3 July 1916 – 22 January 1942

Jean Offenberg was born at Laeken, Brussels in Belgium on 3 July 1916.
He joined the Aeronautique Militaire and was a pupil pilot in the 77^e Promotion of the Aviation Militaire Belge. He graduated on 1 March 1938, trained as a fighter pilot, and was posted to 4/II/2 at Nivelles in March 1939, equipped with Fairey Firefly biplanes.

During the night of 8/9 September 1939, six Whitleys of 77 Squadron and six from 102 Sqadron took off from England to undertake leaflet dropping operations over Germany. Two Whitleys from 77 Squadron strayed over Belgium on their return. Duty pilots at Nivelles fighter base were alerted when the incursions were first reported, and shortly afterwards Captain Lucien Boussa of the 5^e Escadrille of Flight Regiment 2 took off in a Fairey Fox, joined by two Fairey Fireflies of the 4^e Escadrille, piloted by Daniel Leroy du Vivier and Marcel Michotte. The trio intercepted one Whitley and Boussa fired a burst in front of its nose in an effort to force it to land. Instead the Whitley's gunner returns fire, hitting Leroy du Vivier’s Firefly obliging him to make a forced landing forthwith at 06:00.
Another Fairey Fox flown by Boussa's No 2, Adjutant Albert Genot with Corporal Roger Alaffe as his gunner, had now also got off the ground and pursued another bomber signalling, its position by radio. A white Verey light was fired at the bomber which replied with a red and continued on its way. Genot drew off and like Boussa fired a burst across the Whitley’s bows. This aircraft too returned fire, hitting the Fox in the tail and rear fuselage and setting it on fire. The crew baled out as the stricken aircraft went down to crash on the estate of Count Gaston d’Oultrement at Nouvelles at 06:00. Genot was wounded in the hand, and Alaffe broke his right shoulder on landing.
It would seem that their opponent was Whitley K8951 (Flight Lieutenant Connell), the crew of which reported shooting down a fighter. The bomber was itself damaged in this encounter and went on to crash-land at Lognes, France, the pilot having suffered a slight head wound (the aircraft was later repaired).
Meanwhile on the ground the news of the interceptions was out and two more pilots (this time from the 4^e Escadrille), Alexis Jottard and Sous-Lieutenant Offenberg pulled on flying suits over their pyjamas, taking off in their Fireflies to join in. They soon spotted Whitley DY-J (K8985) flown by Flight Lieutenant W. V. G. Cognan, on its way back from Kiel and Hamburg. They fired a green flare and forced the bomber down to land on their own airfield, where the crew was interned.
The crew was released a short time later but the Whitley was still at the airfield on 10 May and presumed destroyed during the German invasion.

Early in 1940 the unit received Italian-built Fiat CR.42s.

In the early morning on 10 May the II^ème Group was ordered to evacuated from Nivelles to Landing Field No 22 at Brustem.
At 06:05 five Fiat CR.42s took off from Brustem to provide cover for the airfield. The second patrol (Sous-Lieutenant Offenberg, 1^er Sergent Jean Maes and 1^er Sergent Alexis Jottard) attacked Dornier Do17s and a Bf109. Offenberg claimed one destroyed Do17, and fired on one other aircraft, which dived away. One of the aircraft he shot at was a Dornier Do17 of II/KG77, which was damaged east of Waremme at 06.30 (there are some confusion regarding Offenberg's claims and some sources only credits him with a damaged Do17). Jean Maes damaged a Dornier Do17 of II/KG77, near St Trond at 06.30. This claim is not confirmed.

After a few days, the remains of his unit withdrew to Chartres in France. From here he and Sergeant Alexis Jottard flew two Caudron Simouns to Montpelier on 19 June, and then on to Algeria, via Corsica, next day, where they joined the Belgian flying school which had been set up at Oujda. Finding morale low here, they attempted unsuccessfully to obtain an aircraft to fly to Gibraltar, so took a train to Casablanca, where they met a group of Poles and other Belgians, getting away by the cargo-ship Djebel Druse to Gibraltar.
They sail to England on the ship Har Sion in July, reaching Liverpool on 16th.

Offenberg was commissioned in the RAF on 30 July and went to 6 OUT at Sutton Bridge on the same day.
Here he converted to Hurricanes and on 17 August he joined 145 Squadron at Westhampnett together with Jottard.
With the RAF his nickname 'Peike' became degraded to 'Pyker'.

On 1 November he shot down Oberleutnant Hermann Reiff-Erscheidt, Staffelkapitän 1./JG2, who belly-landed his Bf109E4 (5159) 'White 9' intact near Mapson's Farm, Sidlesham, Sussex, at 16.15. Reiff-Erscheidt was captured unhurt.

