Looze, Willem Adriaan de

Date of birth:: February 26th, 1916 (Amsterdam, the Netherlands)
Date of death:: June 22nd, 2000 (Wassenaar, the Netherlands)
Nationality:: Dutch

Biography

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

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Luitenant Ter Zee 2de Klasse
Unit:: Koninklijke Marine
Awarded on:: August 20th, 1948

Recommendation:
For having distinguished himself in combat by performing eminent acts of courage, tact and loyalty in the period from mid 1941 to mid 1944, as commander of a motor gunboat, a motor torpedoboat or of Dutch or Anglo-Dutch flotillas consisting of similar vessels, having completed some 170 patrols in the English Channell in a most audacious manner against trawlers sailing in convoy or enemy minesweepers, often under heavy enemy fire and although his own vessel was set on fire twice; pressing home his attacks with courage and perseverance whilst displaying considerable initiative.
On April 17, 1943, after having received a message to the effect that a rubber raft, containing the crew of a downed bomber had been spotted off the coast of France, he in his capacity of divisional commander of two gunboats having gone there and having rescued this crew within a short distance of the piers of Boulogne.
In the night of September 28 to 29, 1943, commanding MTB flotilla B from MTB 433, after flotilla A and B had been under enemy fire, he immediately went into the attack; after a few minutes, MTB 433 was severely damaged, fire had broken out and one member of his crew was killed and two men injured, pressing home his attack notwithstanding and delivering heavy fire on enemy minesweepers and only after he was convinced that his other two vessels were out of danger, he returned to base in order to get medical help for the injured.
On July 26-27, 1944, in an engagement with five enemy vessels — in order to be able to launch an attack — he and his flotilla had to position themselves between the enemy and an Allied destroyer, sustaining some damage by the fire from the latter, he pressed home this attack, scoring various hits on the enemy vessels. As a result, two of these vessels were knocked out of action and the goal of the operation was achieved: driving back the enemy because of the supply of goods across the English Channell.

Royal decree no. 35