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'Mike ' Donnet Michel (RAF n° 102522) |
Distinguished Flying Cross, Commander of the
Royal Victorian Order, Grand Officer in the Order of the Crown,
Commandeur in the Order of the Crown, Officer in the Order of the Crown with Palm, Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with 4
Palm, Croix des Évades,
Atlantic Star & Clasp, 1939 - 1943 Star,
Air Crew Europe Star with one Silver Rose, Defence
Medal,
Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur, Médaille de la France Liberéé, ... |
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| (André Bar Collection) |
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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. Baron Michel
Donnet is still living. He wrote several
books.
(Info: André Bar) | |
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His claims are : |
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30/03/1942 |
1 FW-190
Damaged |
(64 Sqn) Off
Ostend |
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30/03/1942 |
1 FW-190
Damaged |
(64 Sqn) Off
Ostend |
| 30/07/1942 |
1
FW-190 |
(64 Sqn) over
St-Omer forest |
| 04/08/1942 |
1 FW-190
Damaged |
(64 Sqn) Cap
Griz-Nez |
| 17/08/1942 |
1 FW-190
Damaged |
(64
Sqn) |
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29/08/1942 |
1 Me-109
Damaged |
(64 Sqn) |
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05/09/1942 |
1 Fw-190
Damaged |
(64 Sqn) |
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05/09/1942 |
1 Fw-190
Probable |
(64 Sqn) |
| 15/02/1943 |
1
FW-190 |
(64 Sqn) 10
miles east of Manston |
| 04/09/1943 |
1
FW-190 |
(64 Sqn) Off
Boulogne |
| 03/11/1943 |
1 Me-109
Probable |
(64 Sqn) Off
Dutch
Coast | | |
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