Dutch East Indies

[Heliopause]

Some info regarding the events 80 years ago in and around the (then) colony:

 

 

ML-KNIL (Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force):
Around 1936 the focus had been on bombers for defence and in the following years Glenn Martin B-10's had been ordered and received. With tension rising
at the end of the thirties the lack of fighter planes was felt and the search for these then started resulting first in the Curtiss 75 Hawk (20) and Curtiss Interceptor (24) fighters.
This was followed up by an order of 72 Brewsters. This proces had not been easy as other countries had also placed orders (e.g. Belgium/Britain).
For the first 24 Brewsters 31 Cyclone G-105A (1100Hp) engines where set aside from Dutch navy stock. Another 54 G-205A Cyclones (1200Hp) where
ordered for the remaining 48 Brewsters (former Trans World Airlines engines revised by the Brewster company). February '41 saw an additional order
for 20 Brewsters (simular to the F2A-3) but these will not be able to arrive on time.
For transport duties the Lockheed Lodestar (20) have been ordered and received.

 

Marine Vliegdienst (Netherlands Naval Aviation Service):
Around this time (november '41) 24 Dornier Do 24 Flying boats are used for maritime patrols. Others are used for training crews. With Holland itself being occupied since May 1940 more of these machines could no longer be delivered. As an alternative the Catalina PBY was ordered. September '41 saw the delivery of the first 2 Catalina's to the Dutch East Indies.

In oktober 3 Catalina's from the same order were delivered to the RAF at Singapore and used in Sqn 205 to bolster its defences.

 

The total number of planes still remained small considering the vast territory that had to be protected.

 

Glenn Martin B-10 bomber. The colorfull livery changed into camo in the second half of 1940.

 

B-10  cruising during overland flight.

 

With the spending in 1936 focussed on bombers the last of the Cutiss Hawk fighters soldiered on into 1938.

(8 had been ordered directly at Curtiss in 1929 the remaining 6 licenced built by Aviolanda, Holland).

Edited November 19, 2021 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

Without fighter protection left for its Naval base at Soerabaya the Navy protests and new fighters are ordered by the ML-KNIL (the fighter protection of the Naval base being the responsibility of the army). May 1940 saw the first of 20 Curtiss H75A-7 Hawk's arrive.

An order of 24 Curtiss CW-21B Interceptors for Holland is taken over by the Dutch East Indies as Holland itself is by then occupied. The first of these delivered in June 1940.

[cardboard_killer]

[80 years ago yesterday] "• Alidius Warmoldus Lambertus Tjarda van Starkenborgh Stachouwer, the Governor General of The Netherlands East Indies, informs the United States that a Japanese expeditionary force has arrived in the vicinity of Palau. Should this force, strong enough to form a threat for The Netherlands Indies or Portuguese Timor, move beyond a line between Davao in the Philippines and Waigeo Island in the Netherlands East Indies, the Dutch will regard this as an act of aggression and will under those circumstances consider the hostilities opened and act accordingly. The information is passed to American commands in Hawaii and the Philippines.

 

• The Dutch dispatch two submarines from Soerabaja (Surabaya, Java) to the Makassar Strait east of Borneo."

[Heliopause]

For training purposes the Koolhoven FK 51 was ordered in 1937. In the following year it replaced the AVRO 504.

 

AVRO 504's lined up at at flightschool. The first two batches (12 apiece) were ordered in 1919 and 1922 resp. A third batch of 15 machines was homebuild

from 1924. II differed in using plywood and improved fueltanks. Around 1931 some received the  Armstrong Siddeley Mongoose engine. These continued into 1938.

[Heliopause]

Both Army and Navy used Ryan STM trainers. The first ones ordered and received in 1940.

 

The Navy also using it as a floatplane.

[cardboard_killer]

[80 years ago today] "• The Dutch air station on Borneo reports that Japanese aircraft are overflying the island. The Dutch General Headquarters on Java activates six pre-prepared hidden airfields. Called the outer ring, these airfields provide concealed dispersal; repair, refuel, and rearm capabilities, radio communications, and housing for flight and ground crews."

