Jan Hilgers
Encyclopedia
Johan Willem Emile Louis Hilgers (19 December 1886 21 July 1945), more commonly known as Jan Hilgers or John Hilgers, was an Indo (Eurasian) aviator and one of the leading pioneers of Dutch aviation. He was the first Dutch pilot to complete a flight in Dutch airspace 29 July 1910. For the official memorial of this in 1955 a monument was erected in the town of Ede
, also a road, the ‘’Jan Hilgersweg’’ was named after him.
In the Dutch East Indies alone Hilgers made at least 8,000 take offs. Throughout his career as aviator he survived at least 20 crashes without ever breaking a bone.
to attain the necessary education in the Dutch East Indies (now: Indonesia) required to maximize career opportunities, Indo-European families that could afford it would sent their children to schools and Universities in the Netherlands. At age 11 Hilgers was sent to the Netherlands. When Hilgers studied at a technical school for mechanics in Amsterdam
, the Netherlands, his hobby was already building model airplanes. After completing his education in 1908 he went on to work in electricity plants in Nijmegen. As off 1909 he enthusiastically started building his own experimental gliders.
Employed as production manager by the firm Verwey & Lugard, one of the first aerospace companies in the Netherlands, he had access to a Blériot XI
airplane and was responsible for building up the company’ facilities at the Dutch airfields of Ede
and Soesterberg .
In 1910 his firm hurried him home from training camp in France to ensure they beat the pilot Clément Van Maasdijk, who had just received his flight certification (01 July 1910) and was commissioned by another organization to fly the first airplane in Dutch airspace. Although Hilgers had only just learned to fly and had not completed his training, he indeed became the first flying Dutchman to take off and land an airplane in the Netherlands.
In 1911 Hilgers already instructed pilots in his own school for aviation in Soesterberg before obtaining an official license issued by the ENV, (Eerste Nederlandse Vliegvereniging - First Dutch Aviation Organisation) on August 12, 1912.
In 1912 Hilgers joined another Dutch East Indies born Dutchman and aviation pioneer Anthony Fokker
at his newly established company in Germany. In service of aircraft manufacturer Fokker
he piloted demonstration flights of the Fokker Spin
airplane, designed by Anthony Fokker, in Germany. Later on he also went to Russia
for 8 months giving flight demonstrations around the Tsardom.
In 1913 Hilgers went to the Dutch East Indies to give flight demonstrations there. He bought and took along two Fokker monoplanes, one equipped with a 100pk (73.6 kw) Argus-motor, the other with a 80 pk (58.8 kw) Renault. Unfortunately in his first test flight back in the Indies he also became the first pilot to survive an airplane crash in Indonesia. After a few rounds at an altitude of six hundred meters, the plane suffered a technical malfunction and crashed near Surabaya
.
Back home in the Dutch East Indies he got married and raised a family. On May 30, 1914 Hilgers was involved with Hein ter Poorten
in the founding of the forerunner of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force
. Until the Japanese invasion of 1942 in World War II
he was an engineer and instructor there. Hilgers died in a Japanese prison camp at Ngawi, East-Java on July 21, 1945, just before Japan’s surrender to the Allies.
, September 27, 1913. They had five daughters named Croon, Fien, Ada, Bea, Laura and a son named Maurits.
Ede
Ede may refer to:* Locations:** Ede, Netherlands** Ede, Nigeria* People and languages** the Ede people of Vietnam** Ede languages , languages related to Yoruba spoken by a million people in Benin* Given names...
, also a road, the ‘’Jan Hilgersweg’’ was named after him.
In the Dutch East Indies alone Hilgers made at least 8,000 take offs. Throughout his career as aviator he survived at least 20 crashes without ever breaking a bone.
Life
As it was impossible for Indos in colonial historyIndos in colonial history
Indos are a Eurasian people of mixed Indonesian and European descent. The pre-colonial evolution of this hybrid Eurasian community in the East Indies commenced during the arrival of Portuguese traders in the 16th century and continued with the arrival of Dutch traders in the 17th and 18th...
to attain the necessary education in the Dutch East Indies (now: Indonesia) required to maximize career opportunities, Indo-European families that could afford it would sent their children to schools and Universities in the Netherlands. At age 11 Hilgers was sent to the Netherlands. When Hilgers studied at a technical school for mechanics in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, the Netherlands, his hobby was already building model airplanes. After completing his education in 1908 he went on to work in electricity plants in Nijmegen. As off 1909 he enthusiastically started building his own experimental gliders.
