The Hawker Tempest Page

Pilots » Tempest Pilots

Flight Lieutenant Remy van Lierde (DFC**)

Remy van Lierde
Born: Aug 14 1915
Died: June 8 1990

Remy "Mony" van Lierde
Van Lierde was born on August 14th 1915 in Overboelaere, Belgium, and enlisted in Aviation Militaire Belge on September 16 1935.

Career Details
He was first trained as an observer, but then became a pupil pilot with the 73e Promotion on May 1 1937. By 1940 he was a Sgt in 3e Escadrille/IIe Groupe/1eme Regiment flying FoxIIIs. He was shot down and wounded on May 16 1940. He escaped via France and Spain (where he was held in the Miranda concentration camp) and finally reached UK on July 20. On September 5th he joined RAFVR and in October he attended 57 OTU. He was then posted to 609 Squadron on January 9 1942, flying Typhoons.
He was awarded a DFC on June 25 1943, attended Central Gunnery School on December 22 and posted to Manston in February 1944 as a Gunnery Leader.

On April 20 1944 he joined 3 Squadron flying Tempests, where he operated against V-1s until August. He was awarded a Bar to his DFC in August. On August 20th he joined 164 Squadron and flew with this squadron until May 16 1945, when he was posted to 84 GSU. In July he was awarded a Second Bar to his DFC.

After the war he commanded a number of units; 350 Sqn (August 21 1945-), "A" Wing ex 160 Wing of the Belgian service (Nov 1 1946-), 7th Fighter Wing (December 1950-). He commanded Kamina Air Base in the Belgian Congo 1959-60, and in 1963 was on Staff of 7 Wing. In 1967 he commanded Chièvres Air Base, but retired as a Colonel on January 1 1968. Remy van Lierde's victories in World War 2 were 6 destroyed, 1 damaged, 1 destroyed on ground, 35 and shared V-1s.

He died at Lessines on June 8th 1990.

Most of Remy van Lierde's V-1s where claimed while flying his personal aircraft JF-Z(JN862). Note the three narrow bands at the spinner tip, they were probably painted in the Belgian national colours.

Wings Of Memory

On Thursday September 8 2011 Wings Of Memory, will hold a memorial and inaugurate a monument for the famous Belgian RAF pilot, Remy "Mony" Van Lierde (Buzzy for his squadron).

As Mony was born in Geraardsbergen, we thought this year, as the Belgian Air Force excists 65 years, would be a great moment to hold this memorial for our most famous WWII pilot. This memorial will also bring a tribute to all Belgian pilots and brave men that served in the RAF during WWII.

We already have full support of the Belgian Air Force (Flypast...), and also our Defence Ministry and the Royal Palace will be invited as Mony was for some time Aide to the former King Leopold III. The city of Geraardsbergen will do a great financial contribution, and give a reception at the Town Hall. The whole ceremony will take place between 10 and 12 am (final invitation and program will be mailed and sended later).

As this will probably be the first and only memorial of this kind held for a Belgian RAF pilot, we will invite a lot of people. One of our members is contacting the 609 Sqd, as it wouldf be great that the masquotte "Billy The Goat" could be present.

Dirk De Quick
Wings Of Memory

Sources:
Typhoon and Tempest Aces of World War 2 (Chris Thomas)
Aces High 2 by Christopher Shores

Dirk De Quick - Wings of Memory
This page was last updated 15 August 2011