Jean de Sélys Longchamps
Encyclopedia
Baron Jean Michel P.M.G. de Selys Longchamps (31 May 1912 – 16 August 1943) was a Belgian nobleman and World War II
RAF fighter pilot
remembered for his attack in 1943 on the Gestapo
headquarters in Brussels
in occupied Belgium
.
A Belgian cavalry officer with the 1e Régiment des Guides
, he escaped with the BEF
from Dunkirk returning to France before it finally fell. Trying to join the allies again he was interned by the Vichy
authorities but escaped to Britain and was accepted for flight training with the RAF. He was posted to No. 609 Squadron RAF
and flew Hawker Typhoon
s
He is best remembered for his airstrike on the Gestapo
headquarters located at 453 Avenue Louise (50°49′4.37"N 4°22′15.63"E) in Brussels on 20 January 1943, which led to his demotion (to Pilot Officer
) for acting without orders, but he was also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
for his actions.
He was killed the 16 August 1943 when his aircraft crashed on landing at RAF Manston
after a sortie over Ostend
.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
RAF fighter pilot
Fighter pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained in air-to-air combat while piloting a fighter aircraft . Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting...
remembered for his attack in 1943 on the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
headquarters in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
in occupied Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
A Belgian cavalry officer with the 1e Régiment des Guides
Guides Regiment
The 1st Guides Regiment was an armoured regiment of the Belgian Army. Previously amalgamated with the 1st Regiment Chasseurs à cheval , in 2011 the regiment was amalgamated with 2/4 Regiment to Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Reconnaissance, .-Cavalry regiment:The regiment was...
, he escaped with the BEF
British Expeditionary Force (World War II)
The British Expeditionary Force was the British force in Europe from 1939–1940 during the Second World War. Commanded by General Lord Gort, the BEF constituted one-tenth of the defending Allied force....
from Dunkirk returning to France before it finally fell. Trying to join the allies again he was interned by the Vichy
Vichy
Vichy is a commune in the department of Allier in Auvergne in central France. It belongs to the historic province of Bourbonnais.It is known as a spa and resort town and was the de facto capital of Vichy France during the World War II Nazi German occupation from 1940 to 1944.The town's inhabitants...
authorities but escaped to Britain and was accepted for flight training with the RAF. He was posted to No. 609 Squadron RAF
No. 609 Squadron RAF
No. 609 Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, originally formed as a bomber squadron and in World War II active as fighter squadron, nowadays provides personnel to augment and support the operations of the Royal Air Force. The squadron is no longer a flying Squadron, but instead has the role...
and flew Hawker Typhoon
Hawker Typhoon
The Hawker Typhoon was a British single-seat fighter-bomber, produced by Hawker Aircraft. While the Typhoon was designed to be a medium-high altitude interceptor, and a direct replacement for the Hawker Hurricane, several design problems were encountered, and the Typhoon never completely satisfied...
s
He is best remembered for his airstrike on the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
headquarters located at 453 Avenue Louise (50°49′4.37"N 4°22′15.63"E) in Brussels on 20 January 1943, which led to his demotion (to Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
) for acting without orders, but he was also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
for his actions.
He was killed the 16 August 1943 when his aircraft crashed on landing at RAF Manston
RAF Manston
RAF Manston was an RAF station in the north-east of Kent, at on the Isle of Thanet from 1916 until 1996. The site is now split between a commercial airport Kent International Airport and a continuing military use by the Defence Fire Training and Development Centre , following on from a long...
after a sortie over Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
.