Jean Maridor

Jean Maridor, (24 November 1920 – 3 August 1944) was a French-born pilot with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He is credited with destroying at least three aircraft.

From Le Havre, Maridor joined the Armée de l'Air (French Air Force) in 1939. He had only just completed his training by the time his country surrendered to Germany in June 1940, following the invasion of France. He escaped to the United Kingdom and joined the RAF, being posted to No. 615 Squadron in 1941. Achieving his first aerial victory in October of that year, in February 1942 he was transferred to No. 91 Squadron. He went on to claim several more aerial victories. In the summer of 1944, No. 91 Squadron was involved in Operation Diver, the campaign against German-launched V-1 flying bombs that targeted the south of England. He destroyed several V-1s, and was killed on 3 August when attempting to prevent one from landing on a military hospital in the village of Benenden, in Kent.

Early life Jean Maridor was born on 24 November 1920 in Le Havre in France and, keen to fly since childhood, took flying lessons as a teenager. Once his formal education was completed, he worked as an apprentice hairdresser while continuing flying and when he was 18, gained his 'A' licence. He joined the Armée de l'Air (French Air Force) in May 1939 and had gained his wings by the time of the outbreak of the Second World War.

No. 91 Squadron was briefly rested from operations in April 1943 so it could reequip with Spitfire Mk XIIs but resumed operations the following month. Maridor destroyed a Fw 190 over the English Channel on 25 May, one of five claimed by the squadron that day, and shortly afterwards was rested. By this time he has been appointed to the French Order of Liberation as well as the Croix de Guerre and several palms.

In 1954, a memorial commemorating Maridor's sacrifice was placed at St George's Church in Benenden and a plaque in his honour was unveiled at Benenden School in November 2019, with the daughter of his fiancée present at the ceremony.