RAES, Maurice

Stats:

rank: Sgt
status: kia
airforce: RAF    (no: 1299915 )
born: 1921-06-17 Mons Belgium

added by: Adrian Dwyer

Maurice Raes signed a 3 year engagement in the Belgian Aéronautique Militaire in September 1939. Receiving his basic military education at Zellik, he then joined the 82nd promotion at Wevelghem. When Belgiumwas invaded on 10 May 1940 the Flying School was evacuated to Oujda, Morocco. After the capitulation of France, most of the trainees evaded to Great Britain, where they arrived on 5 August. Sent to Tenby first, he joined the Flying School at Odiham in November 1940 and made his first flying sortie in a Magister, with his instructor G. Dieu, on 23 November: his first solo flight was on 19 December. Raes joined 53 OTU in November 1941. Graded as "Above Average" after conversion to the Spitfire, he was posted to 350 (Belgian) Squadron in March 1942. On his first flight in a SpitfireVb, on 20 March 1942, he severely damaged his aircraft whilst landing; but after several training flights he was finally declared "Combat Ready".

On 4 June 1942, he executed his first operational sortie flying as "Blue 2" in MN-U (P8545). On 13 June 1942, flying his second convoy patrol, in MN-R (W3446), he was involved in a tragic accident. When the last section left the convoy, Sergeant Raes had lost his No. 1 and was given a Vector back to base. Flying low over Norwich he crashed into the ground at 120 Sprowston Road, Norwich and was Killed. It was later determined that as his aircraft had lost contact with the convoy, it was plotted as an enemy aircraft. As a consequence - and with a cloud base of only 200feet - the Barrage balloons were stood to in anticipation of intruder activity. His aircraft was spotted headingS.E. at a very low altitude. Police and air raid wardens both reported an explosion hearing and seeing an explosion in the sky above the city. It is believed this must have been Raes' Spitfire - which fell to the Norwich Balloon barrage. the Squadron diary contains the following entry:

13/06/1942 - Returning from a convoy protection M. Raes lost his leader due to bad weather and hit Barrage Balloon cables. He died when he crashed near Norwich.

Sgt pilot Maurice Raes was buried with full military honours at Brookwood Cemetery on 18June 1942, and S/L Guillaume, P/O Deltour and Sgt Ester attended as representatives of the Squadron.

After the war his body was re-interred at Pelouse d'Evere.

(source: Guy Destrebecq)