[350Sqn]

Lt General Mike Donnet DFC, died in the night of 31 July and 1 August, aged 96.

Michel "Mike" Donnet is born at Richmond (UK) on April 1, 1917 . Military pilot at the Aéronautique Militaire Belge in 1939, he served at the 9/I, based at Bierset, when the Germans invaded Belgium. He evaded the country by air with Léon Divoy on a Stampe SV-4b on the night of 4/5 July 1941. On 26 July 1941 , Donnet is accepted by the RAF Volunteer Reserve . After conversion at 61 OTU on Spitfire from 27 July 1941 till 6 September 1941, he went to 143 Sqn the next day but was send to 64 Sqn on 15 September 1941. Promoted F/O, 26 July 1942, he was awarded a DFC on 19 February 1943. Acting S/Ldr on 26 March 1943, leading 64 Sqn. Posted to Fighter Command on 5 November 1943 and to 52 OTU on 19 November 1943. On March 23, 1944, Mike was posted to command 350 Sqn. Leading the Sqn till 23 October 1944. Promoted W/Cdr, saw him to led the Hawkinge - Wing, and the Bentwaters-Wing in 1945. After the war, he was posted to the Ministry of Defense. He then led the HQ of the 83 Anglo-Belgian Group, he became commander of Air Defense Central Europe and then Commander of HQ of 2 TAF. He took presidency of the direction comity of the project NADGE and afterwards became Military Attaché at the Embassy in London. He was member of the Military comity of the NATO and finally he retired as Lt - General in 1975. He wrote several books.

Rest in peace Mike !


Serge