Jean de Selys Longchamps

Bust of Selys Longchamps in front of his target, the former Gestapo headquarters, looking up along his attack path. The Hawker Typhoon figure shows the distinctive cannon.

Commemorative plaque affixed to the target building, showing de Selys Longschamps' military rank of Captain (Belgian Army) and Flying officer (Royal Air Force).

Baron Jean Michel P.M.G. de Selys Longchamps DFC (31 May 1912 – 16 August 1943) was a Belgian aristocrat and RAF fighter pilot during World War II. He is chiefly known for his single-handed attack on the Gestapo headquarters in Brussels in German-occupied Belgium.

Early life

Baron Jean de Selys Longchamps, DFC was born into Belgian nobility, historically residing in Longchamps Castle (now a gîte) in Borgworm near Liège. He inherited the title of baron from his father, Baron . He dropped out of the Catholic University of Leuven and then started his professional career as a bank clerk.

Early military career

At the outbreak of the war, Selys Longchamps was drafted into the Belgian Army, in which he was commissioned as a cavalry officer with the 1er Régiment des Guides. He managed to escape with the British forces from Dunkirk, only to return to France shortly after and be faced with France's capitulation. He tried to join the allies again by way of Morocco, where he was arrested by the Vichy French authorities and sent into internment in Marseille. He escaped and travelling via Francoist Spain, was able to reach Britain, where he – after purporting to be younger than his age of 28 – was accepted for flight training with the RAF. He was posted to No. 609 Squadron RAF, and flying Hawker Typhoons quickly made a name as an able and aggressive pilot.

Attack on the Gestapo headquarters in Brussels

Immediately upon the fall of Belgium on May 10, 1940, the Gestapo commandeered Résidence Belvédère, a luxurious Art Deco apartment building located at 453 Avenue Louise in Brussels as its headquarters, and tortured prisoners in its cellars. He was soon after awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions. Some resistance sources claimed a death toll as high as thirty, while the Nazis admitted four fatalities and five serious injuries.

Death

On August 16, 1943, Selys Longchamps was killed while attempting to land at RAF Manston, his landing gear having been damaged by German Flak during a mission over Ostend.

Honours and awards

Knight of the order of Leopold (posthumous) War cross WWII with palm Distinguished flying cross (United Kingdom)

Family

Jean's brother, , was the father of Baroness Sybille de Selys Longchamps, the former mistress of King Albert II, with whom she had a daughter, Princess Delphine (who since October 2020 can legally bear the title of "Her Royal Highness"). Her legal name though is now Delphine Saxe-Coburg.