The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. R J G Demoulin

Rene Jean Ghislain Demoulin, of Comblain-au-Pont, Liege, Belgium was born on 25th May 1920 and on completing his education joined the Belgian Air Force. He was serving with the 3rd Regiment, equipped with Fairey Foxes, when Belgium capitulated and he was able to escape through France, embarking at St. Jean-de-Luz and landing in Britain on 23rd June 1940.

After converting to Blenheims at 5 OTU Aston Down, he joined 235 Squadron on 5th August 1940 and served with it in the Battle of Britain.

On 19th July 1941 he flew from Edku, Egypt to Malta with 272 Squadron, operating Beaufighters. On the 28th he shared in damaging Z501s in an attack on the seaplane base at Marsala.

Commissioned in August 1941, Demoulin shared in damaging two Ju52s over the Gulf of Bomba on 24th September. Some time in 1942 he destroyed a Ju52. On 14th November that year he joined 171 Squadron and in January 1943 he was transferred in 349 (Belgian) Squadron in lkeja in Nigeria. Injured in February 1943, he was hospitalised in Freetown until June.

Demoulin was killed on 6th April 1944 as a Squadron Leader with 272 Squadron.

He took off from Alghero in Sardinia in Beaufighter X LZ488 ‘H’ to attack shipping. The aircraft came down in flames off Port-Vendres and Demoulin and F/Sgt. JS Barker were lost.

He was 23 and is remembered on the Malta Memorial, Panel 12, Column 2 and has a memorial grave at the Pelhouse d’Honneur in Brussels.

He held the Croix de Chevalier de l'Orde de Leopold avec Palme and the Croix de Guerre avec Palme et Lion.