Studiegroep Luchtoorlog 1939-1945

						T/Sgt. Frederick James Gerritz was the radio operator of B-24 Liberator 42-52597 ‘True Love’. The bomber was shot down by German fighters on the return flight from a bombing mission to Vechta airfield. Gerritz bailed out and landed near Havelte. He first hid himself near the landing spot and after darkness he started walking in easterly direction. The next day, 16 August, he was found east of Vledder by the brothers Kok. They warned the local resistance. Probably the policeman Frans Dupont and Joop Tuut helped him with overalls, a bicycle, a place to hide for the moment before two guides brought him to a first ‘real’ hiding place, the house of Family Harry ‘Bennik’ at Rijksstraatweg 1A in the hamlet of Willemsoord. He stayed here for one day. On 19 August Gerritz moved to a new hiding place, the house ‘Laanzicht’ of a widow, Mrs. Janneke ‘Ebillings’ or ‘Billings’, also in Willemsoord. Gerritz remained here until 11 September. On this date he was escorted to the house of Family Willem Hol at Oosterhoek 81 in Steenwijkerwold. Here he met another airman of 466BG: Sgt. William H. Rye (E0635). Rye and Gerritz would remain in hiding with the Family Hol until the liberation of the Steenwijk area by Canadian troops on 13 April 1945.

After the war Gerritz re-enlisted in the US Navy in 1950. He served in the US Navy until 1966. Frederick James Gerritz passed away on 31 October 2020 at the age of 97. He is buried at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, Orange, Orange County, California, USA