RIP - P. de Jong

[Heliopause]

Last wednesday former Dutch submarine commander Piet de Jong died at the age of 101 after a short illnes.

De Jong escaped with the (almost finished) O 24 submarine from Holland to Dover (together with O 23, another unfinished sub) in

May 1940. The Dutch subs would be finished in Plymouth. The O 24 would later sail in European and Asian waters and would torpedo 7 enemy ships.

De Jong would return to Holland with O 24 shortly after WWII as it's commander.

After the War he ended up in politics almost as by accident and showed to be a verry capable prime minister.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piet_de_Jong

 

P. de Jong (left) on O24.

 

O 24 in March 1940 during it's launching. Still unfinished on May 10th 1940 she managed to escape to Britain on May 13th.

A somewhat unsuccesfull first dive included!