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Royal Netherlands Military Flying-School From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Royal Netherlands Military Flying-School in Jackson, MS, USA, 1943

Dutch fighter pilots training on US fighters, P-40s, at the R.N.M.F. in Jackson, MS, USA

Dutch Air Force plane at the R.N.M.F. in Jackson, MS

Dutch air crews in training at the R.N.M.F. Royal Netherlands Military Flying-School On May 10, 1940, as the Germans invaded and occupied the Kingdom of Netherlands, the Royal family and the Dutch Government fled to England. Throughout the war the Dutch government in exile continued to operate out of London. In the first five days of May 1940, when Germany invaded the Netherlands, the entire Dutch Army Aviation Brigade was taken out by the German Luftwaffe. All of the Brigade's bombers, along with 30 D.XXI and 17 G.I fighters were shot down; two D.XXI and eight G.I fighters were destroyed on the ground. Two G.I fighter planes were captured by German forces, one of which was later flown to England by a Fokker pilot to escape from occupied Holland. Their Douglas bombers were used as fighters because no suitable bombs were available; these aircraft were poorly suited for this role and eight were shot down and three destroyed on the ground in the first hours of the conflict. In spite of their numerical inferiority, the Dutch armed forces did score successes against the Luftwaffe, as they destroyed 350 Luftwaffe aircraft, although many of these were shot down by Dutch anti-aircraft fire and crashes at improvised landing fields in the Netherlands, rather than due to action by Dutch Air Force fighters. The cost was high - almost 95% of the Dutch pilots were lost. In recognition of their actions Queen Wilhelmina granted the highest Dutch military decoration, the Militaire Willemsorde (MWO), to the Army Aviation Brigade collectively. Some aircrews escaped to England and on June 1, 1940, 320 Squadron and 321 Squadron were established there under RAF operational command. Due to a shortage of personnel, 321 Squadron was absorbed by 320 Sqn in January 1941. Although their personnel were predominantly from the Navy Air Service, Army Aviation aircrew also served with 320 Squadron until the end of the war. Because of the German occupation of the Netherlands, the Royal Netherlands Military Flying-School had been shut down in Holland. The Dutch government - in exile - therefore decided, in 1941, to re-open the Flying-School in the United States, and they were welcomed in Jackson, Mississippi on Jackson Field (also known as Hawkins Field). The Dutch Flying-School stayed there throughout World War II, operating lend-lease aircraft and training all of the Netherlands’ military aircrew. The school trained 143 Dutch bomber pilots, 101 fighter-pilots, 141 navigators, bombers, 77 radio operators and 156 air gunners. Contents

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• 1 H.R.H. Prince Bernhard, Prince of the Netherlands, himself at opening ceremony of the R.N.M.F. in Jackson, MS • 2 General L.H. van Oyen, Commanding Officer of the R.N.M.F. • 3 The Banner and the Flag decorated with the M.W.O. (The Militaire Willems Orde) • 4 47 Dutch aviators perished in training in Jackson, MS • 5 External links

[edit]47 Dutch aviators perished in training in Jackson, MS

Every year, on May 4, Dutch Memorial Day, the Kingdom of the Netherlands commemorates our fallen heroes in World War II, including the ones who rest at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Jackson, MS

The Kingdom of the Netherlands' honor field in Cedar Lawn Cemetery, Jackson, MS Military training flights are inherently dangerous and many of Dutch airmen perished in accidents and crashes during their flight training at Hawkins Field. After the first fatality in 1942, the city of Jackson formally donated a stretch of land in Cedar Lawn Cemetery to the Dutch government so the Dutch airmen could be buried on Dutch soil. In total 42 Dutch airmen are buried in this cemetery. General L.H. van Oyen wrote for those who fell:  Mastery of the sky is the dominating factor in modern war; the conquest of the sky claims victims.  A salute of honor be given to those who fell in the service of the R.N.M.F., for Queen and Country.  By leading the way, they paid the highest price - but their names are immortal, for they are engraved in the hearts of those who continue the task and will complete it.  Rest In Peace. A stone, pyramid shaped monument honors our heroes with a plaque which contains the names of 27 of those heroes, under the “Dutch lion” with the words: “Voor hen die vielen” ("For those who fell").  1STE LT. J.A. Butner  SGT. W. Schalk  SGT. J.F.H. Jansen  2DE LT. P.R.A. van Rossum  SGT. F.L. Heskes  OVL. III L.G. Coomans  SGT. H.D. Stibbe  SGT. A. Wiersinga  1STE LT. P.J.P. van Erkel  ASOV. G. van Schieveen  KPL. W. Marcussen  SGT. M.J. Berkers  SGT. M.J.H. Krauth  KPL. W.W.H. Wolering  KPL. H. Panhuyzen  SGT. L. Kierzek  1STE LT. G. Hoogerwerf  KPL. B. Moekardanoe  KPL. G.P. van Pelt  2DE LT. CH.G. Uyterelst  2DE LT. C.L. Boogerd  KAPT. F.A.A.M. Janssens  2DE LT. G.A. Grijssen  2DE LT. G. van Oordt  2DE LT. M.C. Jansz  SGT. MAJ. J.K. Minderhoud  KANP. G.D.B. Spierenburg' Next to the monument, in two straight lines, are more graves of Dutch people who served at the Royal Netherlands Military Flying-School during the war. Even a few, such as Herman Arens (1914-2005), who survived the war, but still wanted to be buried there among their friends from those hard times. Every year, on May 4, the Dutch Memorial Day, the Kingdom of the Netherlands commemorates our fallen heroes in World War II, including at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Jackson, MS, when the Dutch air force or naval attaché, together with a representative of the American Legion, lay a wreath in gratitude for the freedom and peace all of us still - and so much - enjoy today. [edit]External links  Monument in Jackson  “The Story of Bodo Sandberg”