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Most references I have seen to Jan Flinterman mention that he was a jet pilot. One refers to him as Maj J Flintermann. Could this refer to his rank in the air force? He raced occasionally in 1950, 51 and 52 in F3, driving a Cooper fitted, unusually with a BSA engine. In a supporting race to the 1952 Dutch GP his Cooper was driven by P Groenhart. He seems to have driven quite well in the Maserati, Autosport said he rejoined the race with much zest. After taking over Landi's car his lap times (Autocourse) were initially well down but later improved significantly. His best lap was 5 secs faster than he managed in practice.
I'm not sure what Paul Sheldon is accusing the organisers of in favouring van der Lof over Gatsonides, who was also Dutch.
On a minor point of pedantry, Flinterman wasn't, of course, the first Dutch driver entered in an F1 event as this was an F2 race.
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