This pilot comes from Rotterdam and crossed the Noth Sea in a Cano to fight the Germans.
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Bert Wolters and his mascotte ready for take off. Unfortunately it would bring him no luck. He crashed after a collision with Flying Officer Manders while climbing through the clouds. Manders managed to bail out. Bert was known as an 'above average' pilot.
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Bert Wolters on his Spitfire. He had great interest in technics and followed the mechanicans with interest. He discovered instability of the Spitfire XIV above 20.000 ft. His aircraft was tested at Salisbury and this led to improvements like a larger rudder.
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Flt.lt. Plesman beside his Spitfire IXc 'Prinses Beatrix', registered as VL-P. Jan Plesman was shot down by FLAK and killed over France on september 1. 1944. On the same day Sqd.ldr. Kuhlman and Flt.lt. Van Eenenburg were also shot down by FLAK. Kuhlman was taken prisoner, van Eendenburg managed to stay out of the hands of the Germans chasing him and became squadrom leader on september 12.
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Bob van der Stok became Squadron Leader on march 2. 1945. Bob scored two kills during the may war over Holland and escaped to England in 1941 together with Mr. S.E. Hazelhof Roelfzema ('Soldaat van Oranje') and P. Tazelaar. While member of 41 Spitfire squadron at Tangmere he was shot down by German fighters over Northern France at april 12. 1942 and was captured. He was taken to prisonercamp Stalag Luft 3 near Breslau. He escaped as part of a group of 76 officers (The great Escape). 73 of them were captured again. 50 of them were murdered by the Germans.
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Jan Arts, Bob van der Stock and Han Doornbos
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A picture of some of the members of the A-flight. From the left: Bert Wolters, C.F. Schudel, M.A. Muller, K.C. Kuhlmann, J.B.C.A. Arts, L.C.M. van Eendenburg, L.M. Meyers
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Peuter Janssen was known as the best pilot of 322.
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A group of 322 pilots in front of the 'Prinses Beatix'.
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Robbie Wijting and dick Knappert in from of their Spitfire 3W-D
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A groep of 322 pilots in front of a Spitfire.
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Sgt Van Roosendaal 322Sqn standing by his Spit with registration 3W - M.
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Pilot unknown? The spit is a Vickers/Supermarine Spitfire F.MK. IX.
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The Groundcrew |
Often not mentioned, but absolutely vital for the squadron. Without them there would simply not be anything to fly!
 The groundcrew also had an important job. Many of them were recruited form the 'Prinses Irene Brigade'.
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 Picture taken in England in 1943. These 21 men represent most of the ground crews that serviced the Spitfires of 322 Squadron. Standing in the middle of the picture with his right hand on his hip, is Bart Beije. Read his interesting story here!
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Princess Juliana inspecting a spitfire.
Princess Juliana speaking with squadron leader L.C.M. van Eendenburg.
The Spitfire 'Soesterberg' reminds of the goal of all the actions.
A Spitfire being prepared for the next flight. If you compare the hangar with the picture below it might be taken at Woensdrecht
This Spitfire at woensdrecht is ready for take-off.
P. Jacobs and M.Th. de Vries arming a Spitfire for the next flight. The camouflage above is left behind by the Germans.
A spitfire with running engine before take-off.
A spitfire waiting for the next flight.
Jan Flinterman posing next to his damaged Spitfire. Flak?
The funeral of Bert Wolters on september 21. 1944. While climbing through the clouds he collided with Flying Officer Manders. He did not get out of his Spitfire. In total 18 pilots were killed while flying for No. 322 squadron.
Another sad detail is that Bert joined 322 together with R.F. Burgwal, F.J.H. van Eijk, G.P.C. de Neve and H.C. Cramm on july 22. 1943 and that none of them survived the war. His frined Hans van Roosendaal with whom he escaped to England in 1941 (the journey took 8 months mostly spend in France) survived the war. He was shot down over the Netherlands but managed to escape from the Germans and returned to the squadron.