Michel Donnet

Second World War

On 1 March 1938, he joined the Aviation Militaire Belge (Belgian Army Air Force). On 26 March 1939, he was commissioned as sergeant-pilot, and on 1 March 1940 he signed for a further three years' service. Donnet flew Renard R.31 reconnaissance aircraft with the 9/V/1Aé (9th Escadrille of the First Aviation Regiment) at Bierset. After the German invasion on 10 May 1940, he flew sorties during the 18-day campaign. On 1 June 1940, he was taken POW (Prisoner of war) by German ground forces when Belgium capitulated, and he was held in camps in Germany and France. On 10 January 1941, he was repatriated to Belgium.

Flight to freedom

After release in German-occupied Belgium, he met his former colleague sergeant-pilot Léon Divoy, and they briefly planned to build an aircraft with which to escape to England. Their search for a propeller suggested that there was one still attached to a complete stored aeroplane. That proved to be a Stampe et Vertongen SV-4B (OO-ATD) which was owned by Baron Thierry d'Huart. It was stored in a locked small hangar at his chateau at Terbloc, where German troops were stationed. With the help of many trusted friends and the Belgian Resistance, Donnet and Divoy spent four months preparing their plan. It involved bicycle rides of three hours from Stockel to Terbloc and return at night, improvisation of flying instruments, obtaining scarce petrol, and testing systems. Divoy had won the toss to pilot the SV-4B, but Donnet had access to dual controls to assist Divoy. On 19 May 1941, they planned to fly, but the engine failed to start, and they abandoned that first attempt. More work delayed the second attempt, but finally at 0245 on 5 July 1941, they took off and headed approximately WNW towards the coast. After narrowly avoiding a searchlight, the engine stopped, but eventually picked up again. After about two hours' flying, they sighted land during sunrise, but the geography did not match the intended destination in Kent. The engine started running roughly, so they landed at the nearest suitable landing area in a field. They quickly confirmed that they were in England, and headed on foot towards the nearest police station that turned out to be at Thorpe-le-Soken, near Clacton, Essex. The Stampe SV-4B was later camouflaged and marked 'J7777', then impressed into service with No. 24 Sqn and then No. 510 Sqn, finally marked MX457 and nominally based at RAF Hendon. In 1945, it was returned to its owner Thierry d'Huart in Belgium.

RAF service

On 26 July 1941, Donnet was accepted by the RAF Volunteer Reserve. On 27 July 1941, with Léon Divoy, he joined No. 61 OTU (Operational Training Unit) at RAF Heston where as a Pilot Officer he converted to operation of Spitfires. On 7 September 1941, he was briefly posted to No. 143 Squadron RAF.

64 Squadron

On 15 September 1941, he was posted to 64 Sqn at RAF Turnhouse, flying Spitfire Mk.IIs on patrols and escorting shipping convoys in the North Sea, including some detachments to RAF Drem. On 17 November 1941, the squadron relocated to RAF Hornchurch with Spitfire Mk. Vs. His time there was spent on dogfighting exercises, escort for bomber missions, ground attacks on occupied Belgian airfields, and combat against Focke-Wulf Fw 190s. In April 1942, the squadron moved to RAF Rochford (Southend). On 4 April, he saw his friend Léon Divoy collide with another Spitfire during the same mission; Divoy baled out, and spent the rest of the war as a POW. Donnet flew further missions against Fw 190s from RAF Hornchurch, and in July 1942 he converted to Spitfire Mk. IXs. On 21 July 1942, he was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre, and soon afterwards achieved his first confirmed kill against a Fw 190. On 19 August 1942, he took part in escorting USAAF B-17s during the Dieppe Raid. On 2 September 1942, he was assigned to take over command of 'A' flight of 64 Squadron. On 19 February 1943, he was awarded the DFC (UK), after he had completed 100 sorties. On 26 March 1943, he was promoted to Acting Squadron Leader of 64 Squadron, flying Spitfire Mk. Vs from RAF Ayr, for escort duties and ship deck-landing training. On 7 August 1943, the squadron moved to RAF Friston. On 5 November 1943, he was posted to a Fighter Leaders' course, and then on 19 November 1943 to No. 52 OTU.

350 Squadron

On 23 March 1944 Donnet was posted as Squadron Leader of No. 350 Squadron (composed of Belgian pilots), flying Spitfire IXs from RAF Peterhead, then in April from RAF Friston. On 6 June 1944, during the Normandy landings (D-day), he led the squadron in providing continuous fighter cover over the beachhead. In July 1944, the squadron moved to RAF Westhampnett. On 8 August 1944, he moved with the squadron to RAF Hawkinge, flying Spitfire XIVs against V-1 flying bombs. On 3 September 1944, he learned that Belgium had been liberated, and next day he led a celebratory formation of 12 Spitfires over Brussels. On 29 September 1944, the squadron moved to RAF Lympne.

Wing Commander

On 23 October 1944, he was posted as Wing Commander of No. 132 Sqn and No. 441 Sqn at RAF Hawkinge, flying Spitfire IXs. In February 1945, he was posted as Wing Commander of three RAF squadrons, No. 64 Sqn, No. 126 Sqn and No. 234 Sqn at RAF Bentwaters, flying Mustang IIIs on bomber escort duties. In August 1945, he studied at the RAF Staff College. On 21 March 1945, he was posted to RAF Fersfield with No. 64 Sqn and No. 132 Sqn, for escort duties with Mosquitos of No. 140 Wing on Operation Carthage over Copenhagen. During his war period, Donnet flew 375 missions, shot down four enemy aircraft confirmed, and damaged at least another five.

Postwar

After the war, he was posted to the Belgian Ministry of Defense to reorganise the Belgian Air Force, and to update it with aircraft such as Gloster Meteor and Republic F-84. He then led the HQ of No. 83 Group RAF, he became commander of Allied Air Forces Central Europe and then Commander of HQ of 2 TAF. He took presidency of the direction committee of project NADGE (Integrated NATO Air Defense System) and afterwards became Military Attaché at the Belgian Embassy in London. He was a member of the Military committee of NATO. On 1 July 1975, he retired from the Belgian Air Force as a Lieutenant General, having flown over 5,000 hours.

Awards

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, 1939–45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star with one Silver Rose, Defence Medal, Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur, Médaille de la France libérée.

Personal life

Michel was a son of Jean Georges Hyacinthe Marie Donnet (1888 - 1957) and Mariquita Jeanne Françoise Eyben (1891 - 1979). Jean Donnet was a refrigeration contractor who served in World War One as a volunteer with the Belgian army engineer corps. Michel Donnet married Jacqueline 'Kiki' Gautier (b. 1925). They had four daughters (Anne, Marie, Therese, Claire) and one son (Jean). He died on 31 July 2013, at Waterloo, Belgium.