De Operaties Van 320 Squadron
Where Nico Geldhof’s book DE VLIEGTUIGEN VAN 320 SQUADRON describes in detail the aircraft of this famous Dutch squadron in British service, he describes in this second volume the operations with these planes.
The book starts with a detailed account of the operations during five days war of the Marineluchtvaartdienst against invading German forces. With the personnel and Fokker T-VIIIW floatplanes escaping to England. the squadrons 320 and 321 were formed operating under Coastal Command. The T-VIIIW was soon replaced by the Lockheed Hudson and both squadrons, later joined into the single squadron 320, flew many missions within the European war theatre. Later in the war, 320 was placed under the supervision of Bomber Command when it was re-equipped with B-25 Mitchell bombers. The missions continued for the full five year and 320 squadron ended the war with the De Havilland Mosquito
Nico Geldhof gives in this hard cover book at A4 size a very detailed story of the operations from 320 squadron,. At the end of the book, a bitter sum is given: 163 people were killed and 71 aircraft were lost during 5475 sorties and 14,346 flying hours!
While DE VLIEGTUIGEN VAN 320 SQUADRON was already a thick book, we can only describe this book as HUGE with its 500 pages and more than 400 photographs, most of them rare and from personal collections! The price of this standard work is high: almost EURO 70. However, both ‘flagships’ of the publisher Geromy are really worth buying as reference works! Just like the first volume, knowledge of the Dutch language is essential since no English text or summary is given.
Book details:
Title De Operaties van 320 squadron
Author Nico Geldhof
Publisher Geromy B.V., Gageldijk 83- P.O. Box 1040, 3600 BA Maarssen -The Netherlands
Website www.geromy.nl
ISBN 90-672-0396-3
Price EURO 69.90 [excluding shipment costs]
Nico Braas
Sample publication is provided by Geromy B.V.
Dear Sir,
Since my uncle, no longer with us, was a sergeant airgunner on a B-25, I would like to know if there is any record of him.
His name is L.(Louis)Dekker, from Rottedam. He jumped out of a burning B-25 above the Ardennes and was saved by bailing out of a burning aircraft in time, and awarded the caterpillar insigna by saving his life by parachute.
Yours sincerely,
Charles Coleman
Deare Mr Coleman,
This must have been Louis Dekker, born 28 March 1923 in Rotterdam. He lft the Royal Naval Air Service in 1947. Can you tell me when he passed away? I’m currently completing a Ph.D. about Dutch airmen in the RAF and the FAA.
Regards,
Erwin van Loo
hope that you have received answer via email 😛
Dear All, as you will know we have the nameplate from Hudson ‘Tello’ of 320 Squadron in our museum here. If the story of its operations is in the book, I will certainly buy a copy.
All the best ‘Frae Bonny Scotland’
Graham McIntosh.
🙂
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IN REPLY TO CHARLES COLEMAN
Also, my grandma was a DEKKER born 1889
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Dear Sir,
Since my uncle, no longer with us, was a sergeant airgunner on a B-25, I would like to know if there is any record of him.
His name is L.(Louis)Dekker, from Rottedam. He jumped out of a burning B-25 above the Ardennes and was saved by bailing out of a burning aircraft in time, and awarded the caterpillar insigna by saving his life by parachute.
Yours sincerely,
Charles Coleman
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my email is john_loos999@hotmail.com
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29.12.1944 Mitchell FV928 of 320 Squadron Hit by Flak and crashed 10 miles S. of Liège (B) Crew: Plt: Off.vl.2eKl. E.J. WILS, baled out, safe Obs: Off.zeewrnr.2eKl. A. HISSINK, baled out, safe AG: Sgt. DEKKER, baled out, safe AG: Sgt.schut.z.m. J. JILLINGS, KIA, now buried at Amersfoort-Rusthof.
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johnloos777@live.ca
DEKKER WOULD BE A BROTHER YO MY GRANDMOTHER
MARGRETA CHRISTINA DEKKER BEUKERS
MY FATHER MATTHYJS (THYJS) LOOS SERVED
IN 320 SQUADRON
JUNE 1940 T0 SEPTEMBER 1947
POW MAY 1942 TO APRIL 1945
PLANE DITCHED NORTH SEA 30 MAY 1942
johnloos777@live.ca
PILOT SCHAPER BECAME AIR FORCE CHIEF OF STAFF
http://www.airwarweb.net/dutch/320losses.php
29.05.1942 Hudson AM686 ‘Cheribon’ of 320 squadron
Ditched at sea off Terschelling Island
Crew:
Off.vl. 1e kl. H. SCHAPER, POW
Sgt.vl. A.C. DEN BOER, POW
Sgt.tel. A.J.I. LENSING, POW
Matroos 1e kl. M. LOOS, POW
Crew picked up by Flak-ship.