Jean Maridor is credited with destroying at least three aircraft.
14 Facts About Jean Maridor
1.
2.
From Le Havre, Maridor joined the Armee de l'Air in 1939.
3.
Jean Maridor had only just completed his training by the time his country surrendered to Germany in June 1940, following the invasion of France.
4.
Jean Maridor escaped to the United Kingdom and joined the RAF, being posted to No 615 Squadron in 1941.
5.
Jean Maridor went on to claim several more aerial victories.
6.
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.
7.
Jean Maridor joined the Armee de l'Air in May 1939 and had gained his wings by the time of the outbreak of the Second World War.
8.
Jean Maridor underwent training at St Athan and then Odiham before a posting to No 56 Operational Training Unit to gain experience on the Hawker Hurricane fighter.
9.
In February 1942 Jean Maridor was commissioned as a pilot officer and posted to No 91 Squadron.
10.
Jean Maridor was due to be married to Jean Lambourne, an officer in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, the following week.
11.
Originally buried near London, after the war Jean Maridor's remains were re-interred at the Sainte-Marie cemetery, in Le Havre.
12.
Jean Maridor probably destroyed two more aircraft and damaged three others.
13.
Jean Maridor is credited with the destruction of 11 V-1s.
14.
In 1954, a memorial commemorating Jean 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 fiancee present at the ceremony.