ISOB Charles Jean Joseph Goffin (7th Reconnaissance Group)
Details:
A grave by the cemetery wall. In his family plot, the leftmost burial. Isolated Burial
Charles Goffin served with the 2nd Regiment, Belgian Air Force during the German invasion of May 1940. On the first day, he and his wingman Roger Delannay encountered a group of bombers and their fighter escort; while Delannay was killed in the subsequent dogfight, Goffin managed to critically damage an enemy Bf-109 before breaking off the engagement. Only days later, he was able to shoot down another Bf-109. Both of these victories where claimed while flying a Fiat CR42 biplane fighter.
Goffin became a POW following the French surrender, but escaped to Spain in early 1941. He spent over a year in a Spanish internment camp, contracting an eye disease. He escaped again in May 1942, and made his way to England through Gibraltar. He attempted to join the RAF, but was rejected because of his degraded eyesight.
With help from the Belgian air attache, Goffin was able to join the USAAF in January 1943. After several months of staff duty with the 8th Air Force, he was allowed to fly once again. Goffin was finally assigned to the 14th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, and flew over 30 missions before being shot down by anti-air fire over Luxembourg.
Source:
American Air Museum Britain
Find a Grave
Monument Text:
Famille Goffin-Decrez
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
14th Photographic Recon Squadron, 7th Reconnaissance Group
United States Air Force
Wars:
WWII
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