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Winckel, Willem Frederik Auguste "Gus"

Date of birth:
November 3rd, 1912 (Muntok/Banka, Dutch East Indies)
Date of death:
August 17th, 2013 (Australia)
Nationality:
Dutch (1815-present, Kingdom)

Biography

After the Japanese invaded the Dutch East Indies, First Lieutenant W.F.A. "Gus" Winckel was flying refugees to Australia. During an air raid on Broome he was pinned down on the airfield. "Gus" defended the airfield with a machinegun and shot down a Japanese fighter, killing its pilot Osamu Kudo.
Later "Gus" served with the RAAF in No 18 (NEI) Squadron on the B-25 Mitchell until the end of the war. After the fighting was over, he found back his girlfriend who had staid in a Japanese prisoner’s camp all these years.
After being reunited, they married.
In the Australian city Moruya is a statue in honor of the airman who succeeded in putting a Japanese submarine out of action from his bomber. In Broome a street is named after him.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Tweede luitenant-vlieger (Pilot Officer)

K.B. no. 4, 23 april, 1942
Bronzen Kruis (BK)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Tweede luitenant-vlieger (Pilot Officer)

K.B. no. 4, 23 april, 1942
Eervolle Vermelding (EV)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Tweede Luitenant-vlieger (Pilot Officer)
"Gus"Winckel originally received the "Bronzen Kruis" with "Eervolle Vermelding", this was later changed to the "Bronzen Leeuw".
Bronzen Leeuw (BL)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Eerste luitenant-waarnemer-vlieger (Flying Officer)
Unit:
No. 18 (NEI) Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
Awarded on:
December 9th, 1949
Vliegerkruis (VK)

K.B. no. 25, 9 december, 1949.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

Received with three clasps.
Oorlogsherinneringskruis (OHK)

Sources