Memorial Heije Schaper

The plaque for Heije Schaper in Joure recalls the born Jouster Heije Schaper who died in The Hague at the age of 89 in 1996. Schaper has been in the navy and air force. He was Commander of the Air Force from 1956 to 1961 and Secretary of Defense in the cabinet Cals and Zijlstra with the Royal Air Force in its portfolio.

In 1940 he managed to escape to England by seaplane where he performed in the famous 320 Squadron of the Naval Air reconnaissance and bombing missions. In October 1940, he tried to retrieve resistance fighters in the Netherlands. During a perilous journey Schaper landed with a seaplane on the Tsjûkemar. His arrival was betrayed to the Germans. The plane was shot but Schaper and his crew were able to escape. For this mission was Schaper on November 15, 1940 from the hands of Queen Wilhelmina of the Military Order of William.

Above Ameland Schaper was shot by the Germans from the air. He wanted to try to escape by swimming away, but the Germans picked up Schaper. He was detained in the notorious prison camp Stalag Luft III. He dug along the famous escape tunnel that 'The Great Escape' is filmed.

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Source

• Text: Bert Deelman
• Photos: Bert Deelman
• Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei