On Saturday, 17 February, 1945, Kees was flying a Kittyhawk fighter plane from Brisbane to Canberra, where he had planned to be married. He experienced an aircraft emergency and circled for about 10 minutes and then tried to land on a golf course. His landing gear hit the top of a bank leading to the site and he was knocked unconscious. The plane then caught on fire.
Allan George and Charles Stewart, both employed at the Muswellbrook Colliery, and Bruce Carter (18) an electrical apprentice employed by the Municipal Council, arrived first at the scene of the crash. Bruce reached into the cockpit and unbuckled Kees' seat & shoulder harnesses and the 3 men carried him away from the aircraft. The plane was engulfed in flames and then the munitions being carried began exploding. Kees' injuries were minor and he and Yvonne were married in March.
The three heroes were honored by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands with the bronze medal of honor in a special ceremony.
Allan George and Charles Stewart, both employed at the Muswellbrook Colliery, and Bruce Carter (18) an electrical apprentice employed by the Municipal Council, arrived first at the scene of the crash. Bruce reached into the cockpit and unbuckled Kees' seat & shoulder harnesses and the 3 men carried him away from the aircraft. The plane was engulfed in flames and then the munitions being carried began exploding. Kees' injuries were minor and he and Yvonne were married in March.
The three heroes were honored by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands with the bronze medal of honor in a special ceremony.
On Saturday, 17 February, 1945, Kees was flying a Kittyhawk fighter plane from Brisbane to Canberra, where he had planned to be married. He experienced an aircraft emergency and circled for about 10 minutes and then tried to land on a golf course. His landing gear hit the top of a bank leading to the site and he was knocked unconscious. The plane then caught on fire.
Allan George and Charles Stewart, both employed at the Muswellbrook Colliery, and Bruce Carter (18) an electrical apprentice employed by the Municipal Council, arrived first at the scene of the crash. Bruce reached into the cockpit and unbuckled Kees' seat & shoulder harnesses and the 3 men carried him away from the aircraft. The plane was engulfed in flames and then the munitions being carried began exploding. Kees' injuries were minor and he and Yvonne were married in March.
The three heroes were honored by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands with the bronze medal of honor in a special ceremony.
Allan George and Charles Stewart, both employed at the Muswellbrook Colliery, and Bruce Carter (18) an electrical apprentice employed by the Municipal Council, arrived first at the scene of the crash. Bruce reached into the cockpit and unbuckled Kees' seat & shoulder harnesses and the 3 men carried him away from the aircraft. The plane was engulfed in flames and then the munitions being carried began exploding. Kees' injuries were minor and he and Yvonne were married in March.
The three heroes were honored by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands with the bronze medal of honor in a special ceremony.
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