GROENSTEEN, Jacques A.H.
Stats:
rank: W/Ostatus: kia
airforce: RAF (no: 1299861 )
born: 1922-10-23 Ixelles Belgium
added by: Adrian Dwyer
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Bio / Text:
" Pichon " Groensteen arrived as a civilian refugee in Great Britain on 20 May 1940. He reported to the Belgian Embassy on 27 August 1940 and was sent to Tenby Camp to receive an infantry training. He requested a transfer to the Air Arm, and was posted to the Belgian Depot on 7 August 1941. He joined the Aircrew Receiving Centre on 29 September 1941 and started his training ( 86A Pilot promotion): 5 ITW at Torquay (3 October 1941); 6 EFTS - Sywell (20 December
1941); 22 EFTS - Newmarket (1 May 1942); RAF Cranwell (20 May1942); Infirmary / A Sqn/ Fl 2 - Eastbourne (20 June1942) and at 58 OTU - Grangemouth (29 September 1942).
"Pichon" was posted to 350 Sqn on 23 December 1942. Noted in the Squadron diary as follows:
23/12/1942 - Five new pilots arrives from OTU: L. Dancot, G. De Jaegher, J. Groensteen, J. Lavigne and J. Wustefeld
Transferred to 349 Sqn on 15 June 1943, Jacques was then posted to 18 APC - Eastchurch (10 May 1944), 57 OTU - Eskett (17 October 1944), 84 GSU - Thruxton, 349 Sqn (November 20, 1944), 83 GSU - Westhampnett (21 December 1944). He returned to 350 Sqn on January 10th, 1945 at Y.32 Ophoven.
During this time there are tow relevant entries in the Squadron diary:
02/03/1945 - During a Sweep with 130 (Punjab) Squadron in the region Rheine - Münster, the formation of 15 Spitfires met a formation of a dozen Me-109 with R. Hoornaert, J. Groensteen and "Boam" Lambrechts claiming each one destroyed, E. Pauwels claiming one damaged. Several pilots ending their operational tour leaves the Squadron: Both Flight Commanders F. Verpoorten and J. Lavigne, two Deputy Flight CO, A. Van Wersch and R. Duchateau. Leaving also: R. Vanderveken, R. Bladt, J. Mehuys, R. Jaminé and L. Verbeeck.
20/04/1945 - A Sweep to Berlin sees the formation of 11 Spitfire's clash with 12 Fw-190. F/Lt D. Haworth, P/O D. Watkins, M. Doncq, and A. Kicq destroyed each one, with Kicq damaging another. R. Muls also damaged a Fw-190. W/O Jacques Groensteen was shot down and MIA. The same day, F/Lt K. Smith is shot down by flak and made POW after crash landing his Spitfire.
Jacques Groensteen was killed in combat (posted MIA) on April 20 1945, whilst flying a sweep in the vicinity of Neuruppin. By that time 350 squadron was operating from B.118 Celle in Germany.
In January 2002, a wreck search led by Mario Schulze of the German group AGFOR resulted in the discovery of the wreckage of Spitfire NH686 in a wood near Malz, Oranienburg. This plane, it was discovered, was piloted by the Belgian W/O Jacques "Pichon" Groensteen, who went missing over the Soviet zone on April 20, 1945. Further investigation revealed that whilst pursuing a FW-190 at ver near to ground level, his plane clipped trees and crashed.
The remains of Jacques Groensteen were repatriated to Belgium on February 5, 2003 to be buried at Evere Cemetery, along with his brother Claude, who lost his life as a navigator in a Mosquito-accident in Canada on September 16, 1944.
(Information kindly provided by Cynrik De Decker, Guy De Win and Daniël Cox)
Known awards
Knight of the Order of Leopold II with Palm, Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm
His claims in combat are :
02/03/1945 1 Me-109 Rheine-Munster
1941); 22 EFTS - Newmarket (1 May 1942); RAF Cranwell (20 May1942); Infirmary / A Sqn/ Fl 2 - Eastbourne (20 June1942) and at 58 OTU - Grangemouth (29 September 1942).
"Pichon" was posted to 350 Sqn on 23 December 1942. Noted in the Squadron diary as follows:
23/12/1942 - Five new pilots arrives from OTU: L. Dancot, G. De Jaegher, J. Groensteen, J. Lavigne and J. Wustefeld
Transferred to 349 Sqn on 15 June 1943, Jacques was then posted to 18 APC - Eastchurch (10 May 1944), 57 OTU - Eskett (17 October 1944), 84 GSU - Thruxton, 349 Sqn (November 20, 1944), 83 GSU - Westhampnett (21 December 1944). He returned to 350 Sqn on January 10th, 1945 at Y.32 Ophoven.
During this time there are tow relevant entries in the Squadron diary:
02/03/1945 - During a Sweep with 130 (Punjab) Squadron in the region Rheine - Münster, the formation of 15 Spitfires met a formation of a dozen Me-109 with R. Hoornaert, J. Groensteen and "Boam" Lambrechts claiming each one destroyed, E. Pauwels claiming one damaged. Several pilots ending their operational tour leaves the Squadron: Both Flight Commanders F. Verpoorten and J. Lavigne, two Deputy Flight CO, A. Van Wersch and R. Duchateau. Leaving also: R. Vanderveken, R. Bladt, J. Mehuys, R. Jaminé and L. Verbeeck.
20/04/1945 - A Sweep to Berlin sees the formation of 11 Spitfire's clash with 12 Fw-190. F/Lt D. Haworth, P/O D. Watkins, M. Doncq, and A. Kicq destroyed each one, with Kicq damaging another. R. Muls also damaged a Fw-190. W/O Jacques Groensteen was shot down and MIA. The same day, F/Lt K. Smith is shot down by flak and made POW after crash landing his Spitfire.
Jacques Groensteen was killed in combat (posted MIA) on April 20 1945, whilst flying a sweep in the vicinity of Neuruppin. By that time 350 squadron was operating from B.118 Celle in Germany.
In January 2002, a wreck search led by Mario Schulze of the German group AGFOR resulted in the discovery of the wreckage of Spitfire NH686 in a wood near Malz, Oranienburg. This plane, it was discovered, was piloted by the Belgian W/O Jacques "Pichon" Groensteen, who went missing over the Soviet zone on April 20, 1945. Further investigation revealed that whilst pursuing a FW-190 at ver near to ground level, his plane clipped trees and crashed.
The remains of Jacques Groensteen were repatriated to Belgium on February 5, 2003 to be buried at Evere Cemetery, along with his brother Claude, who lost his life as a navigator in a Mosquito-accident in Canada on September 16, 1944.
(Information kindly provided by Cynrik De Decker, Guy De Win and Daniël Cox)
Known awards
Knight of the Order of Leopold II with Palm, Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm
His claims in combat are :
02/03/1945 1 Me-109 Rheine-Munster
Squadrons:
| Squadrons add | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Airforce | Sqdrn | Start | Finish |
| none provided | |||
Aircraft:
| Aircraftadd | ||
|---|---|---|
| Serial | Note | Date |
| NH686 | 1945-04-20 | |
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