Operation: Training exercise

Date: 22nd August 1943 (Sunday)

Unit: 61 Operational Training Unit (OTU)

Type: Spitfire IIa

Serial: P7304

Base: RAF Rednal, Shropshire

Location: Hincks Plantation, near Lilleshall, Shropshire

Pilot: Plt Off. Jean Joseph Albert Noizet 143485 RAFVR Age 28. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a fighter attack exercise two Spitfires from 61 OTU, Spitfire P7444 flown by Plt Off. Henry Maurice Goldsmit (a Belgium pilot) and the Spitfire flown by Plt Off. Noizet collided in mid-air. Plt Off. Goldsmit was uninjured and managed to land his Spitfire. His aircraft was only slightly damaged .

Note: The location of Plt Off. Henry Maurice Goldsmit's landing has been variously reported as being RAF Rednal or RAF High Ercall. However research undertake by Michael Davies has concluded that the airfield was RAF Halpenny Green.

Plt Off. Jean Noizet was killed when his Spitfire crashed into the Hincks Plantation, Nr. Lilleshall, 3 miles South West of Newport. The Air Accident investigation placed the cause as 'pilot error due to misjudgement'.

Plt Off. Henry Maurice Goldsmit 151928 RAFVR, was later KiA. On the 3rd November 1944 he was attacking transport and troops in Holland, flying Spitfire XI PT963 with 349 Squadron, when he was hit by flak and crashed at Klundert.

We received an email in August 2013 regarding this loss, a Mr. Hugh Richardson contacted us and advised that a small memorial was erected for Plt Off. Noizet at the edge of the Rednal Airfield. He maintains this and every Remembrance Day he places a memorial cross on the plaque - one pilot, never forgotten.

Note: P7304 Spitfire was built at the Castle Bromwich Works and fitted with the Merlin XII Engine. The Wartime Aircraft Recovery Group based at Sleap Airfield recovered some pieces in 1977, including the Merlin XII engine and they have them on show at their museum, as well as many other interesting exhibits

Above left - Merlin engine recovered in 1977 and right other pieces from the cockpit

Michael Davies has contacted us to let us know that his book about Jean Noizet, has recently been published in French. As of this addition 2.150 Euros has been raised for a dementia charity in his hometown of Florenville.

Translation:

TO ORDER
this illustrated book in aid of
the palliative care association
<< RAY OF SUNSHINE-PRESENCE>>

THE DRAMATIC ADVENTURE OFJEAN NOIZET
AVIATOR FROM FLORENVILLE
1915 - 1443

The adventure, the odyssey
And the incredible journey
of Jean Noizet, deceased
at the age of 28,
is well worth remembering,
remain engraved in the
in the memories of both
history and the
Second World War

Contact Edouard Hizette
[email protected] - 061 31 35 89

Above: Photographs taken in his hometown in 2023 on the anniversary of his death, following the publication of the book. (Courtesy of Michael Davies)

Burial Details:

Plt Off. Jean Joseph Albert Noizet. Brussels Town Cemetery. Belgiams Field of Honour. Born on the 5th March 1915 in Florenville, Belgium. Next of Kin details not known.

Also:

Plt Off. Henry Maurice Goldsmit. Brussels Town Cemetery. Belgiams Field of Honour. Next of Kin details not known.

Researched for relatives of the pilot. With thanks to the following for further information supplied, Hugh Richardson,Wartime Aircraft Recovery Group, Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Rathbone Museum. Thanks to Michael Davies for the correction to the airfield location (Aug 2021). Thanks to Michael Davies for the book information and anniversary photographs (May 2024).

Other sources listed below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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