Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands -Spitfire pilot

[Brian]

Hi guys

I've read that Prince Bernhard flew with 322 (Dutch) Squadron during the war (under an assumed name) and later flew B-24s and L-4s.

Can anyone provide details?

Cheers
Brian

[Larry]

The Prince flew Spitfires with the RAF's 322 Dutch Squadron, logging 1,000 on type and also wrecking two planes on landing. He flew under the name of Wing Commander Gibbs (RAF).

[BC]

He also flew as least one mission as a co-pilot/observer in a B-24 from the 489BG at Holton (Halesworth) Suffolk, against the express wishes of his mother Queen Wilhelmina.

[Brian]

Hi guys

Did he really fly operational Spitfires missions with 322 Squadron as Wg Cdr Gibbs? I don't recall seeing this name when I perused the ORB. Anyway, he wore spectacles.

He certainly did not amass 1,000+ Spitfire hours with 322 Squadron; perhaps postwar.

Just interested. What have our Dutch friends to say about his operational career?

Cheers
Brian

[Allan125]

Originally Posted by BC

He also flew as least one mission as a co-pilot/observer in a B-24 from the 489BG at Holton (Halesworth) Suffolk, against the express wishes of his mother Queen Wilhelmina.

Queen Wilhelmina was Dutch, and not his mother, but mother of his wife - Princess (later Queen) Juliana. His mother was Armgard von Cramm, whom I believe stayed in Germany throughout the war.

However, no doubt, he flew against the wishes of Queen Wilhelmina - even if not his mother - as who deliberately crosses the mother-in-law :-)

Interesting that he was (supposedly) given instruction in a Spitfire in 1940, especially as he did not arrive here until the collapse of the Netherlands, and I would have thought the RAF was rather busy with training useful pilots at the time, and not a Royal Consort who would be decorative at the most - but to fly operationally with 322 (Dutch) Squadron he would have had to wait until at least June 1943, as it was formed out of a re-numbered 167 Squadron RAF on 12 June 1943, even though 167 Squadron had a Dutch contingent earlier.

Perhaps Jaap Woortman or Erwin van Loo might like to comment if they see this thread.

Allan