On August 16, 2013, Wings of Memory organized a commemoration ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the death of Jean de Selys Longchamps. The commemoration took place at Minster-in-Thanet Cemetery (UK) in collaboration with the local authorities, the Belgian Air Force, the Ministry of Defence, No. 3 and 609 Squadrons, the Air Cadets, the Royal British Legion, and the RAFA.
Among those present were the Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, Sybille de Selys Longchamps, and her family, as well as former CHOD General Van Caelenberge. The commemoration was enhanced by a flypast by a BBMF Spitfire, a Typhoon from No. 3 Squadron, and F-16s from the Belgian Air Force.
It was a particularly honoring and meaningful day for all those present and for Wings of Memory.
In November 2015, Wings of Memory was invited by the community of Minster to attend the commemoration of Flt/Lt Baron Jean de Selys Longchamps. After a procession through the streets of Minster and a Protestant service, tributes were paid at the cemetery. On Wednesday, August 16, 2023, a delegation from Wings of Memory was again present at the commemoration of the crash of Flt/Lt Baron Jean de Selys Longchamps. Fighter pilot Jean died exactly 80 years ago at Manston airfield after his aircraft was hit during a raid over Ostend.
Wings of Memory began this commemoration ten years ago. Meanwhile, the Memorial Ceremony is organized by the community of Minster. 609 Squadron, Wings of Memory, the Belgian Air Force, the 609 Squadron Association, Kent County Council, and the de Selys Longchamps family were represented.
Baron Jean Michel Paul de Selys Longchamps (Brussels, May 31, 1912 – killed in action in Manston, August 16, 1943) was a Belgian fighter pilot who fought for the Royal Air Force in World War II. Selys is best known for his attack on Gestapo headquarters in Brussels. Jean de Selys Longchamps’s sister and brothers were also active in the Resistance.
