Date of birth:

October 14th, 1917 (Surabaya/Java, Dutch East Indies)

Date of death:

February 24th, 1942 (north of Batavia, Dutch East Indies)

Nationality:

Dutch (1815-present, Kingdom)

Guus van der Pol was born on 14th October 1917 at Soerabaya as the son of Hendrik Lodewijk Gerrit van der Pol (died 10th September 1942) and Louise Frederike Kress (died 26th June 1946). On 25th July 1938 he joined the army in the Dutch East Indies for 10 years contract. He was appointed as leerling-vliegtuigmaker (mechanic) at the Naval Base at Goebeng. On 7th October 1938 he was transferred to the Naval Air Service. His promotion to Vliegtuigmakersmaat followed on 1st August 1940.

During a reconnaissence flight on board the flying boat "X 17", together with flying boat "X 18", Guus van der Pol was killed when the plane was shot down by enemy fighters.

Promotions:
July 25th, 1938: Leerling-Vliegtuigmaker;
August 1st, 1940: Vliegtuigmakersmaat.

Career:
July 25th, 1938: Monteur Marinekazerne Goebeng, Koninklijke Marine;
October 7th, 1938: Monteur Marine Luchtvaartdienst.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Vliegtuigmakersmaat

Unit:

"X 17", Groep Vliegtuigen 8, Marine Luchtvaartdienst

Awarded on:

December 15th, 1947

Citation:
"Has decorated himself by, belonging to our Groepvliegtuigen 8 given notice of courage, perseverence, competence and devotion to duty in acting in numerous sorties in December 1941 and in January and February 1942 against the enemy in the Dutch East Indies."

526th Award.
Royal Decree No. 11, dated 15th December 1947.

• Photo 1: Bert van Willigenburg
• - MEIJER, H.G. & VIS, R., Het Vliegerkruis, De Bataafsche Leeuw, Amsterdam, 1997.
  - Personal data, The Hague, 2nd July 1992
  - Royal Decree No. 10, dated 15th December 1947
  - The Dutch Medals Page