Joseph Moureau

Joseph "Jeff" Moureau (Tienen, 13 April 1921 – Jette, 28 October 2020) was a Belgian fighter pilot of the 349th (Belgian) Squadron belonging to the Royal Air Force during World War II.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Joseph Moureau
Joseph Moureau in 2019 in a spitfire
Nickname(s)"Jeff"
Born13 April 1921
Tienen
Died28 October 2020 (aged 99)
Jette
AllegianceBelgium
United Kingdom
Battles/warsSecond World War
Other workCivilian pilot

Life

A few days after the German invasion in Belgium, in 1940, he fled, together with his twin brother, to England.[6][7] A few months after their arrival in England both brothers joined the British air force, applying to be pilots.[5] After an intense training both were assigned as spitfire fighter pilots in the 349th RAF squadron that was mainly formed by Belgian personnel. During his stay in this squadron Joseph had a severe accident, but he returned to his unit (without a medical clearance) right in time for D-Day.[7] During D-Day, Operation Overlord, on 6 June 1944, Joseph shot down a German Junker Ju 88 bomber.[1][4][5]

After World War II he came a civilian airline pilot and flew for over 30 years with different airplanes. He was the last living Belgian pilot that was active on D-Day. He passed away in 2020 aged 99.[2][4][5]

References
  1. Last Belgian military pilot to fly on D-Day passes away aged 99 brusselstimes.com, 29 October 2020
  2. Laatste Belgische militaire piloot die meevocht op D-Day is overleden hln.be, 29 oktober 2020, article in Dutch
  3. Joseph “Jeff” Moureau, the last Belgian pilot to fight on D-Day, has passed away worldwarbirdnews.com
  4. Laatste militaire piloot die meevocht op D-Day is overleden proximus.be, donderdag 29 oktober 2020, article in Dutch
  5. Laatste Belgische Spitfire-piloot, die meegevochten heeft op D-day, is overleden vrt.be, Luc De Roy, 29 oktober 2020, article in Dutch
  6. Belgische Luchtcomponent neemt met droefheid afscheid van ‘Jeff’ Moureau beldefnews.mil.be, Jo Vanden Broeck, 30 oktober 2020, article in Dutch
  7. Joseph Moureau youtube.com, Belgian Voices of the Sky, 4 februari 2020, interview in French/Dutch
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