Officier-vlieger J. Blok

[Marbeth Wilson]

Marco
Thank you for your reply. I do not know where EH den Hollander had his training but it is very likely it was at Jackson since, as you say, most of the others in his squadron were trained there....... more than that I cannot say.

I just wonder if he is in the photo your posted.......??

I just find it so very sad when I think of FAA 1847 Squadron, which was formed 1/2/1944 with 4 British and 8 Dutch pilots. 6 of its members were lost, ie half of the squadron, in flying accidents between 27/3/1944 and 18/5/1944 ie in less than 2 months. Of the 6 pilots killed in this period, 5 of them were Dutch and all died in training accidents. Can anyone tell me if it was 'normal' for such a high percentage of any one squadron to be killed during training exercises?

I am interested to know what happened to EH den Hollander's family. Did they relocate to Australia or Canada before the Japanese invaded Java - or were they interned in Java in prisoner of war camps - or did they survive the Japanese invasion to die in the 'uprising' - or did they relocate to Holland or elsewhere after Java was granted its independence? There are so many possibilities.

Any and all information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Marco for your information - I found it very interesting.

Marbeth

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Marbeth Wilson

I just find it so very sad when I think of FAA 1847 Squadron, which was formed 1/2/1944 with 4 British and 8 Dutch pilots. 6 of its members were lost, ie half of the squadron, in flying accidents between 27/3/1944 and 18/5/1944 ie in less than 2 months. Of the 6 pilots killed in this period, 5 of them were Dutch and all died in training accidents. Can anyone tell me if it was 'normal' for such a high percentage of any one squadron to be killed during training exercises?

Marbeth,

It was certainly not "normal" as this was a very high number of losses. Our family has wondered about this as well. One of the theories (named so as I cannot back it up with archive references) is that the pilots were put under high pressure training so the Squadron would be ready for the upcoming invasion. This led to the Squadron Commander and/or pilots taking unacceptable risks. As we have seen the result was disastrous. Word has it Commanding Officer L/C(A) H Colville-Stewart RNVR was relieved from his position, and 1847 Sqn was disbanded at Eglington in May 1944. The remainder of the squadron was absorbed into 1840 Squadron.

Hanno

[Marbeth Wilson]

Hanno

Yes...... it is difficult to understand how so many died in training exercises in such a short space of time; somehow the mind could accept their deaths more readily had they been killed in combat.

I cannot even begin to understand how their Commanding Officer, L/C(A) H Colville-Stewart RNVR must have felt in trying to come to terms with the loss of so many young men under his command. You say he was relieved of his post; in that case, do you think he would have been allocated a job on the ground.

Surely the deaths of these young men, whatever the cause(s) must have adversely affected him for the rest of his natural life.

Your grandfather's brother, Johannes Blok, was born in Java, as was EH den Hollander. Might I ask what happened to Johanne's parents (your G'Grand-parents)and siblings during the war years? Did they relocate elsewhere before the Japanese invasion of Java? The reason I ask is that it might give me some indication as to what happened to the den Hollander family?

Marbeth

[marco]

Marbeth,

When war broke out, many Dutch men were called for military service in the Netherlands East Indies.
The Dutch Navy had a flying school in the region and I think that Johannes Blok and EH den Hollander were in this school.

Just before the capitulation to Japan, all personel/flyers from that school were transfered to the Royal Netherlands Military Flying School at Jackson Army Air Base in Februari 1942.

So I think that Johannes Blok and EH den Hollander, and maybe their family made this same move.

Marco

[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.

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