Belgian War Hero dies aged 96

Belgian War Hero Michel "Mike" Donnet passed away yesterday.

General Donnet served with the RAF during the second world war, and will always be remembered for his spectacular escape from occupied Belgium.

Michel Donnet, a licensed pilot joined the Belgian army in 1939. He was captured by the Germans, and put in a POW camp until early 1941. Those years, Michel Donnet dreams of joining the RAF. It's not easy to get over the Channel to England, but Donnet finds out there's an SV-4B plane in a barn in Hoeilaart, unfortunately under German guard.

With help from fellow pilot Leon Divoy and the resistance, they manage to assemble the airplane, under the noses of the German guard. The first attempt to escape fails, but on the 4th of July 1941 Donnet and Divoy manage to fool the guards, take off and escape to England.

Donnet joins the RAF, and flies 375 missions. He takes command of the 350 Squadron, the first Belgian RAF squadron. He received the "Distinguished Flying Cross".

After the war he joined the Belgian Airforce. In 1975 General Donnet retires.

His funeral will be on Monday, 5th of August. During the funeral, four F16 fighters of the Belgian Airforce will fly over Brussels in "Missing Man" formation.

Here's a link to the (Flemish) newspaper article: http://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20130802_00678863

Kind regards,

Jos

 

May this brave man rest in peace

 

RIP, Sir.