HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Albert Plesman (7 September 1889 – 31 December 1953) was a Dutch pioneer in
aviation Aviation includes the activities surrounding mechanical flight and the aircraft industry. ''Aircraft'' includes fixed-wing and rotary-wing types, morphable wings, wing-less lifting bodies, as well as lighter-than-air craft such as hot air ...
and the first administrator and later director of the
KLM KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, legally ''Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V.'' (literal translation: Royal Aviation Company Plc.), is the flag carrier airline of the Netherlands. KLM is headquartered in Amstelveen, with its hub at nearby Amste ...
, the oldest airline in the world still operating under its original name. Until his death, he was in charge as CEO for over 35 years and was also on the board of the Dutch airline, which was to become one of the most important airlines in the world under his leadership. He was born as the son of an egg trader from
The Hague The Hague ( ; nl, Den Haag or ) is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. The Hague is the country's administrative centre and its seat of government, and while the official capital of ...
. In 1915 he joined the mobilized Dutch airforce as a professional officer, at the time still called the ''"militaire luchtvaartafdeling"'' (military aviation department), in
Soesterberg Soesterberg is a town in the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is a part of the municipality of Soest, and lies about 5 km northeast of Zeist, on the road between Amersfoort and Utrecht. It was the location of Soesterberg Air Base History The ...
. After
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, in which the Netherlands remained neutral, he started the organization of ELTA, the ''"Eerste Luchtverkeer Tentoonstelling Amsterdam"'' (First Aviation Exhibition Amsterdam), held from 1 August till 14 September 1919. For that occasion enormous halls (hangars) were built. Right after the exhibition these were used by
Anthony Fokker Anton Herman Gerard "Anthony" Fokker (6 April 1890 – 23 December 1939) was a Dutch aviation pioneer, aviation entrepreneur, aircraft designer, and aircraft manufacturer. He produced fighter aircraft in Germany during the First World War such ...
, for his new company ''Nederlandse Vliegtuigenfabriek'' (Dutch Aircraft Factory), subsequently the
Fokker Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. The company operated under several different names. It was founded in 1912 in Berlin, Germany, and became famous for its fighter aircraft in World War I. In 1919 ...
airplane factory. All these activities led to the establishment of the Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM), of which Plesman became director, and which he made a flourishing company. After
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
Plesman was appointed president-director of KLM. After the recovery from the war the company became a renowned airline company under his leadership. On 25 February 1946, KLM had the first airline flights from continental Europe to the USA. For his efforts he received in 1947 an honorary doctorate of the
Technical University of Delft Delft University of Technology ( nl, Technische Universiteit Delft), also known as TU Delft, is the oldest and largest Dutch public technical university, located in Delft, Netherlands. As of 2022 it is ranked by QS World University Rankings among ...
. Plesman pleaded in vain for a displacement of
Schiphol Airport Amsterdam Airport Schiphol , known informally as Schiphol Airport ( nl, Luchthaven Schiphol, ), is the main international airport of the Netherlands. It is located southwest of Amsterdam, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer in the province ...
to a location near Burgerveen. The father of the KLM died in The Hague on December 31, 1953, at age 64.


Biography

Albert Plesman was born on 7 September 1889 to his father, Johan Cornelis Plesman, an egg trader from
The Hague The Hague ( ; nl, Den Haag or ) is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. The Hague is the country's administrative centre and its seat of government, and while the official capital of ...
and his mother Hendrika van Wessel. He was one of 7 children in the Plesman household. Albert Plesman was raised in Protestant household under the strict rule of his father. He was known to have episodes of obscure or sporadic behavior. These episodes led him to attending the Hogere Burgerschool, a preparatory academy in The Hague of Netherlands. Albert realized great strengths in the
mathematics Mathematics is an area of knowledge that includes the topics of numbers, formulas and related structures, shapes and the spaces in which they are contained, and quantities and their changes. These topics are represented in modern mathematics ...
with his time at the school, which spawned an interest in
commercial aviation Commercial aviation is the part of civil aviation that involves operating aircraft for remuneration or hire, as opposed to private aviation. Definition Commercial aviation is not a rigorously defined category. All commercial air transport and ae ...
. Upon the death of his mother and his graduation from Hogere Burgerschool, Plesman decided to begin schooling with the Alkmaar Cadet School for service in
Royal Dutch East Indies Army The Royal Netherlands East Indies Army ( nl, Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger; KNIL, ) was the military force maintained by the Kingdom of the Netherlands in its colony of the Dutch East Indies, in areas that are now part of Indonesia. The ...
. He then attended the Royal Military Academy in
Breda, Netherlands Breda () is a List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city and List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the southern part of the Netherlands, located in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of North Brabant. The name ...
, where he first explored his interest in aviation through access to the Gilze-Rijen airfield. Plesman then began his tenure as 2nd lieutenant where his access to aviation expanded. He was exposed to a lieutenant pilot named W.C.J. Versteegh, who flew in a Farman F.20. Plesman was able to explore his desire to fly through Verstegh. Plesman officially became a student cadet of flight in April 1917. Albert Plesman then met Susanna Jacoba van Eijk in early 1917, who he later married in December of that year. Van Eijk gave birth to 3 sons and 1 daughter with Albert. Albert Plesman was recalled as a great family man who realized the importance in family togetherness. He would regularly bring his children to important meetings and events within his company, which was a generally uncommon practice for his socioeconomic stature.


