Rear-Admiral J.E. Meijer Ranneft

Johan Everhard Meijer Ranneft

Born Semarang (Java) January 25, 1886 - Died Houston (Texas), USA January 20, 1982

Rear-Admiral J.E. Meijer Ranneft was one of the many Dutch officers who did their work behind the scenes, thus enjoying little or no time in the spotlight. Meijer Ranneft became the first Dutch naval attaché in Washington, acting as a liaison between the United States Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy during the war. His name can be found in the history books on occasion, mainly in relation to the American procurement of the Bofors 40-mm guns.

Ranks
Midshipman 1st class September 16, 1907
Lieutenant September 16, 1909
Lieutenant-Commander March 6, 1919
Commander September 1, 1929
Captain August 1, 1933
Rear-Admiral January 16, 1942
Retired November 1, 1947

Postings
Commanding Officer, sloop Flores 1930 - 1930
Head Radio service, Amsterdam August 16, 1934 - February 18, 1938 [1]
Naval Attaché, Washington D.C. April 1, 1938 - June 1, 1947

Other activities
Consultant, Transportation Communications, Caribbean Commission November 1, 1947 - September 1, 1948

Awards
Dutch Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau (ON.4)
Knight in the Order of the Dutch Lion (NL)
Honorary Sign for important undertakings: Sunda islands 1905-1909 (E.17)
War Remembrance Cross (OHK)
Mobilization Cross 1914-1918 (Mk)
Service cross for naval officers, for 40 years' of service (XL)
Foreign Commander, Legion of Merit (LM.2) (United States of America)
Great Officer in the "Orde del Marito of Juan Pablo Duarte of Dominica" (Dominican Republic)[2]
Knight 3rd class in the Order of Saint Anna of Russia (Russia)
Commander in the Order of the Crown of Italy (Italy)
Commander in the Order of the Black Star of France (France)
[1]: Combined with a function as First Officer of local naval forces, and later Commanding Officer of local naval forces
[2]: Awarded as a result of his presence at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Dominican Republic in February/March 1944.

Sources
Klaassen/Van 't Haaff "Gedenkboek Adelborsten-opleiding te Willemsoord 1854-1954"
Luc Eekhout "Het Admiralenboek: De vlagofficieren van de Nederlandse marine 1382-1991"

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