A Rare Belgian Spitfire Pilot's Group of Nine to Pilot Officer G. Seydel, 350 Squadron and 349 Squadron, Royal Air Force, Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R, reverse dated 1945, with case of issue; Defence and War Medals; BELGIUM, Order of Leopold, breast Badge, silver and enamel, Order of the Crown, breast Badge, silver and enamel, with palm; Croix de Guerre, with three palms; Croix des Evadés; War Medal; LUXEMBURG, Croix de Guerre, the group good very fine, with recipient's original Pilot's Flying Log Book (23.11.1940-20.8.1946: entries include 19.8.1942 'one FW 190 dam. with F/S. Boute, one FW 190 dam.'...13.12.1943 'crashed in flames'...2.6.1944 '3 engines, 2 lorries, 2 cars fired at'...3.6.1944 '1 SP 88 Gun, 1 troop carrier, 3 cars, 2 lorries fired at'...4.6.1944 'what a convoy!!!'...6.6.1944 'hot reception from our own ships ... 15+ Ju 188's and 88's. Get 88' in my sight dead line astern canons jammed claim ½ damage'...7.6.1944 '5 FW 190 Sighted Fired 3 Burst at one (No 3) Claim 1 Damage' ... 8.6.1944 '9 FW 190 sighted chased last one destroyed. Shared with W/O Clarke' ... 26.7.1944 'Ran into 12+ Me 109 shot one down ... Squadron score 2 dest. 4 down.), together with Sheepskin Flying Jacket, leather Jerkin, and fleece lined leather Flying Boots, a small quantity of riband and riband bars, and two photographs

Details

A Rare Belgian Spitfire Pilot's Group of Nine to Pilot Officer G. Seydel, 350 Squadron and 349 Squadron, Royal Air Force, Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R, reverse dated 1945, with case of issue; Defence and War Medals; BELGIUM, Order of Leopold, breast Badge, silver and enamel, Order of the Crown, breast Badge, silver and enamel, with palm; Croix de Guerre, with three palms; Croix des Evadés; War Medal; LUXEMBURG, Croix de Guerre, the group good very fine, with recipient's original Pilot's Flying Log Book (23.11.1940-20.8.1946: entries include 19.8.1942 'one FW 190 dam. with F/S. Boute, one FW 190 dam.'...13.12.1943 'crashed in flames'...2.6.1944 '3 engines, 2 lorries, 2 cars fired at'...3.6.1944 '1 SP 88 Gun, 1 troop carrier, 3 cars, 2 lorries fired at'...4.6.1944 'what a convoy!!!'...6.6.1944 'hot reception from our own ships ... 15+ Ju 188's and 88's. Get 88' in my sight dead line astern canons jammed claim ½ damage'...7.6.1944 '5 FW 190 Sighted Fired 3 Burst at one (No 3) Claim 1 Damage' ... 8.6.1944 '9 FW 190 sighted chased last one destroyed. Shared with W/O Clarke' ... 26.7.1944 'Ran into 12+ Me 109 shot one down ... Squadron score 2 dest. 4 down.), together with Sheepskin Flying Jacket, leather Jerkin, and fleece lined leather Flying Boots, a small quantity of riband and riband bars, and two photographs

Lot Essay

INDENT Pilot Officer Gabriel Seydel was also entitled to 1939-45 Star and Air Crew Europe Star with France and Germany Bar. The Distinguished Flying Medal was not gazetted as the recipient was from an occupied country

Pilot Officer Gabriel "Gaby" Seydel D.F.C., born in Brussels, joined the Belgium Air Force 1939, and moved to France to complete his training; arrived at Cardiff 5 August 1940 and immediately joined the Royal Air Force; trained in Miles Magisters at Odiham, Hampshire and at Tern Hill, Shropshire and in Spitfires with 61 O.T.U. at Grangemouth, Scotland; joined 131 Squadron at Tern Hill then moved to R.A.F. Valley, Anglesey where a Belgian Squadron was formed; joined 350 Squadron and became operational 15 April 1942; completed three tours of operations and ammassed over 400 flying hours on Spitfires by April 1943 when he became Flight Commander with 349 Squadron; continued operational flying in Spitfires until October 1944 when he returned to 350 Squadron; by the end of the War Pilot Officer Seydel had flown a total of 935 hours in Spitfires of which 440 hours were operational. He was demobilised in August 1946.

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