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Belgian airmen of 139e Wing / Mitchell II & III

From mid 1944, some Belgian airmen joined the Mitchell Squadrons. In preparation of D Day, the Royal Air Force grouped the B-25 squadrons to form 139 Wing within 2nd Tactical Air Force. The Belgian airmen flow in three squadrons of this Wing. We have a sentimental link with the 320 Squadron because the father of one of the promotor of our project flow with this squadron. 320 Squadron was formed from Royal Dutch Navy crews who escaped Netherlands in May 1940 with their Fokker TVIII. They immediately joined the Royal Air Force operations and operated in the Coastal

Command. 320 later joined the RAF Bomber Command. Mid 1943, 320 converted to the B-25 and later joined 139 Wing. In 1944-1945 both Dutch & Belgian crews flow together in the squadron. 139 Wing operated all along the liberation of Europe in support of the advancing troops,interdicting transport and destroying V-1 sites. The unit was based in Melsbroek from October 1944 and took a decisive part in the air raids to stop the Von Rundsteadt offensive in December 1944. 139 Wing moved to Netherlands and in 1945 to Germany. The three pictures are from the Eric Dessouroux collection. They were taken by members of a RAF

radiocommunication unit based in Melsbroek en 1945. The first one show a B-25J (Mitchell llI for the RAF), wearing a noseart, applied after 8/05/1945. It seems it is an aircraft of 320 Sq on a liaison flight from Germany to the UK. The second picture was taken above Brussels during the Summer 1945 from a B-25J. The place Meiser, Plasky avenue, Reyers Boulevard and Leopold III avenue are clearly visible. The last picture show a Mitchell displayed in the « parc du Cinquentenaire” in 1945 in front of the Royal Military Academy during a exposition organized by the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expedionary forces. Compiled by Eric Dessouroux

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320 Sqn Bases : 320 Became a bomber squadron on 15/3/1943, when posted to No 2 Group, Bomber Command at R.A.F Methwold. Methwold, Norfolk Mar 1943 Attlebridge, Norfolk Mar 1943 - Aug 1943 Lasham, Hants Aug 1943 – Feb 1944 Dunsfold, Surrey Feb 1944 – Oct 1944 Detached to Swanton Morley During May, 1944 Brussels/Melsbroek (B.58), Belgium Oct 1944 - May 1945 Advance 1 rear parties to Germany (Achmer (B110) on 1st & 2nd May Achmer (B110), Germany May, 1945 - Aug 1945

Main Equipment (Code letters "NO") North American Mitchell (Mar. 1943 - Aug 1945) e.g. Mk. II's & III's* serial nr FR 142 F FR 143 A FR 144 B FR 149 D FR 156 V (42-32343) FR 157 D FR160 J FR164 D FR167 V (4232353) FR173 J FR186 B FR189 F FR197 A FR200 F FV970 K FW212 J HD346 V HD358* J HD392* A KJ587* F KJ596* T

First operational Mission as a Straight Bomber Squadron 17 th Aug, 1943 : 5 Mitchells bombed railway marshalling yards at Calais & another Mitchell aborted. Last Operational Mission : 2nd May, 1945 : 11 Mitchells bombed railway marshalling yards at Itzehoe & another Mitchell aborted. Sources : Bomber Squadrons of the R.A.F and their aircraft edition 1976 According to another sources (B-25 Mitchell production list), HD 346 “V” was not delivered to 320 Sqn by sources another book

Piet Vanwynsberghe Below : One of the Mitchell II of the 320 Sq at Melsbroek in the Autumn 1944. Following page : A page from the Jean de Gobert.logbook (Collection de Gobert)

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Royal Museum of the ArmyBrussels Belgium www.klm-mra.be/ The Brussels Air Museum Foundation www.bamf.be The Brussels Air Museum Restoration Society

http://users.skynet.be/BAMRS/BAMRS.htm

http://www.benevoles-aviation-bruxelles.be/index.php?lang=en The list of the Belgian airmen who flow on the B-25 Mitchell has been published in

This booklet consists of 32 pages and lists all the Belgian airmen who flow on B-25 within 139 wings of the RAF. Each one is identified by his picture.

139 Wing – Belgian Airmen by André Bar.- French language - 32 pages 28 BW 4 colours ISSN 1782-3951.

To obtain your copy, please make a gift of 30 Euro minimum to the project

Brussels Air Museum Foundation a.s.b.l. (www.bamf.be) c/o Royal Army Museum Parc du Cinquantenaire/Jubelpark, 3 B-1000 Brussels

Bank Account ING 310-1844762-05 (mention “B-25 Project”)

IBAN BE96 3101 8447 6205 Code BIC: BBRUBEBB

All the benefits of this publication will be used to transport and restore your B-25.

http://www.bamfbamrs.be/B25/B25-en.htm