Georges Eduouard Louis Leon BACKAERT 7 (P) AFU Killed 12/4/1944

[paulmcmillan]

I have the following

BACKAERT Georges Eduouard Louis Leon #1424876 RAF Pilot under Training Flt/Sgt 7(P)AFU DoB 06/01/1924 DoD 12/04/1944 Killed in "Spitfire" Master ? accident 12.4.44 nr Peterborough. Formerly buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, England. Body repatriated to Belgium.

Can anyone Id the actual aircraft I have it listed as Spitfire but believe it may be a Master Thanks Paul

[Luc Vervoort]

Hi,

This student pilot (born on 6/01/1924 Bejing/China) was killed aboard Miles Master II DL177. (Source: Gebroken Vleugels van de Belgische Luchtvaart p.151).

Best regards from Belgium

Luc

[paulmcmillan]

Luc

Thanks for that as looks like Gebroken Vleugels van de Belgische Luchtvaart is a bok I need to get BTW can you let me know what it says (if anything) about

BLANKSTEIN Marcel L. M. 162403 RAFVR Pilot F/O SAAF/UK 107 Sqn. DoB 20/10/1914 DoD 04/11/1945 - Like aircrfat and his full names?

Thnaks

[davew]

I think the serial should read DM177

regards
DaveW

[Luc Vervoort]

Hi,

DL177 is mentioned twice on page 151 as the Master involved in the accident, but it is possible that it is a typo.

The same book mentions Marcel Blankstein on page 160. As date of birth is mentioned 20/10/1919. He was in Congo during May 1940 and joined the British Army in Africa, later he joined the SAAF and became a pilot in 1943. He arrived in February 1944 in the UK and joined the RAF. He was killed during the landing of a delivery flight, flying a Mosquito of 107 Squadron.

Other sources mention different information : the pilot made unauthorised aerobatics during a ferry flight and was killed. He is buried at Evere. They mention as full name Max Leon Blankstein (162403). He was flying Mosquito VI HR189 of 107 Squadron.

Perhaps the ORB of 107 Squadron can confirm one of both versions.

Beste regards
Luc

[paulmcmillan]

Luc thanks

The Serial of Mosquito allowed he to get a hit on the circumstances - Ferry Flight and unauthorized aerobatic

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?3444-Mosquito-HR189

His RAF Overseas death register shows his names as Marcel, but as his initials are MLM BLANKSTEIN mabe his fullname was Marcel Lean Max BLANKSTEIN but known as 'Max'

Paul

[paulmcmillan]

It was DM177 As DL177 went to South Africa Air Force


Source AB Serials