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Pauw, Harry

Date of birth:
January 10th, 1918 (Singapore, singapore)
Date of death:
May 10th, 1940 (Ypenburg, the Netherlands)
Buried on:
Dutch War Cemetery Grebbeberg
Row: 13. Grave: 61.
Nationality:
Dutch (1815-present, Kingdom)

Biography

The Reserve 2nd Lieutenant-pilot Harry Pauw lived in Naarden. When the war broke out in the Netherlands, he was flying with the 3e Jachtvliegtuigafdeling at Ypenburg airfield. He flew together with his observer/gunner Ballangee on the 393, a Douglas 8A/3N fighter-bomber.
Near Vlaardingen, on May 10th 1940, the plane was shot down. Pauw managed to leave the plane, although heavily wounded, with his parachute. The 393 crashed, killing Ballangee.
Pauw was severely wounded and died when he touched the ground in a field near Vlaaridnger-Amacht.
At first his body was buried on the Algemene Begraafplaats in Vlaardingen. He was transferred to his hometown on May 30th 1940 to be buried on the Algemene Begraafplaats in Bussum (near Naarden). When they dug up the grave in Bussum to make place for others, his remains were brought to the Militaire Ereveld Grebbeberg in Rhenen (Military Field of Honour), and he was reburied in row 13, grave 61.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Reserve-Tweede Luitenant-Vlieger (Pilot Officer)
Unit:
3e Jachtvliegtuigafdeling, 1e Luchtvaartregiment, Wapen der Militaire Luchtvaart
Awarded on:
May 6th, 1946
Official Citation:
"Has by showing courage and initiative during one or more aerial combatflights in an airplane against the enemy decorated himself, as a part of the crew of a Douglas-plane, in an air combat with an overwhelming majority of the enemy over the Dutch Airfield Ypenburg on May 10th 1940; he was killed during this action."

474th Award.
Royal Decreee No. 9 dd May 6th 1946.
Awarded posthumously.
Vliegerkruis (VK)

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