Employed as production manager by the firm Verwey & Lugard, one of the first aerospace companies in the Netherlands, he had access to a Blériot XI
Blériot XI
The Blériot XI is the aircraft in which, on 25 July 1909, Louis Blériot made the first flight across the English Channel made in a heavier-than-air aircraft . This achievement is one of the most famous accomplishments of the early years of aviation, and not only won Blériot a lasting place in...
airplane and was responsible for building up the company’ facilities at the Dutch airfields of Ede
Ede
Ede may refer to:* Locations:** Ede, Netherlands** Ede, Nigeria* People and languages** the Ede people of Vietnam** Ede languages , languages related to Yoruba spoken by a million people in Benin* Given names...
and Soesterberg .
In 1910 his firm hurried him home from training camp in France to ensure they beat the pilot Clément Van Maasdijk, who had just received his flight certification (01 July 1910) and was commissioned by another organization to fly the first airplane in Dutch airspace. Although Hilgers had only just learned to fly and had not completed his training, he indeed became the first flying Dutchman to take off and land an airplane in the Netherlands.
In 1911 Hilgers already instructed pilots in his own school for aviation in Soesterberg before obtaining an official license issued by the ENV, (Eerste Nederlandse Vliegvereniging - First Dutch Aviation Organisation) on August 12, 1912.
Anthony Fokker
Anton Herman Gerard "Anthony" Fokker was a Dutch aviation pioneer and an aircraft manufacturer. He is most famous for the fighter aircraft he produced in Germany during the First World War such as the Eindecker monoplanes, the Fokker Triplane the and the Fokker D.VII, but after the collapse of...
at his newly established company in Germany. In service of aircraft manufacturer Fokker
Fokker
Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. The company operated under several different names, starting out in 1912 in Schwerin, Germany, moving to the Netherlands in 1919....
he piloted demonstration flights of the Fokker Spin
Fokker Spin
The Fokker Spin was the first airplane built by Anthony Fokker. The many bracing wires made the plane resemble a giant spider, hence its name Spin ....
airplane, designed by Anthony Fokker, in Germany. Later on he also went to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
for 8 months giving flight demonstrations around the Tsardom.
In 1913 Hilgers went to the Dutch East Indies to give flight demonstrations there. He bought and took along two Fokker monoplanes, one equipped with a 100pk (73.6 kw) Argus-motor, the other with a 80 pk (58.8 kw) Renault. Unfortunately in his first test flight back in the Indies he also became the first pilot to survive an airplane crash in Indonesia. After a few rounds at an altitude of six hundred meters, the plane suffered a technical malfunction and crashed near Surabaya
Surabaya
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...
.
"An Arab warned me not to fly on Bubutan, because of the sacred tombs there. In any case I had to give a slamatan (tradtional feast) first, which I did. [...] The take off site struck me as being be too small, as I could only take off in one direction. [...] During my first flight I already crashed into a bamboo forest and wrecked my (first) plane." Hilgers, Batavia, 1920.
Back home in the Dutch East Indies he got married and raised a family. On May 30, 1914 Hilgers was involved with Hein ter Poorten
Hein ter Poorten
Hein ter Poorten , was the commander of the Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger in World War II...
in the founding of the forerunner of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force
Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force
The Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force was the air arm of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army in the Dutch East Indies from 1939 until 1950...
. Until the Japanese invasion of 1942 in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he was an engineer and instructor there. Hilgers died in a Japanese prison camp at Ngawi, East-Java on July 21, 1945, just before Japan’s surrender to the Allies.
Family
Married to Anna,Sophia Blijenburg te Bangil, East JavaEast Java
East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and islands to its east and to its north East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and...
, September 27, 1913. They had five daughters named Croon, Fien, Ada, Bea, Laura and a son named Maurits.