Gus Winckel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gus Winckel
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Gus Winckel (right) standing with a fellow No. 18 Squadron member
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| Nickname(s) | Lucky Bill, Babyface Killer |
| Born | 3 November 1912 Muntok, Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) |
| Died | 17 August 2013 (aged 100) Pukekohe, New Zealand |
| Allegiance |  Netherlands |
| Service/ |
Military Aviation of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | No. 18 (NEI) Squadron RAAF |
| Battles/wars | World War II Politionele acties |
| Awards | Bronze Cross with Honorable Mention Bronze Lion |
| Signature |  |
Willem Frederick August "Gus" Winckel (born November 3, 1912 – died August 17, 2013) was a brave Dutch pilot. He flew for the Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force during World War II.
In 1942, during an attack on Broome, Australia, Gus landed his plane safely. It was full of people escaping danger. Right after landing, he took a machine gun from his plane. He used it to shoot down a Japanese fighter plane. This was the only enemy plane shot down by the Allies during that attack!
Soon after, Gus went on a risky mission to Bandung, Java. He rescued several important officers from the Allied headquarters. He spent the rest of the war flying with No. 18 (NEI) Squadron RAAF in Australia. After World War II, he also fought in the Dutch Politionele acties.
Contents
Early Life and Becoming a Pilot
Gus Winckel was born on November 3, 1912. His birthplace was Muntok, on Bangka Island, which was then called the Dutch East Indies. His parents owned a trading store there.
When Gus was 15, he moved to the Netherlands. He studied at a special school to become a sailor. After three years, he became a first-class seaman. He was very good at navigation, which is finding your way.
In 1931, at age 19, Gus worked on a large ship called the Pallau. It sailed between the Netherlands and Java. Later, he worked on oil rigs in Borneo. In 1935, he joined the Royal Netherlands Navy.
While in the Navy, Gus learned about a new pilot job. The Netherlands East Indies Air Force was just starting. Gus joined in 1935 and became a pilot when he was 23. From 1935 to 1942, he flew transport planes. He mainly flew Lockheed Lodestar planes across the Dutch East Indies.
The Attack on Broome
On March 3, 1942, Gus Winckel was flying a Lockheed Lodestar. He was taking refugees from Bandung, Dutch East Indies, to Perth, Australia. He stopped at the Broome Airfield to refuel his plane.
Suddenly, nine Japanese Zero fighter planes attacked Broome. They had flown a long way from Kupang, Timor. Gus saw that his plane was in danger on the open airfield. He quickly took a machine gun off his plane.
One of the Japanese Zero planes flew very low. Gus aimed the machine gun and shot it down! The pilot, Osamu Kudō, died in the crash. Gus was the only Allied person to shoot down an enemy plane during this attack. He also thought he hit another Japanese plane that crashed into the sea.
The Japanese destroyed 22 Allied aircraft at Broome. Many were flying boats used to carry refugees. Gus burned his hand badly while holding the hot machine gun barrel. His hand was treated, and he kept flying medical missions for two days without rest.
A Dangerous Flight to Java
Japanese forces were taking over Java. They were getting close to the Allied headquarters in Bandung. On March 5, Allied leaders decided to evacuate several senior officers. Gus Winckel was chosen to fly them out.
Gus was worried because he was so tired. He also didn't have electronic tools to help him find Bandung in the dark. But Gus was one of the most experienced pilots. He knew the area well from being a flight instructor. His Lodestar plane, even though it was damaged, was the best choice for the mission.
Gus flew to Java. He managed to land his plane on a road lit by jeep headlights. He picked up 14 passengers and refueled the plane. Then, he successfully flew them back to Australia.
Later War Service
After the Broome attack and his Java mission, Gus went to Moruya, Australia. He joined No. 18 (NEI) Squadron RAAF. This squadron was formed on April 4, 1942. From Moruya, he patrolled the eastern coast of Australia.
In May 1942, a Japanese midget submarine attacked Sydney Harbour. Gus and other pilots were ordered to search for submarines. On June 5, 1942, Gus attacked what he thought was a Japanese submarine. He was flying his B-25 Mitchell bomber.
Everyone was happy about this possible success. Australian Prime Minister John Curtin even congratulated Gus. Many similar attacks were reported at that time. However, later research showed that no Japanese submarines were sunk off Australia's east coast during the war.
Gus stayed with No. 18 Squadron for the rest of the war. He flew missions from MacDonald Airfield and Batchelor Airfield in Northern Australia. He also worked as an instructor in Canberra. During the war, his friends called him "Lucky Bill." The Japanese called him "Babyface Killer."
In late 1945, Gus flew to the Dutch East Indies. He was looking for his mother and sister, who were in an internment camp. He couldn't find them at first. Later, another pilot saw the name 'NINI' written on the ground with flour. This was Gus's sister's name. She hoped her brother would see it. Soon after, Gus flew over the camp and dropped a letter to her. Four days later, he dropped food supplies.
Life After the War
After the war, Gus returned to Indonesia. He fought in the Dutch Politionele acties. Gus had met his future wife, Yvonne, before World War II. They got married during this time.
After Indonesia became independent, Gus and Yvonne moved back to the Netherlands. Gus became a test pilot for the Air Force. In 1951, they moved to New Zealand. Gus became a commercial pilot there. He also joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force Reserve.
He flew de Havilland Tiger Moth planes for a while. But he quit because he felt the safety rules were not strict enough. The family moved to Nelson, and Gus worked at a flying school. He made his last flight in 1960. After that, he ran several businesses and worked as an engineer until 1977.
Gus and Yvonne moved to Queensland, Australia, in 1980. They returned to New Zealand in 2005 and settled in Pukekohe.
In 2009, a statue was put up in Moruya to honor Gus and other airmen. Gus and politician Mike Kelly attended the event. A street in Broome was also named after Gus Winckel.
Gus Winckel passed away on August 17, 2013. He was 100 years old. He had broken his hip in a fall six months earlier. He was survived by his wife, Yvonne, and their three sons.
Awards and Decorations
Bronze Lion (This award was an upgrade from an earlier Bronze Cross)
Airman's Cross
War Remembrance Cross
Decoration for Order and Peace
Defence Medal
