André Hissink was a third-year law student at Utrecht University when, in October 1939, he was mobilized by the Dutch armed forces to defend against the looming threat posed by Nazi Germany.During it, Hissink would be bombed by the Germans and Japanese, and forced to flee their invading armies. He learned to fly, married his sweetheart in the Dutch East Indies , flew bombing raids with 320 Dutch Squadron, and was shot from the sky during the Battle of the Bulge.
André Louis Armand Hissink was born June 26, 1919, in Batavia, capital of the Dutch East Indies, where his father worked as an agent for a shipping firm. The family moved to the Netherlands when André was eight years old. Hissink was part of the defence of Rotterdam that initially succeeded in repelling German forces, but on May 14 the Luftwaffe launched a massive bomb campaign against the city.
Hissink was assigned to the Dutch Naval Aviation Service, which had reconstituted itself in England, and initially sent to an Royal Air Force station near Birmingham. There he met a young women named Janet Russell, a daughter of British missionaries. Japanese forces launched their invasion in January 1942; they would conquer the Dutch colony within three months.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: timescolonist - 🏆 15. / 75 Read more »
Source: sherdogdotcom - 🏆 66. / 51 Read more »
Source: sherdogdotcom - 🏆 66. / 51 Read more »
Source: CP24 - 🏆 30. / 67 Read more »
Source: CTVToronto - 🏆 9. / 84 Read more »
Source: sherdogdotcom - 🏆 66. / 51 Read more »