[Heliopause]

As a plus to that:

 

25 Nov '41 sees pre-mobilisation:
5 Brewsters are sent to the airfield of Singkawang II, west Borneo (staging through Banka). The airfield is in use as a landing ground since 1940 and some works are still being carried out to make it a fully operational airfield.

 

Another 8 Brewsters are sent to the airfield of Samarinda II, east Borneo (staging through Soerabaya en Bandjermassin). In the previous days unknown airplanes have been spotted over Pontianak, Tarakan en Balikpapan and the Brewsters are to intercept these when possible and if necessary force them out.

 

Both airfields also have a number of Glenn Martin B-10 bombers stationed for daily reconaissence over the areas of Kuching, Miri (west Borneo) and Makassar strait. 
Without a bombload they can fly for up to 5 hours at low alt. As a precaution 3 B-10's are always bombed up and ready at short notice.

 

 

Map of Borneo showing amongst others the Singkawang II and Samarinda II airfields.

[Heliopause]

Lodestar on finals. The use of these transport planes became more frequent around this time carrying men and materials to the outer airfields

like Samarinda II and Singkawang II. Traditional transportation through jungle over roads and rivers could take days whereas the Lodestar

could do it in hours.

[Heliopause]

The Brewsters at Singkawang II have started to fly local patrols along the westcoast e.g. when an unknown ship has been reported. These patrols are

mostly carried out in two's, sometimes with a four plane formation.

The Brewsters at Samarinda II are on standby dutie for intercepting reported planes. Boredom starts to set in as reports stay out or arrive to late to be effective.

 

The Brewsters had arrived in the early summer. This picture was taken around Juli '41 on Java when ML-KNIL was working up with the type.

[Heliopause]

Mobilisation is stepped up. Apart from the planes at Borneo 29 Brewsters are operational on Java at Semplak airfield and 6 at Madioen (together with 13 Curtiss 75 Hawks and 9 Curtiss Interceptors). Besides the B-10's on Borneo 11 B-10's are operational on Singosari airfield near Malang, Java. Other machines are under repair or
undergo maintenance and will become available later in the month.

 

Brewster B-396 seen here during tests in the USA before delivery. It's bombed up and has a camera installed on the nose.

[Heliopause]

One patrol (3 planes) of B 10's is ordered from Malang (Java) to the isle of Ambon. They are to carry out maritime patrols untill the arrival of RAAF Sqn 13 Hudson aircraft that will then take over this task (thus releasing Dutch planes for operations from Singapore should the need arise).
At the same time 4 Brewster fighters are also ordered to Ambon for local protection. Today these fly from Maospati airfield (Madioen) to the isle of Bali (staging through Malang), the first leg of the journey for these planes. Two of the pilots are fresh out of flight school.

Two Lodestars join the Brewsters for taking the groundcrews and material over. One of the Lodestars does the main navigating for the formation.

 

Meanwhile on Singkawang II, Borneo:

As some Brewsters return from a patrol and are coming in to land a local on his bicycle keeps crossing the field. Coming in on finals pilot Snoecks's plane hits the individual with one of it's wheels. The plane loses the wheel the local however loses his head ...... Pilot Snoeck is able to perform a controlled landing on the remaining wheel keeping further damage to a minimum (when the airfield was constructed a local road was crossed, because of this local traffic is supposed to halt when planes take-off or land).

[Heliopause]

The 4 Brewsters and Lodestars fly the last leg to the isle of Ambon (Kendari - Ambon) today. During the flight a tropical rainfront/storm starts blocking the route. Some planes carry on with visability becoming next to nill. The leader and his wingman make it to Ambon while others land back at Kendari. Brewster pilot Van Bers is reported missing.

B-10's will fly search missions the next few days but no trace is ever found of the pilot or his plane. The remaining planes try again the following day and in clear weather they all arrive at Ambon.

[Heliopause]

Dec 6th:

In the early hours one of the new Dutch Catalinas (Y 44) is lost in a landing accident at Tandjong Pandang. Its crew of 5 perish.

