Needing info on The Dutch in NY, Jackson MI and Australia

my apologies... I posted this as a reply instead of a new thread. Reposting here. Sorry, should be Jackson MS not MI....

Hello everyone!

Jennifer here, researching how my Dad came to New York in 1940 from Curaçao where he has worked as a mechanic for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. I found it was originally to work/train on the Brewster’s being manufactured there. He then somehow went to Jackson MS (probably in 1942) with the Royal Netherlands Military Flying School and he then flew out with the last or next to the last group in Feb. 1944 to Australia where he served with the ML-KNIL until April 1946. Only know he was at Bundaberg, Australia, not sure if anywhere else there.

Age:64
Me: born on Long Island, NY but father born in Den Hague, NL, and mother born in Paramaribo, Surinam

I have pieced this history together from days and days of sleuthing. Dad passed in 1982 and mom passed in 2008. My sis and I never thought to ask either of them about dad’s time in WWII. Dad’s uncle was Albert Plesman, founder of KLM. Dad worked for KLM all of his life from June 22, 1931 as a technical engineer at Waalhaven Airport, Rotterdam until retirement on July 1, 1973 as Manager Technical Dept in Tokyo, Japan. In between, after the war, we were stationed in New York and Anchorage as KLM extended its routes over the pole.

I need help with identifying some WWII mechanics wings I have that belong to him. 2 I have identified, one I haven’t. Not sure where to post that here. I would love to know more regarding his time in NY with the Brewster’s and how/when he was sent to Jackson. I have scoured pages of info on the internet. I am pretty sure he ended up working on B-25s in Jackson because we have photos of him standing with his pupils in front of the plane.

There is much more but I welcome any help on how to get started here. Thank you, in advance!!!
Jennifer

 

Welcome to the forums!

 

Welcome aboard...

 

Welcome to the forums Jennifer! It's great to have you here, and there are most definitely people who are here to help you find further information.

 

Thank u, Lou, will do!

 

Here are the wings I spoke of. Dad had a pair of the bottom wing which I identified as follows - “WWII Netherlands Aviation Mechanic wing made in the US by AMICO (nickel-plated brass)”. I haven’t found anything so far on the top one, of which there is only 1. Dad had it soldered to this plaque so I cannot see the back of either wing. Any help in identifying this wing would be wonderful! Yes, the top one has part of the propeller broken off but it has been in this state for as long as we can remember.

 

Hi, Lou, thank you so much for posting! I think your pic is very very close but the cowling is a bit different, my dad’s wreath has a bow that hangs down, and the wings are a bit different as well. Note the distinct curve of the wing as it comes off the cowling in my dad’s. It is much less of a curve in yours.

As to the second wing, I had posted what I found on eBay so believe it to be correct. Check out what I wrote above.

I think that after dad left Jackson, MS, for Australia, he may have served in the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army under Major General Hendrix Ludolph va Oyen. But I really don’t know for sure. Is this the same as the Dutch East Indies Army/Air Force? I have a pic I will post here of dad and Major General Oyen...

Jennifer

 

I have a copy of the book “Royal Netherlands Military Flying School”, however, I am unable to post a pic of one of the pages I took with my cell phone as it tells me it is too large. I don’t know how to get around it but dad is standing with a group of men with General van Oyen. My dad is third from the left. Any suggestions as to how to get around this size limitation are appreciated. I have tried taking a pic with the smallest resolution on my phone and editing the pic down to the barest essentials but it is still too large. Sigh.

 

Excellent, I will try that!

 

Dad is 3rd from the left

 

Actually, I did already find this thesis and read through it. It helped fill in several holes for me about the Flying School ... dates and all.

 

With that photo we could also play "What aircraft is that?"

 

Love that idea!

 

Im usually pretty good...but I cant pick it...

 

I have a pic of my dad in front of a B-25 with a graduating class that he helped train. I also have a notation on the back but need help with some questions I have. There are over a hundred men in the pic, my dad in a totally different uniform, then a bunch of men in white lab coats. Also an American flag and a derigible in the background. Where do I post these 2 pics and my questions? Under WWII allied aviation? Which forum? Thanks, ya’ll, I so appreciate you!
Jennifer

 

Allied Aviation sounds good!

Im guessing some type of Fokker...for now... : )