{"id":1065,"date":"2026-01-07T11:40:24","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T11:40:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/?page_id=1065"},"modified":"2026-02-08T22:09:50","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T22:09:50","slug":"seconde-guerre-mondiale-sous-lieutenant-aviateur-belge-xavier-henrard-tue-le-2-mars-1940-a-bastogne-avant-lentree-en-guerre","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/seconde-guerre-mondiale\/seconde-guerre-mondiale-sous-lieutenant-aviateur-belge-xavier-henrard-tue-le-2-mars-1940-a-bastogne-avant-lentree-en-guerre\/","title":{"rendered":"Seconde Guerre Mondiale : Sous-lieutenant Aviateur belge Xavier HENRARD tu\u00e9 le 2 mars 1940 \u00e0 Bastogne avant l&rsquo;entr\u00e9e en guerre"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Le sous-lieutenant Xavier&nbsp;<strong>Henrard<\/strong>&nbsp;est reconnu comme le&nbsp;<strong>premier soldat belge tu\u00e9<\/strong>&nbsp;au combat avant m\u00eame l&rsquo;invasion allemande du 10 mai 1940.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>N\u00e9 le 5 mai 1914 \u00e0 Woluwe-Saint-Pierre (1150 Bruxelles), Xavier Henrard est tu\u00e9 par des tirs de mitrailleuse le 2 mars 1940 pr\u00e8s de&nbsp;<strong>Bastogne<\/strong>&nbsp;(Luxembourg belge), \u00e0 l&rsquo;\u00e2ge de 25 ans.&nbsp;<strong>Inhum\u00e9 au cimeti\u00e8re communal de Woluwe-Saint-Pierre<\/strong>, il servait comme&nbsp;<strong>sous-lieutenant aviateur<\/strong>&nbsp;au&nbsp;<strong>IIe Groupe de Chasse<\/strong>, 2e Escadrille \u00ab\u00a0Les Swallows\u00a0\u00bb.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Le 2 mars 1940, vers 15h45, <em>un&nbsp;<\/em>Dornier Do 17P<em>&nbsp;allemand de l&rsquo;unit\u00e9<\/em><strong><em>&nbsp;<\/em>II.\/KG 4<\/strong><em>&nbsp;(Kennung&nbsp;<\/em>F6+DH<em>)<\/em> survole le territoire belge neutre apr\u00e8s une mission de reconnaissance au-dessus de la France. A 8 000 m\u00e8tres d&rsquo;altitude, d\u00e9tect\u00e9 par la station radio de&nbsp;Saint-Hubert, l&rsquo;appareil est intercept\u00e9 par trois&nbsp;Hawker Hurricane Mk I&nbsp;belges (H-26, H-27, H-28) d\u00e9coll\u00e9s de&nbsp;Schaffen <em>&nbsp;(IIe Groupe de Chasse, 2e Escadrille \u00ab\u00a0Les Swallows\u00a0\u00bb)<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Xavier Henrard (H-26), chef de patrouille, attaque en premier.&nbsp;Sans pare-brise blind\u00e9&nbsp;(d\u00e9faut technique courant sur les premiers Hurricane belges), il est&nbsp;mortellement touch\u00e9 par des tirs de mitrailleuse de 7,92 mm&nbsp;du Dornier. Son appareil s&rsquo;\u00e9crase dans le bois de&nbsp;Lierneux&nbsp;pr\u00e8s de Bastogne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Le sort des autres pilotes :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>1er sergent Edmond Thys<\/strong>&nbsp;(H-27) : atterrissage forc\u00e9 r\u00e9ussi pr\u00e8s de Marche-en-Famenne, \u00e0 surv\u00e9cu<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sergent Eug\u00e8ne Leli\u00e8vre<\/strong>&nbsp;(H-28) : appareil endommag\u00e9, mais retour \u00e0 Schaffen, \u00e0 surv\u00e9cu<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Le <strong>Dornier allemand<\/strong>&nbsp;a \u00e9t\u00e9 poursuivi jusqu&rsquo;en Allemagne et a \u00e9t\u00e9 forc\u00e9 \u00e0 atterrir \u00e0 J\u00fcterbog son appareil endommag\u00e9, mais l&rsquo;\u00e9quipage a surv\u00e9cu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mort du \u00ab\u00a0fantassin du ciel\u00a0\u00bb<\/strong><br>L&rsquo;autopsie r\u00e9v\u00e8le que Xavier Henrard a succomb\u00e9 \u00e0&nbsp;ses blessures par balles de 7,92 mm dans le thorax, non \u00e0 l&rsquo;accident. Unique aviateur belge tu\u00e9 avant le 10 mai 1940, il devient&nbsp;symbole de la neutralit\u00e9 viol\u00e9e.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hommage national<\/strong><br>La presse belge s&rsquo;indigne :&nbsp;<strong>\u00ab\u00a0<\/strong>Le Soir Illustr\u00e9\u00a0\u00bb (9 mars 1940)&nbsp;titre&nbsp;<em>\u00ab\u00a0Mort pour la neutralit\u00e9\u00a0\u00bb<\/em>. Les fun\u00e9railles nationales \u00e0 Woluwe-Saint-Pierre (8 mars) r\u00e9unissent&nbsp;10 000 personnes. Le roi L\u00e9opold III adresse un message personnel \u00e0 la famille.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69ea504ae8d69&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69ea504ae8d69\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"505\" height=\"745\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Sous-lieutenant-Aviateur-Xavier-HENRARD-tue-le-2-mars-1940-a-Bastogne-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1067\" style=\"width:151px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Sous-lieutenant-Aviateur-Xavier-HENRARD-tue-le-2-mars-1940-a-Bastogne-2.jpg 505w, https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Sous-lieutenant-Aviateur-Xavier-HENRARD-tue-le-2-mars-1940-a-Bastogne-2-203x300.jpg 203w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 505px) 100vw, 505px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Ce H\u00e9ros de la neutralit\u00e9 belge&nbsp;reste grav\u00e9 sur la&nbsp;st\u00e8le comm\u00e9morative de Lierneux&nbsp;(inaugur\u00e9e 1946) et dans la m\u00e9moire collective comme premier sacrifice humain de la Seconde Guerre mondiale en Belgique.