The Last Remaining Dutch Spitfire Pilot Of
OCTOBER 2018 / NR 227 PUBLISHED EVERY THREE MONTHS Leo Hendrikx in his best uniform Maj Gen M Verbeek, Dep. Commander RNLAF, congratulates Leo Hendrikx The last remaining Dutch Spitfire Pilot of ww2 Earlier this year, our member, ming many more obstacles they eventually cally light and supple, and I couldn’t resist 95-year-old Leo Hendrikx, was boarded a ship at Bilbao, bound for Curacao. making a few rolls” presented with the “Draag Insigne From there a tramp steamer took them to Whilst at the bar of the “Brevet Flying Gewonden” (Insignia for the woun- New York, and eventually, a train to Ontario Club” in London, he met an English pilot who ded), the Dutch equivalent of a in Canada to join the Dutch Army there. told him he would be flying to Gilze-Rijen. Purple Heart. Leo sailed to England on board a pas- When Leo said he was from Horn, the pilot The Insignia was handed to Leo by Maj senger ship to join the ‘Princes Irene Brigade’ agreed to take him along. From Gilze-Rijen Gen M Verbeek, Dep. Commander RNLAF, but wasn’t happy there. After a visit to he hitched a lift to the recently liberated at a ceremony in Horn, Limburg. London, and tea with H.M Queen Eindhoven and the following day found a The Latin inscription on the in- Wilhelmina, he was tested for lift to Weert where, in his best uniform, he stood out from the troops in their combat signia is: “Vulneratus nee Victus”, service with the RAF and on 15 May gear.
[Show full text]