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Jean Maridor was born in Le Havre, France on the 24 November, 1920. He became interested in flying at a young age. He stopped his studies to focus of this new interest. Maridor began to take many courses in flying.
He obtained his 1st degree at 16, making him the youngest pilot in France. He flew with the Free French Fighters.-
When France was invaded during the Second World War, Maridor left to go to England with many other French pilots. Here, he used his expertise and joined the R.A.F. After training, Maridor successfully passed his military patent in January 1940. He began flying with the 615 Squadron.
His real ambition, though, was to join the 91 Squadron. He achieved this in February 1942.-
Maridor, or Mari, as he was known among the squadron soon became renowned for his often fearless and daring flying tactics. He would often perform very low level attacks on German ships, transport and troops.
He fiercely resented the German occupation of his beloved homeland. This drove him to keep fighting against them. Maridor’s greatest wish was to see his country free of its German invaders. He resisted many attempts to post him away from the 91 Squadron so that he could continue his fight to free his country. In 1944 it looked as if his dream would at last become true.
The allies had pushed the Germans back. However, a new threat was unleashed in June 1944, the V1 rockets or ‘Doodlebugs’. These new flying bombs created terror across Kent. The 91 Squadron was deployed to hunt these bombs. The squadron developed a way to destroy the bombs that was most effective, by July, Maridor had destroyed six of these bombs.
It was during this time that Maridor met and fell in love with a W.A.A.F officer by the name of Jean Lambourn, a section officer. They became engaged on the 4 July that year. The wedding was set for 11 August. They were busy making wedding plans and looking forward to their life in France after the war when tragedy struck the young couple.-
On 3 of August Maridor intercepted a Doodlebug over Rolvenden. Flying towards the bomb, he shot at it. Although he hit it, the bomb was only damaged not destroyed. On his second attack, he saw the bomb was heading for Benenden School, which at the time was being used as a military hospital. Knowing that hundreds of lives would be lost if the bomb was to hit, Maridor launched an attack. He approached to less than 50 metres to ensure he would not miss a second time. The Doodlebug exploded this time, but the wing of his plane was caught in the explosion and ripped from the body. The plane crashed beside the lake on the school grounds, killing Maridor just 8 days before his wedding. His fiancée has been quoted as saying he would not have hesitated in his attack on the bomb. He knew that many lives would have been lost otherwise.
In 1994, there was a ceremony at the Benenden School to commemorate the sacrifice of this brave young pilot. -
benendenvillage.org.uk
benenden.kent.sch.uk
He obtained his 1st degree at 16, making him the youngest pilot in France. He flew with the Free French Fighters.-
When France was invaded during the Second World War, Maridor left to go to England with many other French pilots. Here, he used his expertise and joined the R.A.F. After training, Maridor successfully passed his military patent in January 1940. He began flying with the 615 Squadron.
His real ambition, though, was to join the 91 Squadron. He achieved this in February 1942.-
Maridor, or Mari, as he was known among the squadron soon became renowned for his often fearless and daring flying tactics. He would often perform very low level attacks on German ships, transport and troops.
He fiercely resented the German occupation of his beloved homeland. This drove him to keep fighting against them. Maridor’s greatest wish was to see his country free of its German invaders. He resisted many attempts to post him away from the 91 Squadron so that he could continue his fight to free his country. In 1944 it looked as if his dream would at last become true.
The allies had pushed the Germans back. However, a new threat was unleashed in June 1944, the V1 rockets or ‘Doodlebugs’. These new flying bombs created terror across Kent. The 91 Squadron was deployed to hunt these bombs. The squadron developed a way to destroy the bombs that was most effective, by July, Maridor had destroyed six of these bombs.
It was during this time that Maridor met and fell in love with a W.A.A.F officer by the name of Jean Lambourn, a section officer. They became engaged on the 4 July that year. The wedding was set for 11 August. They were busy making wedding plans and looking forward to their life in France after the war when tragedy struck the young couple.-
On 3 of August Maridor intercepted a Doodlebug over Rolvenden. Flying towards the bomb, he shot at it. Although he hit it, the bomb was only damaged not destroyed. On his second attack, he saw the bomb was heading for Benenden School, which at the time was being used as a military hospital. Knowing that hundreds of lives would be lost if the bomb was to hit, Maridor launched an attack. He approached to less than 50 metres to ensure he would not miss a second time. The Doodlebug exploded this time, but the wing of his plane was caught in the explosion and ripped from the body. The plane crashed beside the lake on the school grounds, killing Maridor just 8 days before his wedding. His fiancée has been quoted as saying he would not have hesitated in his attack on the bomb. He knew that many lives would have been lost otherwise.
In 1994, there was a ceremony at the Benenden School to commemorate the sacrifice of this brave young pilot. -
benendenvillage.org.uk
benenden.kent.sch.uk
