a probably destroyed a FW-190 in combat, his plane was hit by E/A and he had to bail out. The squadron diary contains the following entry:
"24/04/1945 S/Ldr H. Walmsley, Flight CO of 130 (Punjab) Squadron, takes over the command of 350. In the afternoon, a He-111 is shot down by P/O D. Watkins and A. Van Eeckhoudt, executing an Armed Recce. in the sector Rostock - Pritzwalk. The same evening a Sweep in the region of Wismar sees the CO destroying a Fw-190, as did his wingman, F/Lt G. de Patoul. A few minutes later G. de Patoul is hit by flak off of Blankensee airfield and has to bail out near Ratzeburg, making him POW and also the last loss of the Squadron on operations."
After a short detention as a POW, he was repatriated on 8 May 1945.
After the War he stayed in the Belgian Air Force, ending his career as Colonel. Died on 23 September 1978, aged 60.
Known awards
Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm and Bronze Lion,
Knight - Officer and Commander of the Order of theCrown with Palm,
Knight - Officer and Commander of the Order of Léopold,
Commander of the Order of Léopold II, Military Cross 2nd Class
His claims are :
24/04/45 1 FW-190 Probable Lübeck area (350 Sqn)
After Training , he was posted to 610 Sqn (29 September 1941), 350 Sqn (2September 1942). He joined the Headquarters ADGB on 27 July 1944. After a passage to the RAF Belgian ITS (17 August 1944) and 84 GSU (24 March 1945) he rejoined 350 (BE) Sqn, very close to the end of the war, on 13 April 1945.
On a mission in the Lübeck area on 24 April 1945, having a probably destroyed a FW-190 in combat, his plane was hit by E/A and he had to bail out. The squadron diary contains the following entry:
"24/04/1945 S/Ldr H. Walmsley, Flight CO of 130 (Punjab) Squadron, takes over the command of 350. In the afternoon, a He-111 is shot down by P/O D. Watkins and A. Van Eeckhoudt, executing an Armed Recce. in the sector Rostock - Pritzwalk. The same evening a Sweep in the region of Wismar sees the CO destroying a Fw-190, as did his wingman, F/Lt G. de Patoul. A few minutes later G. de Patoul is hit by flak off of Blankensee airfield and has to bail out near Ratzeburg, making him POW and also the last loss of the Squadron on operations."
After a short detention as a POW, he was repatriated on 8 May 1945.
After the War he stayed in the Belgian Air Force, ending his career as Colonel. Died on 23 September 1978, aged 60.
Known awards
Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm and Bronze Lion,
Knight - Officer and Commander of the Order of theCrown with Palm,
Knight - Officer and Commander of the Order of Léopold,
Commander of the Order of Léopold II, Military Cross 2nd Class
His claims are :
24/04/45 1 FW-190 Probable Lübeck area (350 Sqn)
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