HANSEZ, José

Stats:

rank: Sgt
status: kia
airforce: RAF    (no: 1299901 )
born: 1915-05-13 Herstal Belgium

added by: Adrian Dwyer

José Hansez was a pupil pilot when War broke out. He relocated to France with the Aviation School and escaped to England via Gibraltar: where he arrived on 3 July 1940. He enlisted in the RAFVR and continued training. Posted in from 122 Sqn to 350 (BE) Sqn on 23 November 1941. The Squadron diary notes the following:

16-18/11/1941 - Further complement of pilots arrive from other Squadron's and OTU: J. Carlier (Fl/Co), J. Van Leerberghe, L. Peeters, J., R. Alexandre, L. Heimes, A. Custers, J. Hansez, H. Limet, A. Michiels, F. Venesoen, R. Schrobiltgen and
H. Van Moffaert

06/05/1942 - Circus 160: First dogfight executed by the "Duke" and J. Hansez against Me-109, no results.


On the 1st June 1942, the Squadron performed a"Target Cover" for Hurri-Bomber to Bruges. The Squadron encountered a large formation of FW-190. During the melee, Sgt Hansez - flying as White 4 (Spitfire MK V - W3626) - was shot down and killed. The action was recorded in the Squadron diary:

01/06/1942 - Circus 176: "Target Cover" with Debden Wing over Bruges, the squadron met 20 Fw-190's (Stab, I and III/JG.26) near Ostend. "Duke" shot down one of these but Livijns and Hansez are reported MIA. Laumans was shot down (probably by Oberst Josef "Pips" Priller, Stab III./JG26) near Ostend and rescued after two days by the Germans. Made POW, he was sent to Germany.

Known awards
Knight in the Order of Leopold II with Palmes, Belgian Croix de Guerre with Palmes