Later in the day Dornier Do 24 "X17" on maritime patrol spots an vessel in the gulf of Siam (Thailand) NW of the Anambas islands moving south. As the Flyingboat commander would explain postwar:
"I didn't recocnize the ship by its flag. It had a flag but this was such a dirty rag one could hardly consider it a flag. I made a second pass, time this at deck height, after all it was peacetime. At no more than 40 meters distance I could see the face expressions of the uniformed people and it became clear these were Japanese. I also noticed a pom-poms gun on the bridge keeping track of our plane and I refrained from flying past the vessel a third time. Besides I had seen enough and signalled immediately to Batavia (Java) and Singapore".

 

Dornier Do 24 seen on take-off. Missions of up to 10-12 hours could be carried out.

 

One of the Dutch Catalinas at San Diego ready for the delivery flight. Ferried by American crews the planes were taken over by Dutch Navy crews at Manilla, Philippines.

Edited December 6, 2021 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

Around 3am news comes through at Java's headquarters that Pearl Harbor and Malaya are being attacked by Japan. The governor-general Tjarda van Starkenborgh makes a formal declaration of war in a radio broadcast at 7am.
On Ford island one of the new Dutch Catalinas, Y 68, is damaged beyond repair as the large hangar she's in is hit by a bomb.

 

Later in the morning 8 Brewsters and 25 B-10's are directed from Java to Singapore (to Kallang and Sembawang airfields resp.). Together with the planes at Singkawang II, west Borneo, they operate under the Britisch Far East Command.
The Brewsters first fly to Andir, Java for final checks. The B-10's fly to the airfield of Kemajoran near Batavia first. This has a better runway for the bombers to take-off from when fully laden.
Another 4 Brewsters are flown to Surabaya naval base to give aerial protection. The Navy commander sends them back for this number of fighter planes is inadequate. These Brewsters are then also assigned to Singapore to aid in its defence.

 

At Singkawang II west Borneo a flight of 4 Brewsters is now on a constant stand by during daylight hours.
 

[cardboard_killer]

Also:

 

• Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands issues the following proclamation:

 

“The Kingdom of the Netherlands considers itself in a state of war with Japan. While negotiations which were in progress between the governments of the United States and Japan were not yet completed, and while President Roosevelt exhibited the greatest patience and did his utmost to preserve peace in the Pacific, and while an appeal which President Roosevelt had sent to the Emperor of Japan still remained unanswered, Japanese forces attacked American and British territory without a declaration of war. Thus war has been forced on the United States and the British Empire. You know how Germany, in the same manner that Japan now emulates in Asia, attacked many countries in Europe, one after another. Japan, motivated by the same spirit of aggression and the same disregard of law, follows in the footsteps of her German Axis partner.

 

Neither the safety of the territories of our Kingdom in the Far East, nor the Ties which bind us to our British Allies, nor the special relations which exist between the Netherlands and the United States allow the Government of the Kingdom to look on passively. The Kingdom of the Netherlands considers itself in a state of war with Japan because the aggression-which seeks to put out of action, one by one, the countries which desire peace-can only be halted through a strong coalition. Now that the American and British peoples, with whom we are closely bound in friendship, are attacked, the Kingdom of the Netherlands places all its armed forces and resources at the disposal of the allied war effort. The development of our Kingdom for centuries has been guided by a unified destiny.

 

In the hurricane which threatens this development, it rises with resolute unity to maintain its place in the world. The Netherlands did not hesitate to defend herself immediately, with courage, when she was viciously attacked in Europe. The Netherlands East Indies will not waver now that she is menaced by a similar attack. The Indies stood with the Netherlands in her hour of trial. The Netherlands and our West Indies will stand with the East Indies now that the Indies are resisting aggression. I rely on the Navy, the Army and the Air Force, the authorities and the civilian services. I and all my subjects rely on the courage, resolution and determination of all those in the Indies. Trusting in God, whom all my subjects desire to serve in freedom and who know that our cause is righteous and our conscience clear, we accept the challenge together with our powerful allies. We will triumph and our Kingdom, beset but at the same time purified, steeled and standing with inviolable pride will survive stronger than ever to live under our free banner in a world free from aggression.”