At 08.30 on 9 November Flight Lieutenant Bungey and Offenberg intercepted a Ju88 near the Isle of Wight. This was probably a machine from I/KG51, which was attacked and claimed damaged jointly by the two pilots. The Ju88 made a crash-landing on returning to Villaroche.

He was appointed 'B' Flight commander in May 1941.

During a patrol between 15:25 and 15:55 on 5 May he claimed a He60 and damaged a second north of Point de Barfleur at 15:35. At the same time he claimed a Bf109E.
The He60s were aircraft of I/Seenot Gruppe, and one seems to have been lost. The Bf109 appears to have been credited initially as a probable, but is shown in Offenberg's records as confirmed.

In June he became the first Belgian to receive a DFC.

On 17 June he was posted to 609 Squadron together with Baudouine de Hemptinne where a (unofficial) Belgian flight was forming.

He took part in "Circus 18" on 22 June when 10 Blenheim Mk.IVs of 2 (B) Group bombed Hazebrouck at 15:10. 16 squadrons of fighters escorted them, flying 184 sorties and claiming 29 victories, 5 probables and 7 damaged for the loss of two Spitfires.
609 Squadron took part with nine Spitfires Mk.Vbs, which took off from Biggin Hill at 15:23 as part of the forward-support wing. They encountered Bf109s over the Channel at 16:00 and made four claims. Flight Lieutenant John Bisdee DFC claimed a Bf109F at 20,000 feet inland Dunkirk while Sergeant Thomas Rigler claimed three more in the Dunkirk area; one Bf109F at 20 feet, one Bf109E at 8000 feet and one Bf109E at 800 feet. Offenberg claimed a damaged Bf109E on the deck east off Gravelines at 16:20.
On Spitfire was lost when Pilot Officer F. X. E. de Spirlet was shot down off Dover in “PR-T” at 15:00. The wounded pilot was later rescued from the Channel by a British rescue launch. 609 Squadron retuned to base at 17:12.
It seems that they were engaged by Bf109s from JG 2 and JG 26 which claimed two Blenheims and nine Spitfires between 16:00 and 16:20 in the Channel area.

“Circus 37” was flown on 7 July when 4 Stirlings from 3 Group attacked SNCA du Nord at Meaulte, near Albert at 10:00. Nine squadrons of fighters provided escort, flying 95 sorties and claiming two victories and 1 damaged. 74 Squadron claimed one victory and one damaged while losing one Spitfire.
609 Squadron took off at 09:40 from Biggin Hill with twelve Spitfires as part of the escort-cover wing. The raid was uneventful and on the return near the French coast Offenberg saw a ship convoy with a couple of escorting Messerschmitts, low down. Whether these only were decoys is not certain but as Offenberg's section turned in on them more Messerschmitts came down on them off Le Touquet. Sergeant G. Evans (Spitfire W3115) was attacked by two Bf109s; the first one zoomed past and down, but the second one hit the Spitfire with a burst of cannon, setting the Spitfire's engine on fire. Meantime, Offenberg went after the first Bf109, following it down in a steep dive until he had to pull up to avoid the water. The German pilot appeared to misjudge his dive, for as Offenberg looked down, he saw a large splash right among the ships. Offenberg’s victory was recorded at 11:30.
Evans was forced to leave his burning Spitfire and came down in the Channel from where he was later rescued by a British rescue launch with splinters in his right leg.
609 Squadron landed at 12:10
It seems that they were engaged by Bf109s from JG 26, which claimed five Spitfires in the Channel area between 10:00 and 10:58.

He took part in ”Circus 51” on 19 July when 3 Stirlings from 3 Group attacked Lille-Sequedin at 13:20. One bomber was lost during the mission when N6018/LS-C of 15 Squadron was shot down by flak two kilometres south-west of Hoondschoote (two of the crew were taken PoWs while the remaining six perished). 17 squadrons of fighters escorted them, flying 195 sorties and claiming three victories, seven probables and two damaged for the loss of two fighters.
609 Squadron took off from Biggin Hill at 13:10 with 12 Spitfires as part of the target-support wing and Offenberg clamed a probable Bf109F in the Dunkirk area. This claim is shown as a damaged in Combats and Casualties. The squadron landed back at 15:20.
It seems that the Circus was engaged by Bf109s from JG 26 and JG 2, which claimed three Spitfires and one Stirling (Oberleutnant Christian Eickhoff of 2./JG 26 south-east of Bergues at 14:25) between 14:15 and 14:35.

In 21 July 1941 he was decorated with the Belgian Croix de Guerre by the Belgian Minister of Defence in the Belgian National Government in London, M. Camille Gutt, at Wellington Barracks.

