Officier-vlieger J. Blok

[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.

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