Bidspirit auction | ES10c Escape by Air from

ES10c Escape by Air from Belgium Signed 2 involved L Divoy and M Donnet in 1941. 13 6 75 Overijse Special Echappes de Belgique. Cover depicts Cadet Pilots Divoy and Donnet approaching Thorpe le Soken in their stolen Stame SV4B, RAFES badge and Belgian Air Force Pilot's Wings. Blue flown cachet. On 14th June 1975 this escape was recalled when they flew again flew a Stampe SV4B from Coxyde, Belgium, Via Calais, Southend on Sea to Thorpe Le Soken flight time 1hr 48 mins Pilot Lt Gen Baron Michael Donnet. In July 1941 Cadet Pilots Leon Divoy ( Pilot ) and Michael Donnet ( Co Pilot ) escaped from Belgium in a rebuilt Stampe SV4B from Terbloc to Thorpe Le Soken. Both joined the RAF. Personally Signed by Cdt Leon Divoy and Lt Gen Baron Michel Donnet. Leon Divoy was involved in a mid-air collision 4th April 1942 when on patrol together over St Omer, and escaped by Parachute only to be captured became a POW in Stalag Luft 3 Zagen and was active in many escapers. After WW11 became a Sabena Airline Pilot. Michael Donnet In the second World War took part in the campaign of May 1940 with the 9th reconnaissance squadron. Prisoner of War from 1st June 1940 and was re-patriated to Belgium on the 10th January1941 after passing through 11 different prisoners camps. On the night of the 4th /5th July 1941, he escaped from occupied Belgian in a training aircraft which had been kept in a heavily guarded German Ammunition depot. . Having arrived in great Britain he joined the RAF on the 26 July 1941. He underwent fighter training in No 61 operation training unit and on the 6th September was posted to No 64 fighter squadron, equipped with Spitfires. In this Sqn took part in fighter operational missions from September 1941 to November 1943. He commanded No 64 Sqn from March 1943 until November 1943. He took part in the operations against the cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, in the Dieppe Operation and in the provision of fighter escort for the first of the United States Flying Fortresses missions. . in March 1944 appointed to command No 350 sqn, which was the first Belgian Sqn formed in Great Britain. As commander of the Sqn took part notably in the support operations for the landings in Normandy, operations against the flying bomb, the Arnhem operation and in fighter escort of strategic bombers. November 1944 promoted to Wing Commander and appointed to command the Hawkinge Wing comprising Nos 432, 440 (Canadian)450 (Australian)and 611 Squadrons. Total offensive operation undertaken by General Donnet were 375, comprising 615 operational flying hours. He was credited with 4 victories and 5 enemy aircraft damaged. He took part in the destruction of enemy vehicles, locomotives, ships and submarines. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Croix de Guerre. . Good condition Est.