MENU, Xavier Leon Albert
Stats:
rank: F/Ostatus: kia
airforce: RAF (no: 87683 )
born: 1916-05-02 Lambermont Belgium
added by: Adrian Dwyer
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Bio / Text:
Xavier Menu was evacuated with his military training course (at the Belgian Flying School) to France and then to Oujda in Morocco. Menu joined the group led by Captain Cajot and effected an escaped to Great Britain. By November 1940, he commenced training at Odiham. He was then posted to N°11 FlyingTraining School at Shawbury from 9/4/41 to 4/7/41 and then to 58 OTU, at Grangemouth(17/7/41 to 25/8/41). It was there he made his first solo flight in a Spitfire (July 20th 1941).
On25/8/41, Xavier MENU was posted to the "Belgian Flight" of 131 Squadron at Ternhill. However, on November 17th he arrived at RAF Valley where the 350 (Belgian) Squadron was formed (12th November 1941). His name is recorded in the Squadron diary:
12/11/1941 - Official creation of 350 (Belgian) Squadron at Valley. The following pilots are transferred from 131 (County of Kent) Squadron: S/Ldr J. Thompson, H. Gonay (Fl/Co), X. Menu, E. Plas, H. Smets, G. Deltour, A. Plisnier, G. Seydel, J. Ester, L. Harmel, R. De Wever, H. Picard, G. Livijns and J. Depuysseleyr who will leave the Squadron a few days later, joining the Aerial Reconnaissance.
On August 10th, 1942, Xavier MENU and Jean RIGOLE departed from Friston for a offensive patrol over the Channel. Because of the bad weather over Friston, they were rerouted to Tangmere. Only Jean RIGOLE came backsafely. Xavier MENU never reached Tangmere and was therefore declared "MISSING IN ACTION". There is a single entry in the Squadron diary:
10/08/1942 Beachy Head: X. Menu disappeared into the sea returning from a early evening patrol.
Xavier Menu vanished completely; and it is thought most probable that his plane crashed over water and sank without trace. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial - panel 67
(source: Philippe Deman)
Known awards
Knight's Cross in the Order of Leopold with Palm, Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm
[Note - exact date of enlistment has yet to be established]
On25/8/41, Xavier MENU was posted to the "Belgian Flight" of 131 Squadron at Ternhill. However, on November 17th he arrived at RAF Valley where the 350 (Belgian) Squadron was formed (12th November 1941). His name is recorded in the Squadron diary:
12/11/1941 - Official creation of 350 (Belgian) Squadron at Valley. The following pilots are transferred from 131 (County of Kent) Squadron: S/Ldr J. Thompson, H. Gonay (Fl/Co), X. Menu, E. Plas, H. Smets, G. Deltour, A. Plisnier, G. Seydel, J. Ester, L. Harmel, R. De Wever, H. Picard, G. Livijns and J. Depuysseleyr who will leave the Squadron a few days later, joining the Aerial Reconnaissance.
On August 10th, 1942, Xavier MENU and Jean RIGOLE departed from Friston for a offensive patrol over the Channel. Because of the bad weather over Friston, they were rerouted to Tangmere. Only Jean RIGOLE came backsafely. Xavier MENU never reached Tangmere and was therefore declared "MISSING IN ACTION". There is a single entry in the Squadron diary:
10/08/1942 Beachy Head: X. Menu disappeared into the sea returning from a early evening patrol.
Xavier Menu vanished completely; and it is thought most probable that his plane crashed over water and sank without trace. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial - panel 67
(source: Philippe Deman)
Known awards
Knight's Cross in the Order of Leopold with Palm, Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm
[Note - exact date of enlistment has yet to be established]
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