Help needed!… Belgian aviator history

Snapper and I met Michel Donnet at Leg-ends, he’s a very approachable chap. I’ve exchanged letters on a number of occasions in relation to varous Free Belgian Air Force matters.

If I can get my home PC to work I’ll post a photo of him as he is today.

Chris Broad,
I have a pic of Mike Donnet sitting on the wing of MK912 replicating that 1940’s shot. Posting here might be a bit of a problem due to copyright. Send me a private email address, via the moderator, and I will give you the source.

Mark

Michael Donnet

Hi Chris – another attempt at the photo ??!! Lieutenant General Aviateur Baron Michael (Mike) Donnet, CVO, DFC, Croix de Guerre (Belgian) FRAeS was born in Richmond Surrey on 1st April 1917. He joined the Belgian Air Force in 1938 as an Officer Cadet and qualified as a pilot in March 1939. Taking an active part in the Belgian Air Force’s battle with the Luftwaffe in May 1940 as a reconnaissance pilot of the 9e Squadron he was taken prisoner in 1940. he escaped by air from occupied Belgium in July 1941 in a Stampe SV4 trainer and joined the Royal Air Force in England. Serving in Fighter Command, he successively became a pilot, flight commander and finally, squadron commander of No. 64 (F) squadron, RAF. In 1944, he took over No. 350 (Belgian) Squadron and later that year was appointed Wing Commander Flying , first at Hawkinge, then in 1945 at Ben****ers. Since 1946, he has served in the Belgian Ministry of Defence, he has commanded the Belgian Fighter Force, was SASO of 83 Anglo-Belgian Group, Deputy Coordinator (Air Defence) Central Europe, Chief of Staff Allied Tactical Air Force, Deputy to the Chief of Belgian Defence Staff and Chairman of the NADGE Policy Board of NATO. After two and a half years as Belgian Army, Navy and Air Attache in London, he joined the NATO Military Committee as the Belgian Military Representative. All taken from inside the back cover of “Flight to Freedom”. Hope this helps – and that the picture comes out !! – cheers Allan125

wow

Thanks guys for all your help so far! Thats a cracking picture Mark12. Is there any documentation attached to it or from the same source with a bit of history about him, that aircraft and 64sqn itself?
I want to make a portfolio for my model which will include details of the original aircraft and Baron Michael Donnet, The HFL example and my 1/6th scale example.

Thanks again guys

Michael Donnet

lets try again with the picture !!!

Michael Donnet

Hopefully this picture will come out – it’s Michael Donnet as CO of 350 (Belgian) Squadron in 1944. cheers – Allan125

Try yet again

Try again

Nope

No shots of his complete aircraft but here is one of him sitting on the wing admiring the ‘Red Indian’. MK912 was painted sympathetically based on period 1942 shots. The squadron codes had that ‘squarish’ look and the ‘SH’ could be painted ahead or behind the roundel irrespective of side.

Mark

No show on the photo!!

Clearly there is a problem posting pix at the moment.

Michael Donnet

hi – I have his book “Flight to Freedom” – great book, especially about his escape from Belgium in a Stampe SV4 – a Tiger Moth type trainer – what exactly do you want and I will see what I can do for you ? cheers – Allan125