VANDERVEKEN, Robert

Stats:

rank: F/L
status: survived
airforce: RAF    (no: 1424915 )
born: 1919-09-01 Brussels Belgium

added by: Adrian Dwyer

Robert " VéDéVé " Vanderveken escaped Belgium in the company of his mother and three other young men in a self-made raft. This feat, an heroic effort in and of itself, brought them to the shores of England on 19 September, 1941. Robert joined the Belgian Forces in Great Britain on 13 November 1941 and enlisted into RAFVR on 12 February 1942. He commenced his training at the Air Depot, Regent's Park, joining ACRC (23 February 1942). He then attended: 17 ITW (15March 1942),; 6 EFTS (17 June 1942); promoted Sergeant Pilot on 23 June 1942 and went to 2 ACDC (10 July 1942); 28 EFTS (23 September 1942). Promoted P/O (24 June 1943) he attended CSFTS (29 June 1943) and finally attended 61 OTU (13 July 1943).

Robert was posted into 350 (BE) Sqn on 9 October 1943 and was promoted to F/O on 24 December. The Squadron diary noted the following:

15/08/1944 - F/O Vanderveken "B" Flight has the previledge of shooting down the Squadron's first flying bomb. Fred Langtree went for a trip with F/O Vanderveken in the Squadron's Tiger Moth [This is believed to be a reference to Gordon Frederick Langtree, a Typhoon pilot of 245 Sqn RAF]

02/03/1945 - During a Sweep with 130 (Punjab) Squadron in the region Rheine - Münster, the formation of 15 Spitfires met a formation of a dozen Me-109 with R. Hoornaert, J. Groensteen and "Boam" Lambrechts claiming each one destroyed, E. Pauwels claiming one damaged. Several pilots ending their operational tour leaves the Squadron: Both Flight Commanders F. Verpoorten and J. Lavigne, two Deputy Flight CO, A. Van Wersch and R. Duchateau. Leaving also: R. Vanderveken, R. Bladt, J. Mehuys, R. Jaminé and L. Verbeeck.

He then joined the Belgian Initial Training School on 26 March, 1945, followed by 12 Ferry Unit on 7 May. He ended his Military career at the RAF as F/Lt (24 June 1945) and was demobilized on 16 January. 1946.

Robert " VéDéVé " Vanderveken died in Vancouver, Canada, on 27 November 1997.


Known awards
Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm and Bronze Lion, Croix des Evadés, 1939-1943 Star


His claims in combat are:
??/??/?? 1 e/a destroyed on the ground (Not recorded in Squadron diary)
??/??/?? 1 e/a destroyed on the ground (Not recorded in Squadron diary)
15/08/1944 1/2 V-1 N. of Ashford