Operation: Fighter affiliation
Date: 16th January 1944 (Sunday)
Unit: No. 322 Squadron (Dutch) (motto: Niet praten maar doen - 'Actions, not words')
Type: Spitfire Vb
Serial: AD428
Code: VL-?
Base: RAF Hawkinge, Kent
Location: Hawkinge
Pilot: F/O. Gilles Pieter Cornelis de Neve 113891 RAFVR Age 28. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Cause of accident not established. Aircraft dived straight down from 9,000 ft during a Fighter affiliation with some Typhoons.
Burial details:
F/O. Gilles Pieter Cornelis De Neve. Hawkinge Cemetery. Plot O. Row 3. Grave 73. Born on the 12th June 1915 at Buitenzorg, Java, Indonesia, the son of Daisy Maud de Neve and husband of Aimee de Neve, of Hampstead, London, England. Grave inscription: 'For Ever And A Day, 25 September 1943. Rust Zacht, Lieveling. Aimee'. The date probably represents the date of his marriage to Aimee - translation: 'Rest In Peace, Darling'.
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the late Rob Philips who was a meticulous researcher into Dutch aviators who were listed as killed or missing during WW 2. We were entrusted to make his work available to be read by others before he passed away in 2010. This has been presented as 'Lost' his archive and can be seen here. More about Rob, the person here.
