Date of birth:

April 17th, 1915 (London, Great Britain)

Date of death:

August 8th, 1950 (Schaffen Airbase, Belgium)

Buried on:

Field of Honour Brussels City Cemetery

Service number:

82161

Nationality:

Belgian

Victor Ortmans, also known as Victor Ogilvie, was born in London after his familiy had fled from the violence of World War One. Following the armistice of 1918, the family moved back to Belgium. In 1935 he is called in for compulsary military service. He trains as an observer, graduating in 1937 but enrolls in pilot training afterwards. After having received his wings, he returns to 3ième Régiment Aéronautique and signs up for an additional year of service in 1939. November 20th, 1939 he is promoted to sub-lieutenant (reserve) and takes the oath as officer on January 4th, 1940.
In May 1940 he flies various reconnaissance missions over enemy lines. After airbase Schaffen has been bombed the same month, Ortmans assists in rescueing the casualties. With he unit he retreats to Lonzée by Dinant, Charleroi and Aalter. May 18th, 1940 he crosses the French border ending up in Noirant-Fontés, Tours, Lunel and Mauguio (Montpellier).
July 7th, 1940 he arrives in England after having fled France by way of Port Vendres and is immediately taken up into the Belgian Forces in England. He receives additional training at 7 OTU in Hawarden and subsequently is posted to 229 Squadron on August 4th. He takes part in the Battle of Britain with this squadron. He is transferred to 609 Squadron on April 15th, 1941.
He is shot down on September 21st, 1941, ditches in the North Sea and floats around in his dinghy for two days.
He is taken prisoner by the German and remains in hospital in St. Omer, France until November 24th, 1941. Between November 30th, 1941 until May 10th, 1942 he is in a hospital in Frankfurt, Germany and following a stay in the sickbay of Stalag VIIIC he ends up in the famous Stalag Luft III in Sagan in Poland. On VE-day he is repatriated to RAF Cosford Station and on September 18th, 1945 he is posted to 349 Squadron.
In May 1946, he serves as an instructor in the Belgian Training School at Bevingen. September 17th, 1946 he goes on unpaid leave and joins SABENA. He flies civil aircraft until August 8th, 1950, when he crashes while on a demonstration flight in an Auster and is killed instantly.

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• Photo 1: Vicky Couke
• - SHORES, CH. & WILLIAMS, C., Aces High, Grub Street, London, 1994.
  - Ciel de Glore
  - De Vieiles Tiges van de Belgische Luchtvaart
  - Aeropedia
  - 609 (WR) Squadron
  

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