Bongaerts, Joseph Marie Phillipe

North American B-25 Mitchell

Date of birth:: March 17th, 1915 (Venlo/Limburg, The Netherlands)
Date of death:: December 27th, 1989 (Assen/Drenthe, The Netherlands)
Nationality:: Dutch

Biography

Jo Bongaerts, brother of Charles Bongaerts grew up in Roermond and was studying in Delft when the Netherlands were occupied by Germany. He escaped aboard the vessel Zeemanshoop to England where he enlisted in the Naval Air Service. Following his training, he served as navigator in B-25 Mitchells of 320 Squadron. Directly after the war he became station commander of Gilze Rijen air base but left the service on August 16th, 1947.
He sustained serious injuries on October 25th, 1943, when his plane crashed after an attack on an air base near Brest and was awarded a D.F.C.
After the war he finished his studies and was employed by Shell in Indonesia. When that country became independent he returned to the Netherlands and made a career with the N.A.M. and ultimately became President of Shell.

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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

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

Permission to wear the decoration granted by Royal Decree No. 5, dated February 7th, 1944.
Investiture on the 12 February 1944 by Air Marshall Sir Basil Embry (Air Officer Commanding, No. 2 Group) in the presence of the entire 320 squadron.

Vliegerkruis (VK)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Officier-Vlieger der tweede klasse
Unit:: No. 320 (Dutch) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Recommendation:
For having displayed in combat against the enemy courage, skill, perseverance and devotion to duty while having served for a long period of time with 320 Squadron R.D.N.A.S. of Our Naval Air Service in the United Kingdom.

Royal Decree no. 12 dated 12 May, 1945.