I don't know if this question has been raised before, but I wonder if there were any Dutch pilots involved in WW1 or/and WW2? If so, could anyone tell me a little more about them, such as: amount of kills (with opponents), medals awarded, planes they were flying, etc.?
Thanks already
As you might know Holland was a neutral country in WW1. So we didn't have any pilots on the front. We did "of course" have an airforce. Consisting of a few Farmans and airplanes of other war countries that "accidently" landed here. (137 planes during WW1!!!)
In WW2 we had many combat pilots! They destroyed about 35% of the German aircraft in May before they surendered!!!
I asume that you are Dutch. You could contact the Dutch airforce museum in Soesterberg. They have a great achive with lots of info about WW1 & WW2
I will have to search for their phone number, I'll let you know!
Greetings,
Enio van Silfhout
Zeist Holland
Let us not forget Ltn. Johann Hesselink, a Dutchman who flew for the Germans. He served in both Jasta 33 and Jasta 39, and died on 20Dec18 at FEA 5, Hannover. At least 1 v/c, possibly 2. I seem to recall a nice article on him in OTF (?) a while back, but can't put my hands on it right now.
A book consisting of "The Letters of Alan Nichols" has a single sentence concerning a Hollander flying with the French who was most enthusiastic over the thrill of air combat. I could find his squadron number if you are going to formally pursue his identity- via French sources, etc. Lee