SIROUX, Paul Albert Jules Desire
Stats:
rank: F/Lstatus: survived
airforce: RAF (no: 127853 )
born: 1915-09-13 Hognoul Belgium
added by: Adrian Dwyer
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Bio / Text:
Paul Siroux Joined the Pilot School on 17 August 1936 and was accepted to the 74 Promotion. He recieved his Military Flying Brevet on 24 September 1937 and signed a re-engagement for two years. Posted to 2Aé (01Oct 38). He was with 2/I/2Aé when war broke out, passes with his unit into France(15 May 40) and was repatriated to Belgium on 20 August 1940. Unemployed, Siroux departed Belgium(20 Oct 40) for England . Training saw him posted to: RAF N°2 Receiving Center (21 May 42), 5 PAFUS (07 Aug 42) and 58 OTU - Grangemouth (20 Oct 42).
On 12 Jan 1943, Siroux was posted to 350 (BE) Squadron. The Squadron diary notes the following:
12/01/1943 - A new arrival of pilots from OTU: L. Lelarge, P. Siroux and F. Verpoorten.
28/01/1943 - During a Rhubarb to Brussels, A. Plisnier and P. Siroux each drop a Belgian Flag above the Belgian capital.
28/12/1943 - Rhubarb to dive-bomb V-1 sites: G. Dancot crashes after a dogfight with Fw-190's ( victim of Feldwebel Wilhelm Mayer, 7./JG26) and is avenged by P. Siroux who destroyed one of the opponents. S/Ldr A. Boussa sent together with A. Plisnier on rest, is replaced by S/Ldr L. Prevot DFC
23/07/1944 - F/L P. Siroux and L. Lelarge are transferred to 349 (Belgian) Squadron as Flight Commanders. F/L J. Lavigne takes command of "B" flight. RAMROD: Escort of 54 Mitchell's to Montford.
Promoted F/L, he left for 349 Sqn, where he took command of A- Flight. In the last months of War he was posted to 9 PDC (25 Apr 45) and 85 Group HQ (27 Apr 45) until the end of the war. He was awarded a DFC on 31 July 1945.
Discharged from the RAF on 12June 1946, he joined SABENA and retired in March 1972.
Paul Siroux died at Knokke on 21 November 2000.
DFC Citiation of 7 August 1945:
"Flight Lieutenant Siroux joined N°.349 (Belgian) Squadron in July 1944, having previously served with N°.350 (Belgian) Squadron. He has led his flight with distinction and has shown good leadership and fearless courage on every occasion. His missions have included attacks on Flying Bomb installations, escort duty to bombers during which he has dealt effectively with enemy Fighter interference. He has also been employed on pin-point attacks on important enemy positions which were pressed right home in spite of intense anti-aircraft fire. During his mission he has destroyed 2enemy aircraft and shared in the destruction or damage of many M.T. vehicles and some barges. Flight Lieutenant Siroux has shown great energy both in the air and on the ground, he is a reliable and aggressive leader and has set a high example to the other members of his squadron"
(source: Guy De Win)
Known awards
Distinguished Flying Cross, Officer in the Order of the Crown, Officer in the Order of Léopold, Croix de Guerre 1940 with 2 Palm and Bronze Lion, Croix des Evades, Decoration Militaire 2nd Class Croix de Guerre Politique with 2 Stars, 1939 -1943 Star, France and Germany Star, Air Crew Europe Medal and Clasp, Defence Medal, War Medal, Croix de Guerre 1940 du Grand Duché de Luxembourg
His claims in combat are :
28/12/1943 1 FW-190 Rhubarb: Calais (350Sqn)
26/07/1944 1 Me-109 (349Sqn)
[Note - date of enlistment into RAF not confirmed]
On 12 Jan 1943, Siroux was posted to 350 (BE) Squadron. The Squadron diary notes the following:
12/01/1943 - A new arrival of pilots from OTU: L. Lelarge, P. Siroux and F. Verpoorten.
28/01/1943 - During a Rhubarb to Brussels, A. Plisnier and P. Siroux each drop a Belgian Flag above the Belgian capital.
28/12/1943 - Rhubarb to dive-bomb V-1 sites: G. Dancot crashes after a dogfight with Fw-190's ( victim of Feldwebel Wilhelm Mayer, 7./JG26) and is avenged by P. Siroux who destroyed one of the opponents. S/Ldr A. Boussa sent together with A. Plisnier on rest, is replaced by S/Ldr L. Prevot DFC
23/07/1944 - F/L P. Siroux and L. Lelarge are transferred to 349 (Belgian) Squadron as Flight Commanders. F/L J. Lavigne takes command of "B" flight. RAMROD: Escort of 54 Mitchell's to Montford.
Promoted F/L, he left for 349 Sqn, where he took command of A- Flight. In the last months of War he was posted to 9 PDC (25 Apr 45) and 85 Group HQ (27 Apr 45) until the end of the war. He was awarded a DFC on 31 July 1945.
Discharged from the RAF on 12June 1946, he joined SABENA and retired in March 1972.
Paul Siroux died at Knokke on 21 November 2000.
DFC Citiation of 7 August 1945:
"Flight Lieutenant Siroux joined N°.349 (Belgian) Squadron in July 1944, having previously served with N°.350 (Belgian) Squadron. He has led his flight with distinction and has shown good leadership and fearless courage on every occasion. His missions have included attacks on Flying Bomb installations, escort duty to bombers during which he has dealt effectively with enemy Fighter interference. He has also been employed on pin-point attacks on important enemy positions which were pressed right home in spite of intense anti-aircraft fire. During his mission he has destroyed 2enemy aircraft and shared in the destruction or damage of many M.T. vehicles and some barges. Flight Lieutenant Siroux has shown great energy both in the air and on the ground, he is a reliable and aggressive leader and has set a high example to the other members of his squadron"
(source: Guy De Win)
Known awards
Distinguished Flying Cross, Officer in the Order of the Crown, Officer in the Order of Léopold, Croix de Guerre 1940 with 2 Palm and Bronze Lion, Croix des Evades, Decoration Militaire 2nd Class Croix de Guerre Politique with 2 Stars, 1939 -1943 Star, France and Germany Star, Air Crew Europe Medal and Clasp, Defence Medal, War Medal, Croix de Guerre 1940 du Grand Duché de Luxembourg
His claims in combat are :
28/12/1943 1 FW-190 Rhubarb: Calais (350Sqn)
26/07/1944 1 Me-109 (349Sqn)
[Note - date of enlistment into RAF not confirmed]
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