HUENS, Robert Nicolas
Stats:
rank: F/Sgtstatus: kia
airforce: RAF (no: 1899804 )
born: 1919-09-12 Rixensart Belgium
added by: Adrian Dwyer
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Bio / Text:
'Le Teuton' ' Bob' Huens was already a member of the Aé Mil before outbreak of War. He joined the Belgian Resistance before evading to Great-Britain and enlisted in the RAFVR on 29 July 1943. He trained at RAF College of Cranwell (7 August 1943), 5 (P) AFU (31 January 1944), 53 OTU (3 April 1944) and joined 350 Sqn on 12 June1944. The Squadron diary noted the following:
14/06/1944 - 2 Escort missions of Mitchell’s are flown to Alençon. After mechanical problems, F/O L. Lelarge "A" Flight had to bale out over the channel and was rescued. R. Huens, R. Jaminé and M. Doncq reinforces 350 Squadron. Convoy patrol.
24/06/1944 - NEPTUNE Dawn patrol Cherbourg again under heavy fire. NEPTUNE patrol, F/O Siroux and Sgt Huens land on the beach head.
23/01/1945 R. Huens is killed when attacking a convoy between St-Vith and Prüm.
As noted above, his aircraft was hit by flak during an armed recce in the region of St-Vith on 23 January 1945.
The following is from the RR link (the research of Eric de Séjournet and Jean-Claude RENIER):
According to Albert De Cock, he was in the center of a formation of three Spitfires when his aircraft was hit by flak during a strafing mission against a retreating German column. Robert Bladt , who was following him, believes he was killed instantly. His plane crashed at Heckhalenfeld, near the Belgian border. The family was informed that 'his aircraft had been shot down and it was hoped that no other misfortune had befallen him than being taken prisoner'. The Belgian Embassy in London was informed of Robert Huens' death, with the aim of notifying his relatives, but it did not follow up, and the family was left in a state of waiting and uncertainty. It was only on February 28, 1946, that his family was officially notified of Robert's 'presumed death'. Certainty was only obtained in May 1947 thanks to the intervention in London of Count de Laurens, with whom Robert had stayed in Castelnaudary in 1942, but the official notification from the Ministry of National Defense did not reach the family until November 27, 1948! Robert's father visited his son's grave in Heckhalenfeld and found it well-tended and adorned with flowers by the wife of the local mayor, a mother who hoped that the same had been done for her two sons who had disappeared on the Eastern Front. After the British had gathered the bodies of their soldiers who had fallen in Germany, permission was granted to repatriate Robert Huens to Belgium.
Known awards
Knight in the Order of Leopold II with Palm, Belgian Croix de Guerre with Palm,
Croix des Evadés
14/06/1944 - 2 Escort missions of Mitchell’s are flown to Alençon. After mechanical problems, F/O L. Lelarge "A" Flight had to bale out over the channel and was rescued. R. Huens, R. Jaminé and M. Doncq reinforces 350 Squadron. Convoy patrol.
24/06/1944 - NEPTUNE Dawn patrol Cherbourg again under heavy fire. NEPTUNE patrol, F/O Siroux and Sgt Huens land on the beach head.
23/01/1945 R. Huens is killed when attacking a convoy between St-Vith and Prüm.
As noted above, his aircraft was hit by flak during an armed recce in the region of St-Vith on 23 January 1945.
The following is from the RR link (the research of Eric de Séjournet and Jean-Claude RENIER):
According to Albert De Cock, he was in the center of a formation of three Spitfires when his aircraft was hit by flak during a strafing mission against a retreating German column. Robert Bladt , who was following him, believes he was killed instantly. His plane crashed at Heckhalenfeld, near the Belgian border. The family was informed that 'his aircraft had been shot down and it was hoped that no other misfortune had befallen him than being taken prisoner'. The Belgian Embassy in London was informed of Robert Huens' death, with the aim of notifying his relatives, but it did not follow up, and the family was left in a state of waiting and uncertainty. It was only on February 28, 1946, that his family was officially notified of Robert's 'presumed death'. Certainty was only obtained in May 1947 thanks to the intervention in London of Count de Laurens, with whom Robert had stayed in Castelnaudary in 1942, but the official notification from the Ministry of National Defense did not reach the family until November 27, 1948! Robert's father visited his son's grave in Heckhalenfeld and found it well-tended and adorned with flowers by the wife of the local mayor, a mother who hoped that the same had been done for her two sons who had disappeared on the Eastern Front. After the British had gathered the bodies of their soldiers who had fallen in Germany, permission was granted to repatriate Robert Huens to Belgium.
Known awards
Knight in the Order of Leopold II with Palm, Belgian Croix de Guerre with Palm,
Croix des Evadés
Squadrons:
| Squadrons add | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Airforce | Sqdrn | Start | Finish |
| none provided | |||
Aircraft:
| Aircraftadd | ||
|---|---|---|
| Serial | Note | Date |
| NH711 | 1945-01-23 | |
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Comments / Questions:
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