In the end of July he took command over 'B' Flight when John Bisdee became tour expired and on 30 July he was promoted to Flying Officer.

He claimed a probable on 6 August.

It seems that he took part in “Circus 85” on 27 August when the airfield St Omer/Longeunesse was attacked at 06:45 by four Blenheim Mk.IVs from 139 Squadron. They were escorted by twelve fighter squadrons, flying 140 sorties and claiming six victories and four damaged for the loss of seven or eight Spitfires.
609 Squadron took off 06:24 with twelve Spitfires from Biggin Hill as part of the second echelon target-support wing. At 07:35 Squadron Leader M. P. C. Choron clai,ed a Bf109F off Gravelines at 6000 feet. During this mission Offenberg claimed a probable Bf109. This claim is not shown in Combats and Casualties and thus not included in totals for the Circus above. The squadron landed back at 09:20.
It seems that they were engaged by Bf109s from JG 26, which claimed eight Spitfires in the Channel area between 08:10 and 08:30.

“Circus 88” was flown on 29 August by six Blenheim Mk.IVs of 139 Squadron, which attacked the rail-yards at Hazebrouck at 07:00. The bombers were escorted by 16 squadrons of fighters, which flew 192 sorties and claiming eight victories, two probables and seven damaged.
609 Squadron took off 06:38 with twelve Spitfires from Biggin Hill as part of the target-support wing ‘B’. At 07:30 Pilot Officer F. X. E. de Spirlet claimed a Bf109F at 5,000 feet in the Gravelines area. During this mission Offenberg claimed a probable Bf109 in the Hazebrouck area. This claim is not shown in Combats and Casualties and thus not included in totals for the Circus above. The squadron landed back at 08:35.
It seems that they were engaged by Bf109s from JG 2 and JG 26 which claimed nine Spitfires between 08:26 and 08:40 in the Channel area.

He took part in “Circus 103B” on 27 September when 12 Blenheim Mk.IVs from 2 Group attacked the power station at Bully-les-Mines at 14:00. 14 squadrons provided escort, flying 164 sorties and claiming 14 victories, 10 probables and 13 damaged for the loss of eight Spitfires and one Hurricane.
609 Squadron took off with twelve Spitfires from Biggin Hill at 13:28 as part of the high-cover wing. During the mission the Squadron claimed one and one probable enemy fighter while Offenberg claimed one damaged Bf109 five miles north of St Omer. Pilot Officer V. M. M. Ortmans (Spitfire W3625) was shot down and baled out but later rescued by the British rescue launch HSL147. The squadron landed back at Biggin Hill at 16:00. It seems that they were engaged by Bf109s from JG 2 and JG 26 which claimed 17 Spitfires and one Blenheim between 15:25 and 16:30 in the Channel area during the two Circuses that was flown during the afternoon.

“Circus 108B” was flown on 13 October when 18 Blenheim Mk.IVs of 2 Group attacked industries at Marzingarbe at 13:50. The bombers were escorted by 10 squadrons, flying 119 sorties and claiming five victories and two damaged for the loss of two Spitfires and one Hurricane.
609 Squadron took off with twelve Spitfires from Biggin Hill at 13:24 as part of the High-Cover Wing. At 14:15 Flying Officer J. A. Atkinson claimed a damaged Bf109F in the Marzingarbe-Hardelot area at 20,000 feet. Five minutes later Offenberg claimed a second damaged Bf109F at the same altitude, 10 miles north-west of Le Touquet. 609 Squadron landed back at base at 15:35. It seems that they were engaged by Bf109s from JG 2 and JG 26 which claimed 20 Spitfires and two Blenheims between 14:32 and 15:40 in the Channel area during the two Circuses that was flown during the afternoon.

Whilst on a training flight with a new pilot on 22 January 1942, he was subjected to a mock attack by a pilot of 92 Squadron. The latter's aircraft collided with Offenberg's Spitfire, cutting off the tail, and it crashed vertically into the ground, killing him.

His diary was later edited into a book, Lonely Warrior, by Victor Houart (Souvenir Press, 1956).

Offenberg had claimed 1 biplane victory and a total of 5 and 2 shared victories at the time of his death.

