Jack Beelearts van Blokland 59 Sqn 1940

[Brian]

Hi guys

Was he Dutch or Belgian? He was lost in December 1940. Was he related to Jan BvB who escaped to Britain in 1941?

Cheers
Brian

[Jaap Woortman]

Brian,

He is not mentioned in the NIMH list of Dutchmen who have served in the RAF during WWII.
You could contact Erwin van Loo at the NIMH for more information.

Jaap

[edwest2]

He was Belgian.


http://number59squadron.com/memorial..._blokland.html



Ed

[Brian]

Thanks guys

Most grateful.

Cheers
Brian

[Alain57]

Hello ,

First of all the name Beelaerts van Blokland looks not very Belgian , in the link mentioned says he was Dutch. I find no trace of him in the list of Belgians who served in de RAFas a pilot.There was one J Beelaerts 1889832 who served in the RAF as a non flying member and who came from the South African Air Force.

Regards
Alain57

[Brian]

Hi guys

The mystery deepens!

Perhaps he was of Dutch ancestry but born in the UK?

His RAF Service No. was 78859

And his first names were Jack Cornelius Emil

Just a thought

Cheers
Brian

[Jaap Woortman]

Brian,

The name is correct and he is not from Holland or Belgium. He is 100% British!
I just have had contact with Erwin van Loo from the NIMH.
(The NIMH is comparable with AHB from the Air Ministry.)
If you would like to have more information about Jack Beelearts van Blokland you can contact Erwin.
You can find his email address at the website of the NIMH or contact me.

Jaap Woortman

[Brian]

Hi Jaap

Thanks for the confirmation, much appreciated.

Cheers
Brian

[Jaap Woortman]

Brian,

Erwin send me some information from his book 'Eenige wakkere jongens', with the sub-title 'Dutch airmen in the British Air Force 1940-1945'.
Published by Boom, Amsterdam in 2013.
At page 200, in translation:"Similar was the career of Jack Beelaerts van Blokland, whose father also had the Dutch nationality. His mother, on
the other hand, was of German origin. With her Beelaerts van Blokland went, after the divorce of his parents, to London where she remarried a
British man. Late 1930s Beelaerts van Blokland, now a naturalized English State citizen, went into service with the RAF. In the autumn of 1940, he
flew in 59 Squadron. Mid November 1940 he and his crew were killed when their Blenheim above the channel was shot down."

Jaap

[Brian]

Thanks again, Jaap

And please thank Erwin on my behalf.

Cheers
Brian