Governor honours downed fighter ace

Sunday 12 November 2017

A Belgian pilot who was killed when his aircraft crashed into a St Ouen farmhouse in 1944 has been honoured by the Lieutenant-Governor.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton placed a cross at a memorial to Squadron-Leader Henri Gonay (pictured), a Battle-of-Britain veteran who was killed on 14 June, just a few days after D-Day.

The pilot had been leading an eight-plane attack on a shipping convey south of Jersey. On his return to the UK, he saw targets in the Island but was hit by machine gun fire, most likely from Corbière.

Pictured: A CCF cadet (left) who lives near to the crash site listens, as Bernie Morel tells his tale to the Lieutenant-Governor and St Ouen Constable Michael Paddock.

His damaged RAF Typhoon fighter flew north-west but more flak from German forces – the last from Morville Farm in St Ouen – brought it down in Grantez at around 9 am.

Gathering around the memorial on Saturday included parishioners with a direct link to the crash 73 years ago. Bernie Morel (78) was living at the farmhouse in 1944, although he was fortunately not at home when Sqn-Ldr Gonay crashed. Brian Follain’s family also lived in the property. He was being bathed by his mother at the time but the drone of the aircraft’s final decent allowed everyone to escape.

Pictured: St Ouen Rector Ian Pallent led the short service.

Mr Morel said: “Being an RAF man, His Excellency was particularly interested to hear the story of Sqn-Ldr Gonay and that fateful day. Henri Gonay was a highly decorated pilot – one of thousands of servicemen from occupied countries who joined the war effort against the Nazis. While we rightly honour British sacrifices at this time of year, I think it’s also important to remember the fact that Britain has rarely fought wars alone.”