Tongeren, van, Klasinus
- Date of birth:
- December 2nd, 1912 (Kesteren, the Netherlands)
- Date of death:
- December 2nd, 1941 (along Norwegian coast)
- Buried on:
- Dutch War Cemetery Oslo
- Nationality:
- Dutch
Biography
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Bronzen Kruis (BK)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Korporaal-telegrafist (Corporal wireless operator)
- Unit:
- No. 320 (Dutch) Squadron, Royal Air Force
- Awarded on:
- November 15th, 1940
For having performed eminent acts in wartime, notably: being employed as radio-operator/machinegunner on board Our Aircraft “R-7” tasked with the mission of flying from England in the night of October 15th and 16th to enemy-occupied Holland, to land on one of the lakes to perform an important task for the Intelligence service and by his skillful and determined conduct having contributed considerably to the accomplishment of this hazardous task.
Royal Decree No. 3, dated 15th November 1940.
Received with Mentioning in Despatches.
Later both revoced and replaced by Bronze Lion.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Korporaal-telegrafist (Corporal wireless operator)
- Unit:
- No. 320 (Dutch) Squadron, Royal Air Force
- Awarded on:
- November 15th, 1940
Mentioning in Despatches for Bronze Cross.
Royal Decree No. 3, dated 15th November 1940.
Received with Mentioning in Despatches.
Later both revoced and replaced by Bronze Lion.
Royal Decree No. 3, dated 15th November 1940.
Received with Mentioning in Despatches.
Later both revoced and replaced by Bronze Lion.
Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Korporaal-telegrafist (Corporal wireless operator)
- Unit:
- No. 320 (Dutch) Squadron, Royal Air Force
- Awarded on:
- January 10th, 1941
Citation:
"Lieutenant Schaper, Sub-Lieutenant Ritte and Corporal Van Tongeren, were pilot, navigator and wireless operator gunner respectively of a Fokker seaplane detailed to undetake a special mission of very greatest importance involving unusual preparation, courage and initiative of a high order. Moreover the operation involved landing and taking off in enemy territory at night without assistance of any kind. Intence opposition from machine guns and searchlights was encountered at a hight of less than 100 feet. Sub-Lieutenant Ritte received the entire bust of tracer bullets at point blank range. Fortunately the burst was deflected by the bomb sight, but splinters sprayed this officer's legs, face, hands and chest. Corporal Van Tongeren displayed extreme coolness and qualities of a high order in keeping his gun in action despite the fact that he was wounded in his legs and his gun knocked out of his hands. Lieutenant Scheeper succeeded, by his determination and courage, in bringing his severely damaged aircraft back to base with both members of his crew wounded. Although suffering from loss of blood, Sub-Lieutenant Ritte continued to navigate the aircraft and so enabled his pilot to make a safe landing in the most difficult circumstances. Lieutenant Schaper, Sub-Lieutenant Ritte and Corporal Van Tongeren formed a team whose perfect co-operation alone enabled them to extricate themselves from what might have been a hopeless situation."
Permission to wear the decoration was received by Royal Decree No. 6, dated 28th February 1941.
"Lieutenant Schaper, Sub-Lieutenant Ritte and Corporal Van Tongeren, were pilot, navigator and wireless operator gunner respectively of a Fokker seaplane detailed to undetake a special mission of very greatest importance involving unusual preparation, courage and initiative of a high order. Moreover the operation involved landing and taking off in enemy territory at night without assistance of any kind. Intence opposition from machine guns and searchlights was encountered at a hight of less than 100 feet. Sub-Lieutenant Ritte received the entire bust of tracer bullets at point blank range. Fortunately the burst was deflected by the bomb sight, but splinters sprayed this officer's legs, face, hands and chest. Corporal Van Tongeren displayed extreme coolness and qualities of a high order in keeping his gun in action despite the fact that he was wounded in his legs and his gun knocked out of his hands. Lieutenant Scheeper succeeded, by his determination and courage, in bringing his severely damaged aircraft back to base with both members of his crew wounded. Although suffering from loss of blood, Sub-Lieutenant Ritte continued to navigate the aircraft and so enabled his pilot to make a safe landing in the most difficult circumstances. Lieutenant Schaper, Sub-Lieutenant Ritte and Corporal Van Tongeren formed a team whose perfect co-operation alone enabled them to extricate themselves from what might have been a hopeless situation."
Permission to wear the decoration was received by Royal Decree No. 6, dated 28th February 1941.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Korporaal-telegrafist (Corporal wireless operator)
- Unit:
- No. 320 (Dutch) Squadron, Royal Air Force
Received to replace the revoced Bronze Cross with Mentioning in Despatches.
Sources
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