F/O Soors (Belgian) of RAF 197 Sqn

[Alexander]

Hello,

I'm looking after some information about the career, missions, etc. of
F/O M. L. Soors, 131867 of 197 Squadron. He took off from Manston with his Typhoon to do a night intruder ops in the Poix area (France). His wife, Mrs Betty Soors, who was at that time living in Tirlemont (Belgium), was informed by the International Red Cross that her husband was MIA.
Thanks,

Alexander

[Leendert]

Alex,

You may have noticed on the CWGC website that it says that F/O Martin Soors had the British nationality... Mistake?

His surname is surely from the Belgian Limburg province however.

Typhoon JP588 OV-V.

You may want to contact people of http://www.bamfbamrs.be/RAF/catalog.htm

Name of Soors not on their list, but I'm not sure if list is complete.

Regards,

Leendert

[Ex Shack]

Alex and Leendert
Don't forget that on CWGC the heading "Nationality" is not that of the Casualty but of the Air Force in which he served. CWGC shows Soors as being RAF ,which suggests that he enlisted direct into the service of ,to him, a Foreign power and did it before the outbreak of war otherwise it would be RAFVR. If he was a member of the Belgian Air Force under RAF Command he would not be on the CWGC list at all.A second point that needs to be considered is that with a wife in Occupied Belgium, he may have flown under an assumed name to protect her and was only listed under his true identity on becoming a Casualty on a list that would not have been available to the Germans. The absence of the name Soors on the site that Leendert mentioned could be explained by this, so you might find another name with a date-of death the same as Soors, which could be him.
Regards
Dick

[Leendert]

Dick,

Thanks for the additional info. The idea of another name had crossed my mind as well, but name of Soors is rather typical for the province he probably was from and where his wife lived. It's Alexander's area of interest, I gather.

The list on the Belgian site doesn't give dates of death, if applicable. But no match either if you look for his service number 131867.

I'm sure an answer will be found on the Belgian side...

Regards,

Leendert

[Alexander]

Hello Dick and Leendert,

Thanks for the information. I've done a little bit of research and have found the next about F/O Soors M (MIA):
He has a symbolic grave (row 3 gravenr 18) at the Belgian Military Cemetry of Evere (Pelouse d'Honneur de la Force Aérienne). Just also found that he was born in Liège (Belgium) on the 09 of February 1909 (date to be confirmed!)
He maybe moved to Tirlemont after his marriage or perhaps his wife was native from Tirlemont and stayed there during the war.
And yes, Leendert, my area of Interest is the area between
Saint-Trond/Tirlemont.
Greetings

Alexander

[timothy]

I rather like these. Lovely chap. Never realised he was that old! People were just people - your friends - ageless.





= Tim

[Alexander]

tim,

Yes, It's F/O Soors!
Many thanks, I've never seen those pictures before.
Greetings from Belgium

Alexander

[timothy]

Or this? Tangmere 1943.





= Tim