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Leegstra, Tjerk Hidde

Date of birth:
January 27th, 1912 (Hilversum, The Netherlands)
Date of death:
October 23rd, 1980 (Algarve, Portugal)
Nationality:
Dutch (1815-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Promotions:
16th August 1934: Reserve 2e Luitenant-vlieger der Militaire Luchtvaart;
16th August 1938: Reserve 1e Luitenant-vlieger der Militaire Luchtvaart.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Reserve-1e Luitenant-Vliegenier (1st Lieutenant-pilot of Reserves)
Awarded on:
October 16th, 1941
For escaping from occupied Holland with a Fokker G.1 fighter and reaching Great Britain on May 5th 1941.

4th Award.
Royal Decree No 24 dated 16th october 1941.
Vliegerkruis (VK)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Reserve-1e Luitenant-Vliegenier (Reserve 1st Lieutenant-pilot)
Awarded on:
January 4th, 1949
For making an airraid on Mai 12th 1940 on German Forces at the Grebbeberg and reaching his homebase dispite of all the damage his plane had received.

582nd Award.
Royal Decree No 14 dated 4th January 1949.
Received as an arabic "2" for on the ribbon of the first "Vliegerkruis"
Vliegerkruis (VK)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Kapitein vlieger
Legion of Merit - Legionnaire (LoM)

Sources

  • - Meijer H.G., Vis R., Het Vliegerkruis, Voor initiatief, moed en volharding, De Bataafsche Leeuw, Amsterdam, 1997, ISBN 9067073474
    - The Dutch Medals Page

Photo