Belgian airmen of 139e Wing / Mitchell II & III

From mid 1944, some 320 Squadron was Europe in support of the
Belgian airmen joined formed from Royal advancing
the Mitchell Dutch Navy crews who troops,interdicting
Squadrons. In escaped Netherlands in transport and destroying V-
preparation of D Day, May 1940 with their 1 sites.
the Royal Air Force Fokker TVIII. They
grouped the B-25 immediately joined the The unit was based in
squadrons to form 139 Royal Air Force Melsbroek from October
Wing within 2nd Tactical operations and 1944 and took a decisive
Air Force. The Belgian operated in the Coastal part in the air raids to stop
airmen flow in three Command. 320 later the Von Rundsteadt
squadrons of this joined the RAF Bomber offensive in December
Wing. Command. 1944. 139 Wing moved to
Netherlands and in 1945 to
We have a sentimental Mid 1943, 320 Germany.
link with the 320 converted to the B-25
Squadron because the and later joined 139 The three pictures are from
father of one of the Wing. In 1944-1945 the Eric Dessouroux
promotor of our project both Dutch & Belgian collection. They were taken
flow with this crews flow together in by members of a RAF
squadron. the squadron. radiocommunication unit
139 Wing operated all based in Melsbroek en
along the liberation of 1945.

A B-25 Back in Belgium 1

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

A B-25 Back in Belgium 2

A B-25 Back in Belgium 3
A B-25 Back in Belgium 4
320 Sqn
Bases : First operational Mission as
320 Became a bomber a Straight Bomber
squadron on Squadron
15/3/1943, when Main Equipment
posted to No 2 Group, 17 th Aug, 1943 : 5
Bomber Command at (Code letters
Mitchells bombed railway
R.A.F Methwold. "NO") marshalling yards at Calais
& another Mitchell aborted.
North American Mitchell
Methwold, Norfolk (Mar. 1943 - Aug 1945) Last Operational Mission :
Mar 1943 e.g. Mk. II's & III's* 2nd May, 1945 : 11
Attlebridge, Norfolk Mitchells bombed railway
Mar 1943 - Aug serial nr marshalling yards at
1943 Itzehoe
Lasham, Hants FR 142 F & another Mitchell aborted.
Aug 1943 – Feb FR 143 A
1944 FR 144 B Sources : Bomber
Dunsfold, Surrey FR 149 D Squadrons of the R.A.F and
Feb 1944 – Oct FR 156 V (42- their aircraft edition 1976
1944 32343)
Detached to Swanton FR 157 D According to another
Morley During May, FR160 J sources (B-25
1944 FR164 D Mitchell production list),
Brussels/Melsbroek FR167 V HD 346 “V” was not
(B.58), Belgium (4232353) delivered to 320 Sqn by
Oct 1944 - May FR173 J sources another book
1945 FR186 B
Advance 1 rear parties FR189 F
FR197 A  Piet
to Germany (Achmer
(B110) on 1st & 2nd FR200 F Vanwynsberghe
May FV970 K
Achmer (B110), FW212 J
Germany May, HD346 V Below : One of the
1945 - Aug 1945 HD358* J Mitchell II of the
HD392* A 320 Sq at
KJ587* F
KJ596* T
Melsbroek in the
Autumn 1944.
Following page : A
page from the
Jean de

A B-25 Back in Belgium 5

A B-25 Back in Belgium 6
A B-25 Back in Belgium 7
A B-25 Back in Belgium 8
 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.

A B-25 Back in Belgium 9

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

www.bamf.be

www.bamf.be

www.bamf.be

www.bamf.be
www.bamf.be

A B-25 Back in Belgium 10