Officier-vlieger J. Blok

[Marbeth Wilson]

Marco
Thanks for that information.
The only information I know at present is that a Den Hollander family, father H.G.. travelling with P.W. and E.H., sailed from Sabang, near Batavia, Java, with vessel Sibajak, to Rotterdam on 21/7/1935. The same three people sailed back from Rotterdam to Batavia with vessel Dempo on 3/4/1936. (Data from Passenger lists). These apparently are the only occurrences of people with the name den Hollander travelling between NEI and the Netherlands 1910-1940 and 1945-1964 periods. Although it is not certain, odds are that the above E.H is Erick Hendrick.
If the above supposition is correct - Erick Hendrik's father was H.G. den Hollander. Do you know if any records were kept in USA of Dutch people who relocated there from Java during or after WW2?
Marbeth

[Hanno Spoelstra]

I started a facebook group to gather more information about the Dutch pilots serving with the British Fleet Air Arm during World War Two:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Flee...lyingDutchmen/

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Today, 72 years ago, my great-uncle Lt. Johannes Blok took off for a training flight in his Grumman Hellcat Mk.I of 1847 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm.

While changing formation, Sgt. Simon De Ridder hit the tail of Johannes' Hellcat with his propeller. This mid-air collision caused both Hellcats to crash in a field near Tullybrisland, Londonderry, Northern Ireland, killing both pilots instantly.

They were initially buried at St Canice's Church, close to their home base RNAS Eglinton. After WW2 they were laid to rest in The Netherlands: Johannes in a family grave in Amsterdam, and Simon at the Field of Honour Loenen.

RIP Johannes and Simon.

image.jpeg image.jpeg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Watching a 1941 documentary, "De Marine Vliegt" (The Navy Flies), I was stunned to recognise my late great-uncle Johannes Blok! He is the pilot whose first solo flight in a Ryan ST-M is featured prominently.

Trained as a merchant officer, he joined the Navy in 1941. Johannes Blok made his first flight on 16 September 1941, flew his first solo flight on 12 October and finished his primary flying training on 21 November of that year with 104h.36' flying time under his belt.

See https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...9018392&type=1 for some more screenshots.

Johannes Blok first solo 1.jpg Johannes Blok first solo 8.jpg Johannes Blok first solo 12.jpg Johannes Blok first solo 14.jpg Johannes Blok first solo 18.jpg

[marco]

Great find Hanno!

Marco

[Mike K]

Wizard find Hanno

I wonder how many of the pilots survived the war ..... probably very few

[marco]

About 200 Dutch pilots succesfully went through the pilot training at Jackson Army Air Base. About 150 of them returned to Australia to fight the Japanese and the other 50 pilots joined the Royal Navy.
From these 50, more than half didn't survive.

Pilot training in itself was dangerous also.
This is the memorial at Jackson Army Air Base for the Dutch pilots who didn't survive training .

Marco

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Wizard find Hanno

Still can't get my head around this 1-in-a-million-chance find