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Bakker, Dirk Jan

Date of birth:
April 29th, 1915 (Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
Date of death:
January 24th, 1942 ((Near Menari o/b flying boat X-19))
Nationality:
Dutch (1815-present, Kingdom)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Officier-Vlieger der Tweede Klasse (Pilot Officer)
Unit:
Hr. Mr. Vliegboot X-19, Marine Luchtvaartdienst
Awarded on:
March 21st, 1944
Recommendation:
For having displayed endurance and capability as captain of a seaplane of Our Naval Service in the Dutch East Indies in performing numerous escort and convoy flights for almost 2 months during the war in the Dutch East Indies, including a flight on January 10 over the sea east of Tarakan, having maintained contact for a considerable length of time with an enemy fleet consisting of cruisers, destroyers, transport vessels and aircraft and a flight on January 11 with the aim of rescuing 50 survivors of the troop transport Mastdijn which had been bombed; 3 flights in order to evacuate employees of the Bataafse Petroleum Compagnie from an area occupied by the enemy and a flight with the aim to rescue downed American flyers on Massalembo, all this under trying and hazardous circumstances; having crashed with his airplane on the flight mentioned last.
Awarded with "Honorable Mentioning" for the reconnaissence of the Japanese fleet near Tarakan on January 10th, 1942.

141st Award.
Awarded posthumously.
Royal Decree No. 2, dd. March 21st, 1944.
Replaced by Bronze Lion.
Vliegerkruis (VK)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Officier-Vlieger der Tweede Klasse (Pilot Officer)
Unit:
Hr. Mr. Vliegboot X-19, Marine Luchtvaartdienst
Awarded on:
March 21st, 1944
Eervolle Vermelding (EV)
Awarded to the Flying Cross.

Awarded posthumously.
Replaced by the Bronze Lion.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Officier-Vlieger der Tweede Klasse (Pilot Officer)
Unit:
Hr. Mr. Vliegboot X-19, Marine Luchtvaartdienst
Awarded on:
March 21st, 1944

Royal Decree No. 2, dated March 21st, 1944.
Awarded posthumously.
To replace Flying Cross with Honorable Mentioning.
Bronzen Leeuw (BL)

Sources

Photo