August Deibel
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| August Gerard Deibel | |
|---|---|
| 11 September 1915 – 12 June 1950 | |
| Place of birth | Fort de Kock, Sumatra [1] |
| Place of death | Uithuizen, Netherlands |
| Allegiance | Netherlands |
| Rank | 1st Lieutenant |
| Unit | 2-VLG-V |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Malaya Battle of Java |
| Awards | Order of William |
1st Lieutenant August Gerard Deibel (11 September 1915 – 12 June 1950) was a Dutch pilot of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force. He was part of 2-VLG-V, which was posted in Singapore before its withdrawal to Java. His personal emblem was the head of a rhinoceros placed behind the engine cowling of his Brewster Buffalo aircraft.
Deibel is credited with having shot down three Japanese aircraft, two of which were Ki-27 Nates on 12 January, during a Japanese air raid over Singapore, and was twice wounded in action on 12 January and 19 February 1942. Deibel was killed on 12 June 1950, when his Gloster Meteor aircraft crashed near Uithuizen in the Netherlands.
[edit] Order of William flight
Deibel, along with Lieutenant Gerardus Bruggink and Officer Cadet Jan Scheffer, volunteered to join Captain Jacob van Helsdingen on his mission using the last three working Buffalo aircraft on the airfield. The four pilots took off from Andir airfield on March 7, 1942 and proceeded to Lembang to provide air support for ground troops fighting in the city.
Helsdingen's squadron travelled 200 metres when they encountered a Japanese aircraft, which Deibel attacked before it escaped. Some time later, three Japanese A6M Zeros appeared. Deibel fired at two of them which turned away, but was hit in the oil tank by the third Zero and had to break off from combat. His wingman, Jan Scheffer escorted him back to Andir airfield under a tropical rainstorm, where Deibel crashed landed his aircraft without suffering any injuries. Helsdingen and Bruggink remained above Lembang, but were now dogfighting six Zeroes. Helsdingen was soon shot down, but Bruggink managed to escape into the clouds before returning to Andir airfield. Dutch forces in Lembang surrendered the next day. All four Dutch pilots were awarded the Order of William on July 14th, 1948.
