Burgerhout, Hugo Victor Benjamin

Date of birth:: May 21st, 1913 (Rotterdam, the Netherlands)
Date of death:: March 7th, 1988 (Le Regal/Antraigues-en-Ardèche, France)
Nationality:: Dutch

Biography

He was born in Rotterdam, May 21, 1913. In 1932, he started flying lessons at the NLS in Rotterdam and made his civil license in 1933.
October 2, 1933: Entered voluntary service as adspirant flying officer with the naval air service. Trained for military pilot at airfields De Kooy, Schellingwoude and De Mok.
1936-1942: Posted to the Naval Air Service in the Dutch East Imdies. Flew patrols, reconnaissance and bombing raids.
March – August 1942: posted to the RAAF. Patrols, instructor and test flights. Went to America by ship with 5 crews.
Sep – Dec 1942: Posted in Corpus Christi, waiting for the new Catalina amphibious aircraft
December 1942: Flew from Miami to Trincomalee on Ceylon (Sri Lanka) via Brazil, Africa and India as commander of five aircraft.
January – October 1943 Patrol flights.
October 1943: Left for England by plane.
October 1943 – Januari 1, 1945: Commander of 320 Squadron RDNAS equipped with the B-25 Mitchell. Flew 88 missions over France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
March- September 1945: Training for test pilot at the Empire Flying School at Boscombe Down and Farnborough.
1946 – 1949: director and chief pilot of an English charter company, Aero Holland and took part in the Berlin airlift.
1950-1960: Test pilot of the Fokker F-27 Friendship aircraft, flying demonstrations all over the world and making the aircraft an enormous success. Later on, he became chief marketing of Fokker which ended his career as a professional pilot. He made about 12,000 flying hours on 167 types of land and seaplanes and was one of the first Dutchmen to fly jet aircraft, in particular the Gloster Meteor I and III.
1960 – 1976: Owner/director of a metal goods factory.
1976: Retirement.

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Vliegerkruis (VK)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Officier-Vlieger der Tweede Klasse (Pilot Officer)
Awarded on:: February 24th, 1944

Awarded with "Eervolle Vermelding" (Honorable Mentioning) for a bombardmend action on December 13th, 1941.

Simultaneously awarded with the EV, KV and the MWO-4.
Royal Decree No. 1, dated February 24th, 1944.

Eervolle Vermelding (EV)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Officier-Vlieger der Tweede Klasse (Pilot Officer)
Unit:: Hr. Ms. Vliegboot X-30, Groep Vliegtuigen 5 (GVT-5), Koninklijke Marine
Awarded on:: February 24th, 1944

Awarded with the "Vliegerkruis" (Flyers Cross) for a bombardmend action on December 13th, 1941.

Simultaneously awarded with the VK, KV and the MWO-4.
Royal Decree No. 1, dated February 24th, 1944.

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Hoofdofficier-vlieger der 2de klasse
Unit:: No. 320 (Dutch) Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: August 25th, 1944

For excellent gallant leadership in war.

Royal Decree with permission to wear No. 29, dated September 8th, 1944.

Vliegerkruis (VK)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Officier-Vlieger der Tweede Klasse (Pilot Officer)
Unit:: No. 320 (Dutch) Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: October 12th, 1944

As commander of 320 Sqn. R.D.N.A.S. of our Naval Air Service in the United Kingdom, having displayed during a long period in operational flights against the enemy courage, capability, perseverance and devotion to duty.

Royal Decree No. 10, dated October 12th, 1944.

Kruis van Verdienste (KV)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Hoofdofficier-vlieger der 2 de klasse

Simultaneously awarded with the VK, KV and the MWO-4

Ridder vierde klasse der Militaire Willems Orde (MWO.4)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Hoofdofficier-vlieger der 2de klasse (Lieutenant-commander)
Unit:: No. 320 (Dutch) Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: December 11th, 1950

For having distinguished himself in action with outstanding acts of gallantry, tact and loyalty between December 8th, 1941 and December 25th, 1944 as Pilot-officer and leader of aircraft under his command, during which he managed, by his example and agressive spirit, to maintain the morale of his subordinates at a high level and to lead his personnel in an exemplary fashion, often in extremely hazardous situations by always demanding more of himself than of his subordinates and to personnally lead the way on all dangerous missions.
In particular:
1)As commander of a group of RDNAS (MLD) flying boats in Indonesia
between December 8th, 1941 and March 8th, 1942: a)For having flown numerous, often audacious reconnaissance missions and a few succesfull bombing raids; b)for taking off without hesitation with the flying boat X-30 during an attack on Ternate on December 17th, 1941, to pursue and engage a four-engined Japanese flying boat, during which action both aircraft were severely damaged; c)for rescueing a crew of his group after a daring bombing raid on Davao, Phillipines, by landing in a difficult and dangerous situation next to the downed aircraft and flying the crew to safety; d)for having flown to safety from the harbour complex of Tjilatjap in early March 1942 during the evacuation from Java, a DB 7 Boston light bomber which had just arrived from the US still in crates. Under his leadership, the aircraft was assembled and a makeshift runway constructed and without ever having flown an aircraft of this type; e)for having evacuated to Australia under extremely hazardous circumstances most of his personnel, flying the last remaining aircraft of his group.
2)As commander of 320 Sq. RDNAS on the Western Front between December
12th, 1943 and December 25th, 1944, with a temporary respite between June 28th and September 8th, for having flown a total of 80 missions against the enemy, often under heavy anti-aircraft fire and having led formations from 6 to 14 aircraft, many of these missions were eminently executed and much damage was caused to the enemy.
Furthermore for having inspired his subordinates by his perseverance, his courage and his qualities of leadership to mold his squadron in the Tactical Air Force, to which it was attached to a superb fighting unit which rated more than equal to British and other Allied squadrons.

Royal Decree dated December 11th, 1950 nr. 40