Remy Van Lierde

Colonel Remy Van Lierde, (14 August 1915 – 8 June 1990) was a Belgian pilot and fighter ace who served in the aviation branch of the Belgian Army and the British Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War, shooting down six enemy aircraft and 44 V-1 flying bombs, and achieving the RAF rank of squadron leader. Returning to the Belgian Air Force in 1946, Van Lierde was made Deputy Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defense in 1954. In 1958 he became one of the first Belgians to break the sound barrier while test flying a Hawker Hunter at Dunsfold Aerodrome in England. He went on to hold several important commands before retiring in 1968.

He is also known for purportedly sighting a giant snake in the Katanga region of the Belgian Congo.

Early life Van Lierde was born in Overboelare, Belgium, on 14 August 1915.

Early career and outbreak of war Van Lierde entered the Aviation Militaire Belge ("Belgian Military Aviation", the predecessor of the Belgian Air Force) on 16 September 1935. He first trained as an observer, but began pilot training on 1 May 1937, qualifying in April 1938. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 1st Aviation Regiment. He was shot down by flak on 16 May 1940, was wounded and captured. Van Lierde was staying in hospital during two weeks and could not take part in the further fighting because on 28 May Belgium surrendered.

In September 1940, after recovering from his injuries, Van Lierde left Belgium, crossed occupied France, and entered neutral Spain. He was arrested for illegally crossing the border, and was confined in various Spanish prisons, including the notorious concentration camp at Miranda de Ebro. Nevertheless, he eventually escaped, and reached England on 22 July 1941.

Van Lierde died at Lessines on 8 June 1990.

Van Lierde described the snake as being close to in length, with a circumference of . Van Lierde claimed it to be a dark shade of brown and green with a white coloured belly with a head measuring long and wide, and that the jaws were of a triangular shape.

Additionally, he claimed that as he flew lower for a closer inspection, the snake rose up approximately , giving the impression it would have attacked the helicopter if it had been within striking range.