MARCHAL, Henri E.J.
Stats:
rank: P/Ostatus: pow
airforce: RAF (no: 87678 )
born: 1916-09-18 Cardross Scotland
added by: Adrian Dwyer
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Bio / Text:
Henri 'Pascalon ' Marchal was student at the Belgian Royal Military School before War War II commenced. After the German invasion he departed with his unit for France. On 26 June, 1940 he escaped to England. Sent to the RAF Depot in Gloucester on 1 July ,1940, and to RAF Depot - St.Athan - on 14 August 1940. Henri started flying with EFTS - Odiham on 2 October 1940.
He enlisted into Belgian Section of RAF on8 November 1940 and further training saw him attending SFTS - Ternhill, 15 May 1941. Marchal was commisioned P/O on 6 August 1941, and joined OTU - Heston on 24 August 1941. He was posted to 123 Sqn (4 October 1941) and 54 Sqn (30 March 1942).
Henri 'Pascalon ' Marchal arrived at 350 (BE) Sqn on 29 May, 1942. The Squadron diary notes the following:
30/06/1942 - The squadron is completed by J. Rigole arriving from the OTU. L. Flohimont and H. Marchal saw their transfer from 123 (East India) Squadron as did P. Arend who arrived from 325 Squadron. Van Moffaert left the squadron joining Training Command. The Squadron moved to Gravesend.
30/07/1942 - "Ramrod" to Fort Rouge Airfield. A dogfight with Me-109 (II/JG.26) and FW-190 (JG.2) resulted in 2 probables and a damaged. Marchal was hit and had to force land near Sandwich.
On 19 August 1942, he encountered and engaged the FW-190 of Oberfeldwebel WurmheIler of I./JG2. As a result of that combat his aircraft was damaged and crash landed near St.Aubin airfield, in the Dieppe area. The Squadron diary noted the following:
19/08/1942 - Dieppe: 1st mission: take off at 07.20 a.m. Above Dieppe 350 Squadron met a dozen Fw-190, resulting in a destroyed Fw-190 for the "Duke", a shared for H. Picard and E. Plas and a damaged one for L. Flohimont. H. Marchal was hit and had to bale out and was made a POW. The second sortie which took off at 11 a.m. was also successful: 3 Fw-190 destroyed (F. Venesoen, A. Boussa and R. Alexandre) and 4 and 1 shared damaged (F. Boute: 1 and 1 shared with G. Seydel and A. Boussa, R. Alexandre and the "Duke", each damaged one).The third mission at 12.20 p.m. saw a Ju-88 destroyed in co-operation by H. Smets, F. Boute, A. Plisnier and J. Van Leerberghe. The last mission of the day saw 12 Spitfires taking off at 15.15 and again the squadron were successful with 2 Fw-190 destroyed (F. Venesoen and A. Plisnier) and 4 Fw-190 and one Do-217 damaged (G. Seydel, L. Flohimont, E. Plas, R. Alexandre and J. Van Leerberghe).
Henri 'Pascalon ' Marchal became a POW and was incarcerated at Stalag Luft III.
Known awards
Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with Bronze Lion, Croix des Evadés, Chevron de blessure
His claims in combat are :
30/07/1942 1/2 Me-109 Ramrod: East France
30/07/1942 1/2 Me-109 Damaged Ramrod: East France
He enlisted into Belgian Section of RAF on8 November 1940 and further training saw him attending SFTS - Ternhill, 15 May 1941. Marchal was commisioned P/O on 6 August 1941, and joined OTU - Heston on 24 August 1941. He was posted to 123 Sqn (4 October 1941) and 54 Sqn (30 March 1942).
Henri 'Pascalon ' Marchal arrived at 350 (BE) Sqn on 29 May, 1942. The Squadron diary notes the following:
30/06/1942 - The squadron is completed by J. Rigole arriving from the OTU. L. Flohimont and H. Marchal saw their transfer from 123 (East India) Squadron as did P. Arend who arrived from 325 Squadron. Van Moffaert left the squadron joining Training Command. The Squadron moved to Gravesend.
30/07/1942 - "Ramrod" to Fort Rouge Airfield. A dogfight with Me-109 (II/JG.26) and FW-190 (JG.2) resulted in 2 probables and a damaged. Marchal was hit and had to force land near Sandwich.
On 19 August 1942, he encountered and engaged the FW-190 of Oberfeldwebel WurmheIler of I./JG2. As a result of that combat his aircraft was damaged and crash landed near St.Aubin airfield, in the Dieppe area. The Squadron diary noted the following:
19/08/1942 - Dieppe: 1st mission: take off at 07.20 a.m. Above Dieppe 350 Squadron met a dozen Fw-190, resulting in a destroyed Fw-190 for the "Duke", a shared for H. Picard and E. Plas and a damaged one for L. Flohimont. H. Marchal was hit and had to bale out and was made a POW. The second sortie which took off at 11 a.m. was also successful: 3 Fw-190 destroyed (F. Venesoen, A. Boussa and R. Alexandre) and 4 and 1 shared damaged (F. Boute: 1 and 1 shared with G. Seydel and A. Boussa, R. Alexandre and the "Duke", each damaged one).The third mission at 12.20 p.m. saw a Ju-88 destroyed in co-operation by H. Smets, F. Boute, A. Plisnier and J. Van Leerberghe. The last mission of the day saw 12 Spitfires taking off at 15.15 and again the squadron were successful with 2 Fw-190 destroyed (F. Venesoen and A. Plisnier) and 4 Fw-190 and one Do-217 damaged (G. Seydel, L. Flohimont, E. Plas, R. Alexandre and J. Van Leerberghe).
Henri 'Pascalon ' Marchal became a POW and was incarcerated at Stalag Luft III.
Known awards
Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with Bronze Lion, Croix des Evadés, Chevron de blessure
His claims in combat are :
30/07/1942 1/2 Me-109 Ramrod: East France
30/07/1942 1/2 Me-109 Damaged Ramrod: East France
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