Linzel, Jan

Date of birth:: December 7th, 1915 (Stadskanaal, the Netherlands)
Date of death:: May 5th, 2019 (Glengarriff/Cork, Ireland)
Service number:: 1814982 (RAF)/160743 (RAF)
Nationality:: Dutch

Biography

Promotions:
?: dienstplichtig Korporaal;
?: dienstplichtig Sergeant;
November 1st, 1939: Sergenat-vlieger;
June 6th, 1943: Flight Sergeant;
1943: Flying Officer;
May 20th, 1948: Eerste Luitenant-vlieger;
November 1st, 1949: Kapitein-vlieger;
1950: Majoor-vlieger.

Career:
? - October 5th, 1935; Korps Motordienst;
1938: Vliegopleiding Luchtvaartafdeeling der Koninklijke Landmacht (LVA);
November 1st, 1939: 1e Jachtvliegtuigenafdeeling (1e JaVA) , Jachtgroep, 2e Luchtvaartregiment;
July 6th, 1943: Allied L Squadron, Royal Air Force;
September 6th,1943: RAF College, Cranwell;
november 1943: Maintenance Unit, Old Weddup;
July 25th, 1944: No. 84 Group Support Unit, Thruxton;
?: No.57 Operational Training Unit;
August 3rd, 1944: No. 33 Squadron;
June 26th, 1945: No. 322 (Dutch) Squadron;
March 1947: Rijksluchtvaartschool;
?: Instructeur Rijksluchtvaartschool;
?: Instructeur, Jachtvliegschool (JVS);
November 1948: Flight Commander, No. 323 Squadron;
October 1949: Kommandant, No. 323 Squadron;
May 1950 - 1973: Vuurleider, Cornfield Range, Terschelling.

During the four days of war in may 1940, Jan Linzel was stationed at Ypenburg airfield. On May 10th, 1940, in his Fokker D. XXI '246', he shot down one German aircraft and damaged another before he himself was shot down. Although wounded he managed to bring himself to safety with his parachute.
After a failed attempt via Spain to evade to England in 1941 he made another attempt in April 1942. Traveling through Switserland, France, Spain and Portugal he manages to reach England in June 1943.
As a pilot in the RAF he takes part in over 150 combat missions.
After the SEcond World War, Jan Linzel becomes an instructor at the Spitfire at the Jachtvliegschool Twente airbase and later Flight Commander with No. 323 Squadron, Leeuwarden.
From the 1950's until his retirement in 1973 he served as Vuurleider at Cornfield Range, Terschelling.

Flown aircraft:
Fokker S-IV '108';
Fokker C-V '601';
Fokker D XXI '215';
Fokker D XXI '246';
Hawker Tempest 'SN 206, 5R-U'.

Air victories:
May 10th, 1940: Messerschmitt Bf 110, Ypenburg;
May 10th,1940: Heinkel He 111 (possible), Ypenburg.

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Onderscheidingsteken voor Piloot LVA

Awarded on:: 1939

Kruis van Verdienste (KV)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Reserve Sergeant-Vlieger (Sergeant of Reserves)
Unit:: Wapen der Militaire Luchtvaart
Awarded on:: October 28th, 1943

Citation:
"With care preparing and completing the plan for an escape from occupied the Netherlands, after which, after having encountered many difficulties, England was reached."

Royal Decree No.14, dated October 28th, 1943.

Vliegerkruis (VK)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Reserve-Tweede Luitenant-Vlieger (Pilot Officer)
Unit:: 1e Jachtvliegtuigenafdeeling (1e JaVA), Jachtgroep, 2e Luchtvaartregiment, Luchtvaartafdeeling der Koninklijke Landmacht (LVA)
Awarded on:: April 22nd, 1948

Citation:
"Has awarded himself in face of the enemy, by deeds of initiative, courage en perseverence, during one of more flights in an aircraft, on May 10th, 1940, during an aerial battle over the airport of YPENBURG."

551st Award.
Royal Decree No.77, dated April 22nd, 1948.