Date of birth:

February 18th, 1914 (The Hague, The Netherlands)

Date of death:

June 8th, 1983

Nationality:

Dutch (1815-present, Kingdom)

During the invasion of Holland, on May 10th, 1940 Pilot Officer Henri Guijt was shot down while flying a Dougls 8a. He managed to bale out and landed slightly injured near Honslerdijk.
In October of that year he tried to escape to the UK, however he was betrayed and arrested by the German Secret Police. He wa sentenced to 2 year imprisonment in a house of correction at Lüttringhausen, Germany. He was severely injured on a foot while unloading a railway wagon. The foot was subsequently partly amputated. Back in Holland in October 1942 he got involved in the Underground Resistance. Guijt escaped from Holland late january 1944 and arrived in UK in March 1944 via Belgium, France and Spain.
Under the nom de guerre Henri William Tyrell he was posted at No. 608 Squadron. Whilst flying Mosquito KB273 on 28th February 1945 the aircraft suffered fuel problems and Guijt and navigator Sgt H.J.Erben baled out ± 20.35h near Bismark (Altmark).
Despite his handicap he evaded capture however was arrested near Remagen and transferred to Dulag Luft at Wetzlar where he was liberated by advancing US troops some weeks later.
After the war Guijt was employed with the KLM (Koninlijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij - Royal Dutch Airlines).

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• Photo: Pauline L. van Till
• - MEIJER, H.G. & VIS, R., Het Vliegerkruis, De Bataafsche Leeuw, Amsterdam, 1997.
  - The Dutch Medals Page
  - Nederlands Luchtmacht in mei 1940
  - Ministerie van Defensie - Verliesregister
  - RAF Commands 1939-1945