LEVA, Paul Gustave Philippe
Stats:
rank: P/Ostatus: survived
airforce: RAF (no: 1299863 )
born: 1920-03-24 Etterbeek Belgium
added by: Adrian Dwyer
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Bio / Text:
Paul "Pino" Leva enlisted into Belgian Section of the RAF on 7August 1941. Send for training to: 5 ITW (8 December 1941), 10 EFTS (4 April 1942) after promotion to LAC (13 February 1942). He then joined the RAF Depot at Wolverhampton (8July 1942) followed by 22 SFTS (22 July 1942). Following promotion as Sergeant (6 January 1943) he ended his training with a posting to 58 OTU on 12 January 1944.
Posted into 350 Sqn on 23 March 1943, Leva was promoted Flight Sergeant on 6 January 1944 and commissioned Pilot Officer on 23 September 1944. He stayed at 350 (BE) Sqn - with some notable successes - for the rest of the War. The Squadron diary notes the following:
23/03/1943 - The transfer of the Squadron to 13 Group at Acklington for a period of rest sees the arrival of new batch of pilots: M. Grawels and P. Leva
16/08/1944 - F/Sgt Verbeeck gets a flying bomb [1/2 share with Leva?]
20/08/1944 - P. Leva destroys a V-1 with his wing-tip.
26/04/1945 - A section intercepts 3 Fw-190. A short dogfight follows in which G. Gigot destroys one opponent. Another enemy pilot loses control of his plane and bailed out, this victory being credited to the CO, P. Leva, M. Doncq and G. Gigot.
31/04/1945 - An engagement against 20 Fw-190 sees H. Boels destroying 2 enemy aircraft with P. Leva and R. Muls destroying each another one.
Paul "Pino" Leva died on 14 July 1991.
[It may be of interest to note that the wingtip - from 20 Aug '44 - was preserved for posterity and is on display - location tbc.]
Known awards
Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm and Bronze Lion, Croix des Evadés, 1939/43 Star
His claims are :
26/04/1945 1/4 Fw-190
01/05/1945 1 Fw-190
16/08/1944 1/2 V-1
20/08/1944 1 V-1
Posted into 350 Sqn on 23 March 1943, Leva was promoted Flight Sergeant on 6 January 1944 and commissioned Pilot Officer on 23 September 1944. He stayed at 350 (BE) Sqn - with some notable successes - for the rest of the War. The Squadron diary notes the following:
23/03/1943 - The transfer of the Squadron to 13 Group at Acklington for a period of rest sees the arrival of new batch of pilots: M. Grawels and P. Leva
16/08/1944 - F/Sgt Verbeeck gets a flying bomb [1/2 share with Leva?]
20/08/1944 - P. Leva destroys a V-1 with his wing-tip.
26/04/1945 - A section intercepts 3 Fw-190. A short dogfight follows in which G. Gigot destroys one opponent. Another enemy pilot loses control of his plane and bailed out, this victory being credited to the CO, P. Leva, M. Doncq and G. Gigot.
31/04/1945 - An engagement against 20 Fw-190 sees H. Boels destroying 2 enemy aircraft with P. Leva and R. Muls destroying each another one.
Paul "Pino" Leva died on 14 July 1991.
[It may be of interest to note that the wingtip - from 20 Aug '44 - was preserved for posterity and is on display - location tbc.]
Known awards
Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm and Bronze Lion, Croix des Evadés, 1939/43 Star
His claims are :
26/04/1945 1/4 Fw-190
01/05/1945 1 Fw-190
16/08/1944 1/2 V-1
20/08/1944 1 V-1
Squadrons:
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Aircraft:
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