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>R\u00e9f\u00e9rences :<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Archives A\u00e9ronautiques Belges. (1940). Rapport op\u00e9rationnel IIe Groupe de Chasse, Schaffen, 2 mars 1940 [Document d&rsquo;archive]. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hoffmann, J. (1978). *La DGF A\u00e9ronautique 1939-1940*. \u00c9ditions A\u00e9ronautiques Belges. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Le Soir Illustr\u00e9. (1940, 9 mars). Mort pour la neutralit\u00e9 [Photographie et article]. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gendarmerie de Neufch\u00e2teau. (1940, 3 mars). Rapport d&rsquo;enqu\u00eate crash H-26 [Document officiel]. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Le Soir (1940, 9 mars). Fun\u00e9railles nationales du sous-lieutenant Henrard.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Par Alain Schenkels<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69ea504ae9344&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69ea504ae9344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"728\" height=\"1006\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"http:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Alain_Schenkels-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-329\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.7236774816750952;width:210px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Alain_Schenkels-1.jpg 728w, https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Alain_Schenkels-1-217x300.jpg 217w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 728px) 100vw, 728px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Cat\u00e9gorie(s) :<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/category\/armees-defenses\/armee-belge\/\" rel=\"tag\">Arm\u00e9e belge<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/category\/conflits-guerres\/seconde-guerre-mondiale\/histoires-de-soldats-et-de-guerre\/\" rel=\"tag\">Histoires de soldats et de guerre<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/category\/conflits-guerres\/seconde-guerre-mondiale\/\" rel=\"tag\">Seconde guerre mondiale<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/category\/conflits-guerres\/seconde-guerre-mondiale\/soldats-allies-tues-a-lennemi\/\" rel=\"tag\">Soldats Alli\u00e9s tu\u00e9s \u00e0 l&rsquo;ennemi<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-alain-schenkels wp-block-embed-alain-schenkels\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"ZbJCXBWWjN\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/seconde-guerre-mondiale\/\">Seconde Guerre Mondiale<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"\u00ab\u00a0Seconde Guerre Mondiale\u00a0\u00bb &#8212; Alain Schenkels\" src=\"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/seconde-guerre-mondiale\/embed\/#?secret=12xg9kYRMY#?secret=ZbJCXBWWjN\" data-secret=\"ZbJCXBWWjN\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Le sous-lieutenant Xavier&nbsp;Henrard&nbsp;est reconnu comme le&nbsp;premier soldat belge tu\u00e9&nbsp;au combat avant m\u00eame l&rsquo;invasion allemande du 10 mai 1940. N\u00e9 le 5 mai 1914 \u00e0 Woluwe-Saint-Pierre (1150 Bruxelles), Xavier Henrard est tu\u00e9 par des tirs de mitrailleuse le 2 mars 1940 pr\u00e8s de&nbsp;Bastogne&nbsp;(Luxembourg belge), \u00e0 l&rsquo;\u00e2ge de 25 ans.&nbsp;Inhum\u00e9 au cimeti\u00e8re communal de Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, il servait [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1066,"parent":886,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,31,20,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1065","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-armee-belge","category-histoires-de-soldats-et-de-guerre","category-seconde-guerre-mondiale","category-soldats-allies-tues-a-lennemi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1065","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1065"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1065\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2656,"href":"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1065\/revisions\/2656"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/886"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1066"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1065"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1065"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rrb.be\/rrb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1065"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}