Aviation career

Albert Plesman, together with
Anthony Fokker Anton Herman Gerard "Anthony" Fokker (6 April 1890 – 23 December 1939) was a Dutch aviation pioneer, aviation entrepreneur, aircraft designer, and aircraft manufacturer. He produced fighter aircraft in Germany during the First World War such ...
, allowed for the existence of two great Aviation companies in Europe;
KLM KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, legally ''Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V.'' (literal translation: Royal Aviation Company Plc.), is the flag carrier airline of the Netherlands. KLM is headquartered in Amstelveen, with its hub at nearby Amste ...
and
Fokker Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. The company operated under several different names. It was founded in 1912 in Berlin, Germany, and became famous for its fighter aircraft in World War I. In 1919 ...
.
Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
realized greater connections with North America through Plesman's influence as he pioneered the first commercial transatlantic services. Cargo, mail, and passenger services were greatly a result of Plesman's work within
KLM KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, legally ''Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V.'' (literal translation: Royal Aviation Company Plc.), is the flag carrier airline of the Netherlands. KLM is headquartered in Amstelveen, with its hub at nearby Amste ...
.
KLM KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, legally ''Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V.'' (literal translation: Royal Aviation Company Plc.), is the flag carrier airline of the Netherlands. KLM is headquartered in Amstelveen, with its hub at nearby Amste ...
's first revenue flight operated from London's
Croydon Airport Croydon Airport (former ICAO code: EGCR) was the UK's only international airport during the interwar period. Located in Croydon, South London, England, it opened in 1920, built in a Neoclassical style, and was developed as Britain's main air ...
to
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Amsterdam Airport Schiphol , known informally as Schiphol Airport ( nl, Luchthaven Schiphol, ), is the main international airport of the Netherlands. It is located southwest of Amsterdam, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer in the province ...
.
KLM KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, legally ''Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V.'' (literal translation: Royal Aviation Company Plc.), is the flag carrier airline of the Netherlands. KLM is headquartered in Amstelveen, with its hub at nearby Amste ...
leased their first
aircraft An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air. It counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines ...
, but quickly utilized
Fokker Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. The company operated under several different names. It was founded in 1912 in Berlin, Germany, and became famous for its fighter aircraft in World War I. In 1919 ...
. These Fokker aircraft were a product of Anthony Fokker and Albert Plesman's leadership. Their operation of aircraft production followed by the commercial use of those aircraft allowed for a huge growth in travel for Europe internally, to North America, and to the Southeast Asian Dutch Colonies. Albert Plesman later established, in 1921, the largest aircraft maintenance and overhaul plant in the world. This plant was located onsite at
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Amsterdam Airport Schiphol , known informally as Schiphol Airport ( nl, Luchthaven Schiphol, ), is the main international airport of the Netherlands. It is located southwest of Amsterdam, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer in the province ...
, where KLM concentrated most of their operations. Plesman laid ground for the new KLM headquarters in
The Hague The Hague ( ; nl, Den Haag or ) is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. The Hague is the country's administrative centre and its seat of government, and while the official capital of ...
during the year of 1939. Plesman advertised progressive business principles for KLM - "a commitment to generating customer preference by offering a high-quality product at a reasonable price; strengthening market presence; and achieving internationally competitive costs coupled with a sound financial basis."
KLM KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, legally ''Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V.'' (literal translation: Royal Aviation Company Plc.), is the flag carrier airline of the Netherlands. KLM is headquartered in Amstelveen, with its hub at nearby Amste ...
then moved away from the wooden Fokker airplane and transitioned to metal aircraft manufactured in the United States, per Plesman's discretion. In the latter part of 1939, Albert Plesman was forced to suspend all of KLM's operations in the advent of Second World War. His aircraft were withheld and
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Amsterdam Airport Schiphol , known informally as Schiphol Airport ( nl, Luchthaven Schiphol, ), is the main international airport of the Netherlands. It is located southwest of Amsterdam, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer in the province ...
came under exclusive military use. He resumed operations in 1946. When KLM was revived, he was officially titled President of the company and conducted the integration of Douglas aircraft. He also allowed for greater
nationalization Nationalization (nationalisation in British English) is the process of transforming privately-owned assets into public assets by bringing them under the public ownership of a national government or state. Nationalization usually refers to pri ...
of the airline and oversaw the Dutch government's purchase of shares in KLM. Albert Plesman died on December 31, 1953, He left the company in the hands of
Fons Aler Lieutenant general Fons Aler ( 3 May 1896 – 21 December 1981) was a Dutch military officer who served as Chief of Defence (Netherlands), Chairman of the United Defence Staff of the Armed Forces of the Netherlands between January 1953 and ...
. The airline continued to grow despite economic difficulties in the late 1950s due to the Dutch government's growing ownership of the company.KLM, About. “History - KLM Corporate.” KLM.com, 2018, www.klm.com/corporate/en/about-klm/students/students-history.html.


