Date of birth:

December 1st, 1915 (London, Great Britain)

Date of death:

November 9th, 1984 (Brussels, Belgium)

Nationality:

Belgian

Count Yvan Du Monceau de Bergendael was born on 10 December 1915 at Fullham (London). After his studies in Malonne he joins the army in 1936 and converts to the Belgian Air Force in 1937.
He was at the Flying School at Tirlemont when war broke out. The school evacuated to Oujda, Morocco. There with some fellows he boards the ship David Livingstone in Casablanca and sails to England.
He completed his training at the Suton Bridge OTU and joined No. 253 Squadron. In April 1941, he was posted to No. 609 Squadron. He became flight commander with No. 350 (Belgian) Suadron in March 1942. From December 1942 till May 1943, he was instructor at the OTU in Rednal. He then took command of 3No. 49 (Belgian) Squadron, which was newly-formed. He was posted to Canada, then in the US and returned to Europe in 1945 at the Staff of the Belgian Section of the RAF. He ends the war with 8 confirmed victories.
He became Aide de Camp of his HRH Prince Charles, Regent of Belgium with the rank of Major. He acted then as Military Attaché in Washington and returned to Belgium in 1952 to form the 10th Wing at Chièvres. He went to the 2 ATAF as Colonel. He became Staff member, Commander of Training Command and finally Commander of the Tactical Air Force, retiring as Major General in 1973. He died of cancer on 9 November 1984.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 2nd, 1942

Has participated in many operational sorties during which he has destroyed 4 aircraft and damaged 2."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 25th, 1944

Citation:
"This officer has participated in a very large number of operational sorties during which he has destroyed at least three enemy aircraft and damaged others."

Second DFC awarded as a bar for on the ribbon of the first DFC.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

19th May, 1942: receives 1 Palm to his Croix de Guerre.
19th September 1942: receives a further 2 Palms to his Croix de Guerre.
24th September 1942: receives a further 1 Palm to his Croix de Guerre
12th January, 1943: receives a further 2 Palms to his Croix de Guerre.
1st October 1945: receives Lion de Bronze to his croix de Guerre and 7 Palms.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Aeropedia website
• Photo: Aeropedia
  
• - Aeropedia
  - Cieldegloire
  - Belgische Defensie
  - Les Vieilles Tiges
  - World War 2: 350 (Belgian) Squadron