Gerard Bruggink
Gerardus Meinardus Bruggink (4 August 1917 – 5 December 2005) was a Dutch pilot of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force. A recipient of the Military Order of William, he was one of only four Dutch pilots to dogfight the Japanese in the Battle of Java.
Gerardus Meinardus Bruggink | |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 August 1917 Tubbergen, Netherlands |
| Died | 5 December 2005 Skipperville, Alabama, United States |
| Allegiance | Netherlands |
| Years of service | 1939-1955 |
| Rank | 1st Lieutenant |
| Unit | 2-VLG-V |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Malaya Battle of Java |
| Awards | Bronze Cross (subsequently rescinded) Airman's Cross Knight 4th class of the Military William Order |
| Other work | Flight instructor, Accident investigator |
Born in Tubbergen, Overijssel, Bruggink followed a Catholic seminary. He met his wife, Corien, while serving in the Dutch East Indies and they were married in January 1942. A replica B-339C Brewster Buffalo (B-3107) was built in July 2008 and delivered to the National Military Museum in Soesterberg, Netherlands, carrying the markings of the plane flown by Bruggink.
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