Decorations and awards

* Knight of the
Order of Orange-Nassau The Order of Orange-Nassau ( nl, Orde van Oranje-Nassau, links=no) is a civil and military Dutch order of chivalry founded on 4 April 1892 by the queen regent, Emma of the Netherlands. The order is a chivalric order open to "everyone who has ...
(1925) * Officer of the
Order of Orange-Nassau The Order of Orange-Nassau ( nl, Orde van Oranje-Nassau, links=no) is a civil and military Dutch order of chivalry founded on 4 April 1892 by the queen regent, Emma of the Netherlands. The order is a chivalric order open to "everyone who has ...
(1931) * Knight of the
Order of the Netherlands Lion The Order of the Netherlands Lion, also known as the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands ( nl, De Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw, french: L'Ordre du Lion Néerlandais) is a Dutch order of chivalry founded by King William I of the Netherlands on ...
(1934) * Commander of the
Order of Orange-Nassau The Order of Orange-Nassau ( nl, Orde van Oranje-Nassau, links=no) is a civil and military Dutch order of chivalry founded on 4 April 1892 by the queen regent, Emma of the Netherlands. The order is a chivalric order open to "everyone who has ...
(1949, at the 30th anniversary of KLM) * Knight of the
Order of the Dannebrog The Order of the Dannebrog ( da, Dannebrogordenen) is a Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank, who formed a single class known a ...
(Denmark, 1931) * Officer of the
Order of Leopold II The Order of Leopold II is an order of Belgium and is named in honor of King Leopold II. The decoration was established on 24 August 1900 by Leopold II as Sovereign of the Congo Free State and was in 1908, upon Congo being handed over to Belgi ...
(Belgium, 1932) * Officer of the
Order of Vasa The Royal Order of Vasa () is a Swedish order of chivalry, awarded to citizens of Sweden for service to state and society especially in the fields of agriculture, mining and commerce. It was instituted on 29 May 1772 by King Gustav III. It was u ...
(Sweden, 1932) * Commander of the
Order of Leopold II The Order of Leopold II is an order of Belgium and is named in honor of King Leopold II. The decoration was established on 24 August 1900 by Leopold II as Sovereign of the Congo Free State and was in 1908, upon Congo being handed over to Belgi ...
(Belgium, 1935) * Commander of the
Order of the White Lion The Order of the White Lion ( cs, Řád Bílého lva) is the highest order of the Czech Republic. It continues a Czechoslovak order of the same name created in 1922 as an award for foreigners (Czechoslovakia had no civilian decoration for its ...
(Czechoslovak, 1935) * Honorary doctorate from the
Technical University of Delft Delft University of Technology ( nl, Technische Universiteit Delft), also known as TU Delft, is the oldest and largest Dutch public technical university, located in Delft, Netherlands. As of 2022 it is ranked by QS World University Rankings among ...
(1947) * The first
Edward Warner Award The Edward Warner Award is an award that's given in the field of aviation to aviation pioneers or organizations that have contributed to civil aviation. The award is named after Edward Pearson Warner, the first President of the council of ICAO. T ...
, for his achievements for international civil aviation (
International Civil Aviation Organization The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO, ) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that coordinates the principles and techniques of international air navigation, and fosters the planning and development of international sc ...
, posthumously, 1959) * C.J. Snijders Medal


Publications


Plan for international cooperation
* MOVIE: KING OF THE SKIES, 2021


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Plesman, Albert 1889 births 1953 deaths Air France–KLM Businesspeople from The Hague Dutch aviators Dutch corporate directors Dutch chief executives in the airline industry Knights of the Order of the Netherlands Lion Commanders of the Order of Orange-Nassau Knights of the Order of the Dannebrog Commanders of the Order of Leopold II Recipients of the Order of Vasa Commanders of the Order of the White Lion 20th-century Dutch businesspeople