[Heliopause]

Dec 9th
The Brewsters fly from Andir, Java to Kallang, Singapore (staging through Palembang, Sumatra). Upon arrival one of the Brewsters runs in on another one resulting in both machines damaged. A Maintenace Unit at Seletar will help to repair the fuselage of one while spare parts arriving by Lodestar are used to repair the other machine.
Most of the B 10's are able to relocate from Kemajoran, Java to Sembawang airfield on Singapore. A few have to stay behind for engine checks or minor repairs.

[Heliopause]

Dec 12th:
In the evening Dutch submarine O 16 shadows an enemy troopship in the dark (the previous night it was unsuccesfull in an attack on another enemy vessel and with daylight coming O 16 had dived and disengaged). It now reaches Patani were the troopship moves into the bay and drops anchor. Commander A.J. Bussemaker moves O 16 in and spots 3 more enemy vessels in the bay. Bussemaker then surfaces O 16 as the depth is now only around 10 meters.
5 torpedoes are launched and 5 explosions registered. The 4 enemy ships are hit (one ship seems to keep floating so gets a second torpedo). O 16 then slips out of the bay and a few miles out power is switched from batteries to diesel engines. The results are signalled to Singapore HQ.

 

Further south Dutch submarine K XII under command of Lt 1st class H. Coumou succesfully torpedoes an enemy transportship near Kota Baroe. He also attacks in the evening and positions K XII at the surface as the depth is only around 14 meters, the enemy ship having anchored near the shore. Thick black smoke colums can be seen rising from the sinking ship.

 

Both O 16 and K XII are operating under the command of Eastern Fleet at Singapore.
 

 

From June 1939 onwards O 16 was stationed in the Dutch East Indies.

[Heliopause]

Dec 13th:
K XII again torpedoes an enemy ship close to Kota Baroe. This time a tanker (probably Taizan Maru). The first torpedo was a "highrunner" moving close to the surface creating waterkoloms of at least 10 meters high. The men aboard the tanker must have realised what was coming. Coumou looking trough the periscope could see them running along the deck, some moving from back to front and others from front to back. It was hit near the boilerroom section.
A second torpedo was launched but did not hit. The valve of the launchtube did not close and this caused K XII to surface. After a few minutes she was under control again and K XII moved further out to sea.

 

Crew of K XII with Coumou on the right in Australian waters, April '42.

[jollyjack]

Thanks for posting Heliopause. I'd love to download all this information here as pdf.

 

PS a pity my now passed neighbor is no longer there;

he was a Dutch naval officer on a sunken frigate that went down thanks the Japs in the Java sea battle, full of RL stories.

 

And yeah, a Catalina would be nice as Collector plane ....

Edited December 13, 2021 by jollyjack

[Heliopause]

Thanks Jollyjack. I take info from a number of books i have. Almost all in Dutch. I translate some of the highpoints

of the actions that took place in the early campaign in the east/pacific.

These are some of the books I have. Found in 2nd hand store (or kringloop). If you see one just buy it  ?

 

[jollyjack]

gaan we doen! jouw info selectie was erg OK ... sorry Luke

[Heliopause]

Dec 15th:
In the early hours submarine O 16, on its way back to Singapore, strikes an enemy mine and is lost. It sinks within a minute. Six of her crew make it out on time but only one (De Wolf) is able to reach land after being in the water for more then 30 hours.
He is the sole surviver. He will make it back to Singapore by sailing on local fishing boats, trekking through Malayan jungle and finally on a "luxurious Ford V8" from an Australian unit. As he later explained to Admiral Helfrich (Dutch Navy):
"The Australians did it thoroughly Admiral. They gave me so much whisky that all I could do was feel great". De Wolf received the Distinguished Service Medal (D.S.M.) and Bronzen kruis (Bronze Cross).
Commander Bussemaker a posthumous Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O) followed later by the Militaire Willems Orde (M.W.O.).

