Paul de Jace - Belgium Mosquito pilot (info needed)
 

Hello!
I do have tried to find out more information about former Sabena Airline Pilot Paul de Jace, who was shot down while flying with 521 Squadron ( Mosquito FB IV, serial DZ289 ) on 26th July 1942 by Lt Dieter Gerhardt from JG 1.
Does anybody do have more information about his rank, RAF service number, age and previous Squadrons?
Thanks a lot
Adriano Baumgartner

Paul de Jace - Belgium Mosquito pilot (info needed)
 

Hello Adriano,

Do you perhaps mean P/O Dejace L. J. P., RAF VR 81632?
I've him as killed on the 26 07 1942 (same date as your Paul de Jace),
236 Sqn, Mosquito DK 285 (same a/c). Missing on a Met. Flight to Norway over sea and body found on the 29 of December 1942. Buried at Arendal British Cemetry Norway. Born at Liège on the 24 of January 1909 and reburied at Robertmont (Liège) on the 12 of May 1960.
Coincidence or not; same date of loss and same type or aircraft!
Regards,

Alexander

Re: Paul de Jace - Belgium Mosquito pilot (info needed)
 

Some confusion here:

DZ289 was lost when it crashed on landing Coleby Grange 25.11.43

DK285 was missing presumed ditched in Irish Sea 5.11.43 - F/O P T L Hallett and F/O A W F Quick of 1655 MTU on the Runnymede memorial.

The probable one is DK289 of 1401 Flight (521 Sqdn). Missing on met flight

Just been looking at Even the Birds Were Walking. De Jace's (as it is written in the book) usual Nav was W J Davis, and it seems they flew both DK 289 and DK 285. However, Davis was on leave on the day De Jace was lost, so the serial, nor his replacement Nav are noted.

A

Re: Paul de Jace - Belgium Mosquito pilot (info needed)
 

...and 236 Sqn was a Beaufighter unit not Mossie

Re: Paul de Jace - Belgium Mosquito pilot (info needed)
 

His entry in The Men of the Battle of Britain is minimal but states that he was with 236 Squadron during the BoB, but doesn't say when he was transferred.

A

Re: Paul de Jace - Belgium Mosquito pilot (info needed)
 

Adriano,

Found this thread on website RAF Commands: http://www.rafcommands.com/cgi-bin/d...&archive=yes#1

Hope this helps?

Regards,

Leendert

Re: Paul de Jace - Belgium Mosquito pilot (info needed)
 

Alexander, Amrit, Chris and Leendert,
Sorry for writting down the wrong serial number. De Jace was indeed lost with DK289 and probably shot down by Lt Dieter Gerhardt.
He is mentioned on the book of S/L Denys Braithwaite, DFC* as being a former SABENA Airline Transport pilot with 16,000 flying hours under his belt. I do not know if the service number RAFVR 81362 is of the same person we are talking about?! It seems so...However, I tried to find more about this service number and got no joy! So, probably ( I am not sure ) he flew since 05th August 1940 with 236 Squadron ( This is the information of the date of his entry on this Squadron - from a French Forum ). I do appreciate your information Leendert, very kind of yours. I figured out his body was never found...
Will keep trying to obtain his full name and more information about his age and backgrounds...Thanks to both of you for helping
Adriano Baumgartner