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Reijnierse, Willem Jacobus

    Date of birth:
    (Nieuw- en St.Joostland, the Netherlands)
    Date of death:
    September 3rd, 1967 (St. Germain en Laye/Yvelines, France)
    Nationality:
    Dutch (1815-present, Kingdom)

    Biography

    Besides the decorations received during or in relation to the Second World War, Willem Jacobus Reijnierse also received the Knight in the Order of the Dutch Lion, the Long Service Cross for Officers with XX, the Dutch Olympic Committe Medal and the Officer Legion of Merit from the United States.

    Promotions:
    21st August 1931: Luitenant-ter-zee derde Klasse;
    18th August 1934: Luitenant-ter-zee tweede Klasse;
    16th August 1942: Luitenant-ter-zee eerste Klasse;
    1st November 1949: Luitenant-kolonel Vlieger-waarnemer Koninklijke Luchtmacht;
    1st October 1952: Kolonel;
    1st November 1952: Commodore;
    1st March 1955: Generaal-majoor.

    Career:
    17th June 1941: Commandant GVT-2 (Commanding officer GVT-2);
    6th March 1942: R.A.A.F. Station Rathmines;
    23rd May 1942: No. 321 (Dutch) Squadron;
    9th March 1945: Directoraat Luchtstrijdkrachten Verenigd Koninkrijk (Directorate Air Forces United Kingdom);
    September 1945 - February 1946: Commandant Luchtstrijdkrachten Nederland (Commanding Officer Air Forces the Netherlands);
    21st August 1950 - December 1950: Commandant Vliegbasis Leeuwarden (Commanding Officer Leeuwarden Air Base);
    1st December 1950: Nederlands lid van de Air Advisery Committee in Londen (Dutch member Air Advisery Committee, London);
    15th January 1951: Stafofficier SHAPE, Parijs (Staff Officer SHAPE, Paris);
    1st November 1952: Commandant Luchtverdediging Nederland Commanding Officer Dutch Air Defences).

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Luitenant ter zee der 1e klasse (Lieutenant-Commander)
    Unit:
    Groep Vliegtuigen 2 (GVT-2), Koninklijke Marine
    Awarded on:
    November 19th, 1942
    Received for air operations and the sinking of a transportship in the Dutch East Indies between December 1941 and May 1942.

    68th Award,
    Royal Decree No.6, dated November 19th, 1942.
    Awarded with "Eervolle Vermelding".
    With "EV" later replaced by a "Bronzen Leeuw".
    Vliegerkruis (VK)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Luitenant ter zee der 1e klasse (Lieutenant-Commander)
    Unit:
    Groep Vliegtuigen 2 (GVT-2), Koninklijke Marine
    Awarded on:
    November 19th, 1942
    Eervolle Vermelding (EV)
    Received for air operations and the sinking of a transportship in the Dutch East Indies between December 1941 and May 1942.

    Royal Decree No.6, dated November 19th, 1942.
    Awarded with "Vliegerkruis".
    With "VK" later replaced by a "Bronzen Leeuw".
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Luitenant ter zee der 1e klasse (Lieutenant-Commander)
    Unit:
    X-49, Groep Vliegtuiden 2 (GVT-2), Koninklijke Marine (Fleet Air Arm)
    Awarded on:
    1943
    Air Force Cross (AFC)

    Permission to wear the decoration granted by Royal Decree No. 15, dated November 19th, 1943.
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Luitenant ter zee der 1e klasse (Lieutenant-Commander)
    Unit:
    No. 321 (Dutch) Squadron, Royal Air Force
    Awarded on:
    August 3rd, 1944
    Received for war operations in the Dutch-East indies, British Indies and Austrlia.

    206th Award.
    Royal Decree No.5, dated August 3rd, 1944.
    At first this was the second "Vliegerkruis", became the first "Vliegerkruis" after the replacing of the first one by the "Bronzen Leeuw".
    Vliegerkruis (VK)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Luitenant ter zee der 1e klasse (Lieutenant-Commander)
    Unit:
    Groep Vliegtuigen 2 (GVT-2), Koninklijke Marine
    Awarded on:
    1944
    Bronzen Leeuw (BL)

    Correction to the Royal Decree No.6, dated November 19th, 1942.
    Received as replacement for the "Vliegerkruis" with "Eervolle Vermelding".
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Luitenant ter zee der 1e klasse (Lieutenant-Commander)
    Awarded on:
    March 7th, 1947

    503rd Award.
    Royal Decree No.90, dated March 7th, 1947.
    Presented on Juy 4th, 1947.
    Second "Vliegerkruis" received in the form of a "2" to be worn on the ribbon of the first Vliegerkruis.
    Vliegerkruis (VK)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)

    Received with four clasps.
    Oorlogsherinneringskruis (OHK)

    Sources

    Photo