 

B-10's from Sembawang, Singapore fly a patrol just to the south of Kota Baru (as in the previous two days). No sign of enemy activity. On the return stretch they are intercepted by RAF Brewster Buffalo's. The fighters move in but luckily turn away before opening fire.

From Singkawang II and Samarinda II airfields in Borneo daily maritime patrols by B-10's continue to be carried out.

 

 

A small sidestep: In early 1937  O 16 sailed the Atlantic Ocean and the Pontomac river to visit Washington D.C.  Prof. V. Meinesz (conducting scientific work during the voyage) and the commander Van Waning even being received by President F.D. Roosevelt.

Edited December 20, 2021 by Heliopause
xtra info

[Heliopause]

Dec 16th:
One patrol (3 planes) of B-10's on Kendari returns to the airfield of Malang, Java. Initially stationed there to welcome B-17's from 7th BG (an assignment that eventually didn't happen). The patrol has conducted a number of maritime patrols between Celebes and Ambon for the last week. Most time however was spend on stand-by duty.
 

B-10's on the airfield of Kendari, Celebes (some sources state Samarinda II).

[Heliopause]

Dec 17th:
From Singkawang II an maritime patrol towards Miri is carried out by 3 B-10's. The order to investigate the situation there was given by Air Headquarters Far East the previous evening. Flying parallel and spread out they cover as much area as possible and at the same time keeping a visual on each other. One plane meanwhile keeping track of the coastline. Near Miri 5 to 7 enemy ships are observed. Above these ships planes are circling. Quickly the B-10 turns away and moves into the nearest cloudcover. The results signaled to HQ straight away.

 

3 Dorniers Do 24's operating out of Tarakan then fly a bombing mission to Miri. Getting below the cloudbase near the target area Do 24 X32 spots an vessel heading in the direction of Cam Ranh Bay. An attack is carried out straight away. X32 manages two hits and a near miss on (what turns out to be) the destroyer "Shinonome" which explodes and sinks within minutes.  Do 24 X33 needs to line up first before it can attack. It reports near misses on a transportship. X34 is damaged by an enemy floatplane and on the way back it makes a crash landing up river in central Borneo. The 3 survivors of the crew trekking through jungle for the next 3 weeks in order to reach a town and civilization.

 

In the early afternoon:
A bombing mission from Singkawang II by 3 B-10's is carried out. Arriving in the area the enemy ships take evasive action and no hits are reported. Two planes receive slight AA damage. A number of enemy floatplanes are seen to climb up but te B-10's are high enough to evade these.

 

From Samarinda II 9 B-10's also set out to attack the ships at Miri. Upon reaching the target area the 2nd patrol spots an enemy vessel already burning.
The enemy vessels take evasive action and no hits are reported. 3rd patrol however, from 4000m height put bombs on a transportship. A big cloud colum is seen as a result.
Floatplanes then make an attack. One B-10 is damaged in one of its engines and tailplane but makes it back to the airfield landing in the twilight. A shot through mainwheel creates a bit of an crash landing. Gunners of another B-10 are able to damage a floatplane as it passes underneath. By diving slightly the B-10 is able to pull away from yet another enemy floatplane (F1M fighter floatplanes).

 

At Ternate island an 4 engined Kawanishi flying boat attackes Dutch patrol vessel "Poolster". The two bombs miss however.
Do 24 X30 has just returned as this happens and goes in pursuit. After 25 minutes at full throttle a brief firefight takes place
(this might be the first dogfight between flying boats). The Do's tailgunner hits the starboard, inboard engine of the Mavis and part of the tail
but the Do 24 itself is hit in the centre engine by a 20mm round and disengages, returning on two engines to Ternate.

[cardboard_killer]

8 hours ago, Heliopause said:

The 3 survivors of the crew trekking through jungle for the next 3 weeks in order to reach a town and civilization.

 

I have heard that these three survivors were captured by the Japanese and beheaded?

