Danish WW2 Pilots

Poul Bedey

(1904 - 1973)

Poul Bedey is one of a small number of Danish volunteers in the Malayan Volunteer Air Force during the Second World War. Records indicate that he tries to volunteer for the Royal Air Force in 1942 having escaped Malaysia.

Poul Bedey is born on 15 February 1904. [1]

Arriving in Singapore on-board SS JUTLANDIA on 26 August 1936 he is employed at the plantation Ula Berman about 60 km north of Kuala Lumpur. The estate is owned by the Danish company United Plantations. [2]

He learns to fly before the war. While taking off from Kuala Lumpur on 25 August 1936 the aircraft stalls at about 20 feet and crashes. Neither Poul Bedey nor the passenger is hurt, though. [3]

He is still in Malaysia in 1940, when the Germans occupy Denmark. In February 1940 he donates money to the Finnish Red Cross, and in August 1940 he donates money to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce's War Fund. [4]

Following the Japanese attack he escapes. In June 1942 he is in London. According to a letter from Captain Iversen of the Recruiting Office, Danish Nationals, to the Air Ministry, he is then a former Sergeant pilot of the Malayan Volunteer Air Force and interested in joining the Royal Air Force. I have no information at this point about whether he was accepted, but given his age it is unlikely that he became pilot in the Royal Air Force. [5]

Poul Bedey returns to Malaysia after the war as manager of the Sungei Samak Estate. He purchases a Tiger Moth. [6]

  1. National Australian Archives A12508 14/25
  2. The Straits Times, 26.08.1936
  3. The Straits Times, 26.06.1939
  4. The Straits Times, 16.04.1940 and 11.08.1940
  5. Archive of Danish Council, Danish National Archives
  6. The Straits Times, 23.03.1949 and 17.07.49