Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema

Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema was a key figure in Dutch resistance efforts during World War II, later joining the Royal Air Force.

Erik was born in Indonesia in 1917, which was then a Dutch colony. He later moved to the Netherlands to attend the University of Leiden before the war began.

When Germany invaded the Netherlands in 1940, Erik refused to accept the occupation. He traveled to England to join the fight and became a pilot for the Royal Air Force.

He performed several clandestine landings on the Dutch coast to retrieve resistance agents and information.

His most famous moment came when he began a series of secret flights to help resistance members. He landed his plane in occupied territory or flew very low to drop off supplies despite the high risk of capture.

After his missions were completed, he served as a pilot and later as an aide to the Dutch Queen. He continued to support the war effort until the Netherlands was fully liberated.

After the war, he moved to the United States and had a successful career in television and writing. He wrote a famous autobiography about his experiences called Soldier of Orange, which was later turned into a movie.

His work provided critical intelligence that helped the Allied forces understand German defenses in the Netherlands.

1. National Archives of the Netherlands - https://www.nationaalarchief.nl
2. Dutch Institute for War Documentation - https://www.niod.nl