[Heliopause]

On 12/17/2021 at 6:44 PM, cardboard_killer said:

 

I have heard that these three survivors were captured by the Japanese and beheaded?

Yes apparently decapitated on august 26th or 27th '42.....

 

 

Dec 18th:

From Singkawang II another bombing mission to Miri is carried out. 
1st patrol (3 B-10's) hits a big cargoship. They are then attacked by floatplanes. These can be kept at a distance and one of them is hit. 2 B-10's return to base
with damage.
2nd patrol is able to drop one of its bombs midship right next to a vessel. The last thing the rear gunner was able to see was the ship rolling on its side.
Then enemy floatplanes intercept and a B-10 goes down. One parachute is seen before clouds obscure the plane (all the crew bail out succesfully and after a
long trek reach Long Nawang amongst other evacues. The crew of X34 also ended up here. However in August the town is suddenly swamped by an Japanese unit and after a number of days the crews are executed by the enemy without trial).

 

From Samarinda II 6 B-10's are also scheduled for an attack to Miri. However after take-off the weather quickly deteriorates and only two planes continue the mission. Ships can't be found. One B-10 then attacks the oil installations. One of its engines developes problems and the flight back is made on the remaining engine. Weather is still poor and after some time the planes succeed in landing back at base.

 

 

Dec 19th

Singkawang II:
In the morning 5 B-10's are operational and undertake another mission to Miri with 3 Brewsters as escorts. During the flight the weather deteriorates further and
the decision is made to return to base. After landing the 3 Brewsters are then on stand-by duty.

Around noon enemy planes are reported attacking the town of Pontianak. The only defence comes from the 20mm gun from Dornier Do 24 X36 in a small dock, having been towed there on the 15th after suffering engine trouble during an maritime patrol.

The 3 Brewsters on stand-by duty on Singkawang II take-off quickly but the town has already been bombed. To the northwest of Pontianak the Brewsters are able to make contact with the bombers (G3M's). However only one attack can be made as the bombers then slip into the clouds. A coastal observation post reports one plane going down over the sea. (One G3M will ditch 40 km south of Saigon).
Around the same time enemy bombers attack the city of Kuching.

 

From Samarinda II airfield 6 B-10's also set out to Miri. This time fighter escort is planned (4 Brewsters) since the bombers have encountered
enemy floatplanes previously. The B-10's fly straigt towards an area 100km NE of Miri to rendez-vous. The Brewsters first fly to Tarakan island for a fuel stop.
From there they procede to the B-10's. When the Brewsters arrive the B-10's are already circling the area for 5 to 10 minutes.
Given the poor maps and navigational aids for crossing this large stretch of jungle this is a nice feat. As previously planned 2 Brewsters
stay with a patrol each for cover as they move towards Miri. 2nd patroll is intercepted by an enemy floatplane. After the intitial attack it is
spotted by the Brewsters and they turn towards it. The leader makes two passes at the floatplane and his wingman one. The floatplane is
seen to leave the area with a smoke trail behind it. The 2 Brewster pilots get separated and fly back on their own. It is later found that
wingman Sgt. Wessels flew straight to Samarinda II instead of Tarakan (inexperience played part in this). He made an emergency landing near
the town of Samarinda inwhich the pilot perishes. Leader pilot Wink lands at Tarakan* for taking fuel and reports his wingman missing.
Pilot Wink later ends up at the airfield of Manggar near Balikpapan after dark had set in, missing Samarinda II airfield by navigational error
(arriving over the field of Manggar he first fires signal flares to make sure the groundpersonell remove the obstacles from the runway).
The B-10's meanwhile report hitting a transportship and a "cruiser". The latter most probably an torpedodestroyer.

 

*Besides the Brewsters arriving twice on Tarakan from the Miri mission also 2 B-18's from the Philippinnes arrive with around 20 pilots to make a refeulling stop.
They are on their way to Australia to collect aircraft. They had left in the early hours from Nicols Field.

 

B-10's seen here at Singkawang II a number of months before the outbreak of hostilities.