Image kindly via Peter Taghon.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Time	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	1940
	10/05/40		1	Do17 (a)	Damaged	Fiat CR.42		near St Trond, Belgium	4/II/2 Aé
1	10/05/40		1	Do17 (b)	Destroyed	Fiat CR.42		near St Trond, Belgium	4/II/2 Aé
	08/08/40		½	Do17	Shared damaged	Hurricane Mk.I		35m E Montrose	145 Squadron
	27/10/40		1	Bf109E	Probable destroyed	Hurricane Mk.I		5m S Bembridge	145 Squadron
2	01/11/40		1	Bf109E (c)	Destroyed	Hurricane Mk.I		N Selsey	145 Squadron
	06/11/40		½	Bf109E (d)	Shared destroyed	Hurricane Mk.I		5m SSE Dun Nose, Isle of Wight	145 Squadron
	09/11/40		½	Ju88 (e)	Shared damaged	Hurricane Mk.I		S Isle of Wight	145 Squadron
	11/11/40		½	He111 (f)	Shared destroyed	Hurricane Mk.I		off Selsey Bill	145 Squadron
	1941
	05/05/41	15:35	1	He60 (g)	Damaged	Spitfire Mk.IIb		N Point de Barfleur	145 Squadron
3	05/05/41	15:35	1	He60 (g)	Destroyed	Spitfire Mk.IIb		N Point de Barfleur	145 Squadron
4	05/05/41	15:35	1	Bf109E (h)	Destroyed	Spitfire Mk.IIb		mid Channel	145 Squadron
	22/06/41	16:20	1	Bf109E	Damaged	Spitfire Mk.Vb	W3236	E Gravelines	609 Squadron
5	07/07/41	11:30	1	Bf109F	Destroyed	Spitfire Mk.Vb	W3236	off Le Touquet	609 Squadron
	19/07/41	13:10-15:20	1	Bf109 (i)	Probable destroyed	Spitfire Mk.Vb		Dunkirk	609 Squadron
	06/08/41		1	Bf109 (j)	Probable destroyed	Spitfire Mk.Vb			609 Squadron
	27/08/41	07:35-09:20	1	Bf109	Probable destroyed	Spitfire Mk.Vb		NE France	609 Squadron
	29/08/41	06:38-08:35	1	Bf109 (k)	Probable destroyed	Spitfire Mk.Vb		Hazebrouck	609 Squadron
	27/09/41	13:28-16:00	1	Bf109	Damaged	Spitfire Mk.Vb	W3574	5m N St Omer	609 Squadron
	13/10/41	14:25	1	Bf109F	Damaged	Spitfire Mk.Vb	W3574	10m NW Le Touquet	609 Squadron

Biplane victories: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged.
TOTAL: 5 and 2 shared destroyed, 5 probables, 5 and 2 shared damaged.
(a) Dornier Do17 of II/KG77 damaged east of Waremme at 06.30.
(b) This claim has not been possible to verify.
(c) Bf109E4 'White 9' of 1 staffel.I/JG2; Oblt Hermann Reiff-Erscheidt POW.
(d) Shared with pilot of 56 Squadron. Probably Obfw Heinrich Klopp of II/JG2, 'Black I' -- also attacked by McDowell of 602 Squadron
(e) Believed to be a Ju88 of I/KG51 which crash-landed on return to Villaroche.
(f) He111 of II/KG27, which crashed at Le Havre. Initially shown as a 'Probable' in Combats and Casualties, but in Offenberg's records as confirmed and possibly therefore confirmed by 'Y' Service later.
(g) These were aircraft of I/Seenot Gruppe, and one was lost.
(h) This appears to have been credited initially as a probable, but is shown in Offenberg's records as confirmed.
(i) Shown in Combats and Casualties as damaged.
(j) Not shown in Combats and Casualties. (k) Not shown in Combats and Casualties.

Sources
Aces High - Christopher Shores, 1994, Grub Street, London, ISBN 1-898697-00-0
Aces High Volume 2 - Christopher Shores, 1999, Grub Street, London, ISBN 1-902304-03-9
Battle of Britain; The Forgotten Months - John Foreman, 1988
Désastre à Schaffen - Christian-Jacques Ehrengardt, 2000, Aéro Journal No. 12
Fighter Pilot's Summer - Paul Richey and Norman Franks, 1993 Grub Street, London, ISBN 1-902304-24-1
Fledgling Eagles - Christopher Shores with John Foreman, Christian-Jaques Ehrengardt, Heinrich Weiss and Bjørn Olsen, 1991 Grub Street, London, ISBN 0-948817-42-9
Lonely Warrior - Jean Offenberg (edited by Victor Houart), 1956, Souvenir Press, London
Luftwaffe Claims Lists - Tony Wood
Men of the Battle of Britain - Kenneth G. Wynn, 1999 CCB Associates, ISBN 1-902074-10-6
The Battle of France Then and Now – Peter D. Cornwell, 2008 After the Battle, ISBN 9-781870-067652
Additional information kindly provided by Ivan Martens and Peter Taghon