VICTOR D. YONCK 1868-1941 |
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V. DE JONCKHEERE Copy of original postcard Courtesy of Jean-Pierre Lauwers |
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translated into English from the French, 3-15-02 by Jean-Pierre Lauwers He had a villa at Zwevezele named "The Little Castle" (Petit Château). In 1909, he went to the "Aviation Week of Antwerp" and seeing Jan Olieslagers flying there, he became a pupil at the Jan Olieslagers Aviation School at "St. Job in 't Goor". (Notice : St. Job in 't Goor was originally the private airfield of Baron de Caters! Later, when the baron came into financial difficulties, he sold it to the Bollekens firm who operated it from 1909 on. After having repaired Baron de Caters' plane, damaged at the Aviation Week of Antwerp, he passed the needed tests to become aviator and received his license on September 16, 1911. He made some exhibition flights in Belgium in 1911 at Zwevezele and at Tielt. (Brasschaat is not mentioned at all in here!) In 1912, he went again to the USA, taking his plane with him!, and returned to Belgium in 1921 to live at Mechelen... |
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Courtesy of Jean-Pierre Lauwers |
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On April 22 , 1912, he made that epic flight at Philadelphia and entered into American Naval History,
simulating a night(!) attack on the cruiser "Masachussetts", inspired by the
Lieutenant (USMC) A.A. Cunningham.As a result, a little time later, flights were suspended at the Marine Naval Airbase at League
Island near Philadelphia... This episode which was reported in the "Conqûete de l'Air" n° 9 for May 1st., 1912, the magazine of the Aéro-Club of Belgium. (P.S. That news went fast!) In the article it was reported that on April 22, 1912, in his plane powered by a 50 HP motor, he made a remarkable night flight of 45 minutes. He flew high and low over the cruiser "Massachussetts", finally rising to 5,000 feet to escape the five searchlights which were shining on him. After landing he declared :"If I had had bombs on board, I could have sunk the cruiser"! The Americans were very impressed by his performance and gave him an unforgettable ovation. End of story! Via email from Jean-Pierre Lauwesr, 3-15-02 He made the flight at Philadelphia in 1912(!) The photo that was published in the 1993 magazine from the Brussel Air Museum was dated on April 10, 1912, as could be seen with a lens. The story of this lesser known pilot was the result of research done by a Belgian: Jean-Louis Rosman. I bought the postcard about 1996 and it was then that I found out more about V. De Jonckheere, Two photos are known of him. One contemporary postcard shows the aviator standing in front of his plane.... The photo shown here was loaned to me from the book "Wings for the Navy", US Naval Institute, 1990. In the National Archives it is number 80-G-463673. I discovered there had been at least a second photo taken with V.De Jonckheere sitting into his plane! Editor's Note: This summary of Victor's career was kindly supplied by Jean-Pierre via email and is reproduced from his original message. It is clear the Jean-Pierre is well informed about this pioneer aviator and I thank him for sharing his information with us. |
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Via email from Barbara Yonck, 12-10-04 |
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1868 1889 1895 1896 1896 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1901 1902 1903 1904 1920 1941 |
Born 22 Sep 1869 Swevzeele, Belgium (Oath) To New York (Oath) 27 Aug., 1985 Decl. Of Inten. to Citizenship, State of Wisconsin. Married Ovidia Mari DeNaegnele in Dover, England DeYonck, Victor trimmer D & W Ore Dock re nr same (Polk) Daughter, Jeannette, born 17 Oct. 1896 DeYonck, Victor, propr Belt Line Hotel, 252 Itasca r same (Polk) Same Yonck, Victor D., saloon, 254 Itasca r same (Polk) Same Same Certificate of Naturalization, 2 Dec., 1901, Superior Douglas, WI Same Same + Peoples Phone 3533 (Polk) Yonks, Victor D. moved to Swevzeele, Belgium (Polk) Yonks, Victor D., 1920 Census, Deer Lodge, MT (w. Eliza & Jeannette) Death 30 Nov., 1941 in Portland, OR (age 73h, 2m, 8d) |
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(Oath) = Oath for Citizenship taken 27 Aug 1895 in Douglas County, WI (Polk) = Polk City of Superior Directory |
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PIONNIER DE L'AVIATION BELGE Through the generosity of Roel Struyve, who translated the article into English, you can read it in its entirety by clicking on: |
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Victor D. Yonck, pioneer pilot, is shown as he looked in 1912 just before taking the pennant of the Philadelphia Aero Club on a flight
over that city at an altitude of 5,000 feet. The early day flier died in Portland Sunday. (Copy provided to me by Willamette Valley Geneological Society) Collection of Barbara Yonck, 12-10-04 |
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FUNERAL HELD He was Victor D. Yonck, 73, a native of Belgium, who became a citizen of this country in 1891. Shortly after achieving his citizenship, he returned to Belgium and became a flying student under the instruction of the famous Ollieslager. He returned to the United States and was one of the first American pilots licensed at the Philadelphia navy yard in 1912. The folowing year of 1913 found him giving flying exhibitions before immense crowds. Late in the same year his plane crashed at Rock Island and he was forced by illness to retire. He had lived in Portland at 7114 N. E. 47th avenue for the past three years with a daughter, Mrs. A. H. Klein. Two grandchildren and one great-grandchild also survive. Funeral services were held in St. Charles' church under direction of the Little Chapel of the Chimes. |
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If you have any information on this pioneer aviator please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper |
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