Danish WW2 Pilots

Poul Bent Heilmann

(1901 - 1992)

Poul Bent Heilmann is one of a small number of Danish volunteers in the Malayan Volunteer Air Force during the Second World War.

Poul Bent Heilmann is born on 12 April 1901 at the country estate of Tammestrup, near Skanderborg, Denmark. He is the son of Christian Adolf Heilmann (b. 1956-1938) and Gerda Alfrede Heilmann (née Larsen) (1877-1945). He marries Hedvig Buchwald Heilmann (née Møller) in 1922.

He arrives at Jendarata to work for United Plantations in 1925. From 1930 he is the general manager of Ulu Bernam.

During the late 1930s he too takes up flying at the Ipoh Flying Club and he volunteers for the Malayan Volunteers Air Force during 1941. At this point I have no further information on the service.

Following a dramatic escape from Malaysia, he arrives in Fremantle per ship in March 1942. He returns to Malaysia as general manager of United Plantations in 1946.

(Martin, 2003; Shores et al., 1992 and 2000)