Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Officier vlieger der 2 de Klasse.

Unit:

No. 320 (Dutch) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

November 14th, 1940

Recommendation:
For acts of courage, tact and loyalty in the face of the enemy in wartime, by having flown on October 19th, 1940, in Our aircraft R 7, which he commanded, to the northern part of occupied Holland and having landed on one of the lakes in order to fulfill a task, important for the secret service; afterwards having succeeded in taking off with the aforementioned aircraft, which had been fired at by the enemy from close range, and having flown it safely back to England at night.

Royal Decree no. 3 dated 5 November, 1940.

Awarded on:

May 1959

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Officier-Vlieger der Tweede Klasse (Pilot Officer)

Unit:

No. 320 (Dutch) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

February 28th, 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 granted by Royal Decree No. 2, dated February 28th, 1941.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1948

Awarded on:

December 2nd, 1960

Awarded on:

1966

Awarded on:

April 17th, 1967

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

November 1961

Promotion

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

April 11th, 1972

Grand Cross