Rene Mouchotte French RAF Pilot

[Guest]

Extract form BBC web site. Read the Mouchotte Diaries

Laurie

René Mouchotte was a Spitfire ace who was killed in battle at the age of 29.

In three years of action with the RAF, he completed more than 380 sorties and became the first Frenchman to lead an RAF squadron.

He also shared the credit for shooting down Biggin Hill's 1,000th enemy plane in 1943.

In 2007 former BBC newsreader Jan Leeming sponsored his name on the Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne, near Folkestone.

It was the beginning of a quest to find out more about the death of the pilot which has been shrouded in confusion and mystery.

Jan Leeming uncovers fresh revelations about the pilot's death and follows his remarkable story.

Inside Out South East is on BBC One on Monday, 28 January at 19:30 GMT and nationwide on the iPlayer for seven days thereafter.

Credits: Archive film courtesy and copyright of British Pathe. Photographs are by kind permission of the Mouchotte family.

[Dave W]

Sounds interesting.i will have to watch that.

[flyjoe180]

I finished reading Alan Deere's autobiography "Nine Lives' again last week. Deere talked about the 1,000th Biggin Hill victory in Chapter 17, and Mouchette's death in Chapter 18.

On 15th May 1943 Deere felt this was the day that the Wing would score it's 1,000th German aircraft, so he invited the NZ War Correspondent in London and a friend to come out to witness the event. He also invited Group Captain 'Sailor' Malan along for the sweep, who accepted.

Twelve Boston bombers were to attack Caen airfield and the Biggin Wing was acting as withdrawal cover. As the bombers crossed the coast on their way back to England there were no signs of any German fighters.

But no, just below and to my left two FW190s appeared climbing hard from out of the haze. As Jack Charles was leading the section on that side I ordered him down to attack. He was quick to take advantage of the opportunity, and I saw him sliding in behind the Huns as they disappeared from my view underneath the formation.

"Tally ho, going down, Grass Seed Red" Rene's voice came over the R/T.

"You've got him, Jack."

"Good show, Grass Seed Leader," Boudier's voice followed so closely on the excited victory chant of Jack's number two that the kills must have been almost simultaneous.

"Turban Yellow Leader to Brutus, both enemy aircraft destroyed," in a matter of fact voice Jack announced his kills.

"I too have one, Brutus," Rene, not to be outdone, announced his victory.

The wing returned to Biggin Hill. Unable to determine who scored the 1,000th kill, Deere and 'Spy' consulted with 'Sailor' Malan. 'Sailor' was a little annoyed he hadn't been sent to engage the German fighters, but determined that the 1,000th victory would be shared between Jack Charles and Rene Mouchette. The reward of 300 pounds was divided between them.

Thus it came about that the 1,000th enemy aircraft destroyed by pilots operating from Biggin Hill was shared by a Canadian and a Frenchman, while a South African station commander and a New Zealand wing leader looked on.

On 27th August Al Deere suffered an engine failure on take off, and unable to lead the sortie, handed command to Rene Mouchette. The mission was one of the first attacks against the V1 sites by Fortresses.

It was fate that my engine should have failed on this particular operation and fate that Rene should have been called upon to take over the lead. In the ensuing engagement over the target, Rene went down in the first attack, never to be heard of again.

His epitaph was written by his own hand: "If I am not to survive this war, let me at least have the satisfaction of falling to the enemy's fire."

Rene Mouchette's body was found later in a grave in Middlekirk, In Belgium, where it had been laid to rest by the local residents who had found the body on a beach, washed there by the tides. His body was repatriated in October 1944 and buried in the family vault in Paris.

[Guest]

you've got my attention ...sounds interesting, i love stuff like this, history about people .. not things .. proper archaeology at it's best (it's not all about the treasure ) !!

i-player it is then

[Guest]

Read Rene's Diaries Colin they are very interesting & give a different side from a Frenchman.

Not to be confused with another RAF Frenchman Pierre Clostermann who, although obviously brave, I found in his book to be a braggat about his achievements.

Another war diary. My next read after I have finished George Millar's Maquis is the Lord Alan Brook War diaries in which he tells of his close & sometimes raw times advising Churchill as CIGS & top British Soldier. My 3 time of re reading.

Laurie

[BarryW]

It was an interesting programme. All the more so for me because the historian who Jan Leeming interviewed in the programme, Mark, lives next door to my lady - we babysat for him a bit over a week ago!!