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Downed pilot René Huin
Warrant Officer René Huin is a heroic figure of the Free French Air Forces (FAFL) whose destiny came to a tragic end in the skies of Seine-Inférieure. Born on 10 April 1917 in Meurthe-et-Moselle, this young Lorrainer was a student pilot during the 1940 invasion. Refusing defeat, he reached North Africa before joining Scotland on 17 July 1940 to continue the struggle.
A Glorious Journey from the Desert to the Bocage
His commitment to the Free French first led him to the Middle East. Attached to the "Alsace" Fighter Group, he took an active part in the Libya campaign before returning to Great Britain. On 10 March 1943, he joined the "Île-de-France" Fighter Group (Squadron 340). A seasoned pilot, René Huin was present during the Normandy Landings on 6 June 1944, protecting Allied troops during the decisive assault.
The Final Flight over Claville-Motteville
On 26 August 1944, as the Allies reached the banks of the Seine, René Huin took off from the Sommervieu airfield near Bayeux. His armed reconnaissance mission consisted of harassing enemy columns in full retreat. At the controls of his Spitfire PK993, he flew over Claville-Motteville and engaged in combat against German vehicles.
It was at this precise moment that his fate turned: his aircraft was hit head-on by ground-based anti-aircraft fire. The plane exploded and struck the ground within the commune, leaving no chance for the pilot, who died at the age of 27.
A Homage Graven in Time
Initially interred in the cemetery of Claville-Motteville, René Huin’s body was later transferred to Sélaincourt, his native land. Nevertheless, the Norman commune does not forget the sacrifice of this defender of liberty. On 5 April 2014, to mark the 70th anniversary of his disappearance, a commemorative plaque was unveiled on the wall of the town hall, located on the square that now bears his name. Through this gesture, Claville-Motteville ensures the enduring memory of this exceptional pilot, who fell for the Liberation of France.
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