SEYDEL, Gabriel Marie Herman
Stats:
rank: F/Lstatus: survived
airforce: RAF (no: 116541 )
born: 1920-04-05 Ixelles Belgium
added by: Adrian Dwyer
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Bio / Text:
Gabriel 'Gaby ' Seydel M. was in training at the Flying School of the Aé Mil when War broke out. He accompanied the school to to France and then to Morocco, and subsequently escaped to England. 'Gaby' Seydel arrived on 5 August 1940 [assumed date of enlistment], and was sent initially to Training Command. P/O Seydel was posted from 58 OTU to 131 Sqn - for flying duties - on 26 November 1941. He joined the newly formed 350 (Belgian) Squadron on 17 November 1941 and transferred to 349 Squadron in July 1943 - but returning to 350 Squadron in November 1944. The 350 Squadron diary notes the following:
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.
22/12/1941 - 350 Sqn is declared operational. First alert at 8.55 hrs: A. Plisnier and G. Seydel take off for a convoy protection. Ten other convoy protection missions are flown that day.
15/06/1942 - First "Rhubarb" executed by Venesoen and Seydel in the region of Furnes and Nieuport.
05/08/1942 Rhubarb: G. Seydel is hit by Flak near Bray Dunes. He bailed out 15 miles off Manston and is rescued by ASR.
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).
08/06/1943 - Several pilots are transferred to the reactivated 349 (Belgian) Squadron that will be led by S/Ldr Y. Du Monceau de Bergendael: C. Brahy, J. Groensteen, G. Seydel, J. Van Leerberghe, and L. Verbeeck.
04/11/1944 - Returning from a Ramrod, the CO, having engine troubles, is obliged to crash land near Aachen. J. Brosteaux and A. Plisnier are leaving the Squadron, A. Plisnier being sent to 336 Fighter Group , 8th USAAF, (on an exchange programme), flying Mustang's. G. Seydel coming from 349 (Belgian) Squadron takes over command of "A" Flight.
31/12/1944 - G. Seydel leaves for 349 (Belgian) Squadron and the Squadron moves to Y.32 Ophoven airfield joining 125 Wing.
As noted above, at the end of 1944, Seydel finally rejoined 349 Squadron.
He earned a DFC for his actions on 4 December 1945.
After war he joined Colonial Service(1946-1947) and then began a career a the English Electric Co ,in 1949. He became British Citizen in February 1951.
Gabriel 'Gaby ' Seydel died on 10 January 1991.
Known awards
Distinguished Flying Cross, Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm, Knight in the Order of the Crown with Palm, Knight in the Order of Léopold, Croix de Guerre 1940 with2 Palm, Croix des Evadés, 1939 - 1943 Star, 1939 - 1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Atlantic Star, Defence Medal, Croix de Guerre 1940 Grand - Duché de Luxembourg
DFC citation of 4 December 1945:
" As Flight Commander on his third operational tour, Flight Lieutenant Seydel has inflicted severe damage to the enemy, both in the air and on the ground destroying at least 1 aircraft and damaging 3 others as well as destroying transport of all kind. Throughout his 242 operational sorties, he has always displayed initiative and courage and has been an inspiration to all pilots under his command."
(source: Guy De Win)
His claims in combat are :
19/08/1942 1/2 FW-190 Damaged Dieppe (Operation Jubilé)
19/08/1942 1 FW-190 Damaged Dieppe (Operation Jubilé)
06/06/1944 1/2 Ju-88 Damaged (349 Sqn)
07/06/1944 1 FW-190 Damaged (349 Sqn)
08/06/1944 1/2 FW-190 (349 Sqn)
26/07/1944 1 Me-109 (349 Sqn)
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.
22/12/1941 - 350 Sqn is declared operational. First alert at 8.55 hrs: A. Plisnier and G. Seydel take off for a convoy protection. Ten other convoy protection missions are flown that day.
15/06/1942 - First "Rhubarb" executed by Venesoen and Seydel in the region of Furnes and Nieuport.
05/08/1942 Rhubarb: G. Seydel is hit by Flak near Bray Dunes. He bailed out 15 miles off Manston and is rescued by ASR.
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).
08/06/1943 - Several pilots are transferred to the reactivated 349 (Belgian) Squadron that will be led by S/Ldr Y. Du Monceau de Bergendael: C. Brahy, J. Groensteen, G. Seydel, J. Van Leerberghe, and L. Verbeeck.
04/11/1944 - Returning from a Ramrod, the CO, having engine troubles, is obliged to crash land near Aachen. J. Brosteaux and A. Plisnier are leaving the Squadron, A. Plisnier being sent to 336 Fighter Group , 8th USAAF, (on an exchange programme), flying Mustang's. G. Seydel coming from 349 (Belgian) Squadron takes over command of "A" Flight.
31/12/1944 - G. Seydel leaves for 349 (Belgian) Squadron and the Squadron moves to Y.32 Ophoven airfield joining 125 Wing.
As noted above, at the end of 1944, Seydel finally rejoined 349 Squadron.
He earned a DFC for his actions on 4 December 1945.
After war he joined Colonial Service(1946-1947) and then began a career a the English Electric Co ,in 1949. He became British Citizen in February 1951.
Gabriel 'Gaby ' Seydel died on 10 January 1991.
Known awards
Distinguished Flying Cross, Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm, Knight in the Order of the Crown with Palm, Knight in the Order of Léopold, Croix de Guerre 1940 with2 Palm, Croix des Evadés, 1939 - 1943 Star, 1939 - 1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Atlantic Star, Defence Medal, Croix de Guerre 1940 Grand - Duché de Luxembourg
DFC citation of 4 December 1945:
" As Flight Commander on his third operational tour, Flight Lieutenant Seydel has inflicted severe damage to the enemy, both in the air and on the ground destroying at least 1 aircraft and damaging 3 others as well as destroying transport of all kind. Throughout his 242 operational sorties, he has always displayed initiative and courage and has been an inspiration to all pilots under his command."
(source: Guy De Win)
His claims in combat are :
19/08/1942 1/2 FW-190 Damaged Dieppe (Operation Jubilé)
19/08/1942 1 FW-190 Damaged Dieppe (Operation Jubilé)
06/06/1944 1/2 Ju-88 Damaged (349 Sqn)
07/06/1944 1 FW-190 Damaged (349 Sqn)
08/06/1944 1/2 FW-190 (349 Sqn)
26/07/1944 1 Me-109 (349 Sqn)
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