ESTER, Jean
Stats:
rank: P/Ostatus: survived
airforce: RAF (no: 127452 )
born: 1920-03-18 Roux Belgium
added by: Adrian Dwyer
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Bio / Text:
Jean Ester flew as civilian pilot and joined the Aé Mil before the War. As with many of his fellow Belgians he transferred to France and then to Morocco at the capitulation. Again, like many Belgians, he eventually escaped to England - where he arrived on August 5th, 1940.
After training at RAF Depot St-Athan (13 August 1940), EFTS at Odiham (2 November 1940), 5 SFTS Ternhill on Llandow, he was posted to 131 Sqn: which contained a Belgian Flight under command of F/Lt Gonay. This Flight was transferred to the newly formed 350 SQN in November 1941. Ester joined the "B" Flight and on 16 August 1942, whilst flying a Rhubarb, his plane collide with an inconsiderate obstacle at low-altitude and was forced to belly-land in occupied France. He managed to escape trough the demarcation line of Vichy Zone, but was arrested and imprisoned in Nice. As with many other heroes of that time, he escaped once again and returned to Great Britain - arriving on 30 April 1943.
In September, 1943, he joined 349 Sqn and finally was transferred to Transport Command after conversion on wellington via 3 AFU (5 September 1944) and 105 OTU (26 September 1944). Ester was posted (after a short interval of rest) to 11 Ferry Unit (2 January 1945) .
At war's end he went on to fly with 187 Sqn (21 October 1945) on Dakotas before leaving the RAF on 1 March 1946,
joining Sabena.
On 17 September 1946, Jen Ester died in a plane crash (Sabena) at
Gander (Canada).
(source: Cynrik De Decker + "Belgen in de RAF, Deel 1" J.L. Roba)
[Note: date of enlistment not confirmed; rank on retirement not confirmed]
The 350 (BE) SQN diary contains the following:
At the creation of 350 (BE SQN) in 1941 - Official creation of 350 (Belgian) Squadron at Valley. The following pilots are transferred from 131 (County of Kent) Squadron: S/Ldr J. Thompson, H. Gonay (Fl/Co), X. Menu, E. Plas, H. Smets, G. Deltour, A. Plisnier, G. Seydel, J. Ester, L. Harmel, R. De Wever, H. Picard, G. Livijns and J. Depuysseleyr who will leave the Squadron a few days later, joining the Aerial Reconnaissance.
19/05/1942 - Circus 175: Evening, "Rear Support" of 6 Hurribombers to St-Omer. An engagement against 30 Me-109 and Fw-190 saw a Me-109 Damaged for "Duke" and a Probable for J. Ester. Ester's plane was hit in this frontal engagement and he had to bail out. He was rescued by the ASR.
16/08/1942 - A "Rhubarb" of 4 Spitfires at an altitude of 500ft in the region of Merville saw Picard hitting an High Tension Cable, damaging his wing tip. Ester collided with a watertower and has to force land in enemy territory. Ester successfully evades capture in France and arrives back in the UK.
Known awards
Knight in the Order of the Crown with Palm, Croix de Guerre 1940 with bronze Lion, Croix des Evadés, 1939-1945 Star
His claims in combat are:
19/05/1942 1 Bf-109 Probable Circus 175 : Near St-Omer
30/07/1942 1/2 Bf-109 Ramrod: East France
26/07/1944 1 Me-109 Damaged
After training at RAF Depot St-Athan (13 August 1940), EFTS at Odiham (2 November 1940), 5 SFTS Ternhill on Llandow, he was posted to 131 Sqn: which contained a Belgian Flight under command of F/Lt Gonay. This Flight was transferred to the newly formed 350 SQN in November 1941. Ester joined the "B" Flight and on 16 August 1942, whilst flying a Rhubarb, his plane collide with an inconsiderate obstacle at low-altitude and was forced to belly-land in occupied France. He managed to escape trough the demarcation line of Vichy Zone, but was arrested and imprisoned in Nice. As with many other heroes of that time, he escaped once again and returned to Great Britain - arriving on 30 April 1943.
In September, 1943, he joined 349 Sqn and finally was transferred to Transport Command after conversion on wellington via 3 AFU (5 September 1944) and 105 OTU (26 September 1944). Ester was posted (after a short interval of rest) to 11 Ferry Unit (2 January 1945) .
At war's end he went on to fly with 187 Sqn (21 October 1945) on Dakotas before leaving the RAF on 1 March 1946,
joining Sabena.
On 17 September 1946, Jen Ester died in a plane crash (Sabena) at
Gander (Canada).
(source: Cynrik De Decker + "Belgen in de RAF, Deel 1" J.L. Roba)
[Note: date of enlistment not confirmed; rank on retirement not confirmed]
The 350 (BE) SQN diary contains the following:
At the creation of 350 (BE SQN) in 1941 - Official creation of 350 (Belgian) Squadron at Valley. The following pilots are transferred from 131 (County of Kent) Squadron: S/Ldr J. Thompson, H. Gonay (Fl/Co), X. Menu, E. Plas, H. Smets, G. Deltour, A. Plisnier, G. Seydel, J. Ester, L. Harmel, R. De Wever, H. Picard, G. Livijns and J. Depuysseleyr who will leave the Squadron a few days later, joining the Aerial Reconnaissance.
19/05/1942 - Circus 175: Evening, "Rear Support" of 6 Hurribombers to St-Omer. An engagement against 30 Me-109 and Fw-190 saw a Me-109 Damaged for "Duke" and a Probable for J. Ester. Ester's plane was hit in this frontal engagement and he had to bail out. He was rescued by the ASR.
16/08/1942 - A "Rhubarb" of 4 Spitfires at an altitude of 500ft in the region of Merville saw Picard hitting an High Tension Cable, damaging his wing tip. Ester collided with a watertower and has to force land in enemy territory. Ester successfully evades capture in France and arrives back in the UK.
Known awards
Knight in the Order of the Crown with Palm, Croix de Guerre 1940 with bronze Lion, Croix des Evadés, 1939-1945 Star
His claims in combat are:
19/05/1942 1 Bf-109 Probable Circus 175 : Near St-Omer
30/07/1942 1/2 Bf-109 Ramrod: East France
26/07/1944 1 Me-109 Damaged
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