Edited December 20, 2021 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

Dec 20th:
Pilot Wink returns in his Brewster from Manggar to Samarinda II airfield landing there in bad visibility during heavy rains. Just in time he gets
a visual on the runway.

 

From Singkawang II Brewsters fly a three hour recon mission and after landing back at base a formation of 26 enemy bombers is seen nearby.

Nine G4M bombers are seen to leave the main formation and attack Singkawang II. The main attack however seems to be on the nearby airfield called Singkawang III (still under construction). This is ploughed by bombs and can't be used anymore. The 3 Brewsters are fuelled up quickly and take-off but fail to find the bombers. They do see the destruction in the city of Pontianak from yesterdays attacks.

 

The first 9 PBY's from Patwing 10 arrive over Soerabaje naval base (Java) from the Philippines. They had left during the early hours of dec 14th
after the unit lost 10 of it's 28 planes during the first week of war. Staging through Balikpapan, Borneo (some planes go to Menado due to range).
The total number of planes from Patwing 10 arriving at Soerabaja are 10 PBY's, 2 J2F "Ducks", four OS2U "Kingfishers" and one SOC "Seagull" utility plane.
The USN seaplane tenders USS Heron, William B. Preston, Childs and Langley follow and allow flexibility for operations across the East Indies.
With no further means to evacuate them some 500 ground personnel are left behind in the Philippines.

 

Dec 21:
B-10's and Brewsters from Singkawang II fly daily recon missions over the South China Sea and along the west- and northcoast.
Meanwhile an unknown airplane is seen flying at great height over the airfield. Probably an enemy reconnaissance plane.

Edited December 21, 2021 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

Dec 22:
2 B-10's on a maritime patrol out of Singkawang II spot some 18 enemy vessels SW of Miri. They quickly start the return flight and signal HQ.
The bombers at Singkawang II are then prepared for an attack mission.
Then reports come in from observation posts of enemy bombers heading towards the airfield. The 4 Brewsters take-off to intercept.
24 G3M's attack the airfield whilst approuching from a different direction then expected and the Brewsters are unable to find the bombers (no means of

communication excists between the airborn Brewsters and the airfield).
The terain is ploughed and all but one B-10 receive damage. Luckily they are positioned in pens and damage is repairable.

 

From Singapore 2 patrols of B-10's fly a mission to Kuching to attack enemy ships. In the target area nothing is found. The only activity spotted by one of the
patrols are 3 planes flying at an lower alt.

[Heliopause]

Dec 23rd
Six Dornier Do 24 (3 from Lake Tondano near Babo, New Quinea and 3 from Talisei, Minahasa Peninsula) start at 02:00 hours for an attack
on Davao in the southern Philippines (Davao being occupied since dec 20th).
D0 24 X27 en X30 arrive first over the target area. They find the harbor full of shipping. X27 dropped its bombs on a group of seaplanes.
X30 dropped its bombload on a large warehouse complex. Warehouses and quays are left in a mass of flames.
The Do's then notice two enemy floatplanes one of which is able to damage X27. Gunners from both X27 and X30 report damaging the "Pete"
floatplane (it overturned and capsized upon returning to its seaplane tender Sanuki Maru due to a damaged centerline float).
X26 then reaches the area and droppes its bombs on an enemy vessel. Near misses are reported.
X11, X12 and X25 arrive together shortly after and make a quick attack focusing on a Tanker (Tonan maru 2) that seemed to be in the proces of
refuelling an heavy cruiser. X11 claimed a direct hit and two near misses. Both ships were reportedly in flames as the Do's turned for home.
X27 meanwhile lags behind due to engine trouble (her hull and some fuel tanks ruptured) and loses alt. Along the way it spots enemy shipping 20 miles
south of the Kawio islands. Later it has to make an emergency landing. It then breaks radio silence and some 45 minutes later X30
comes in sight and lands to pick up the crew (in rough seas).

 

At Singkawang II 6 of the 8 B-10's are flight ready again (groundcrews carried out repairworks during the night) and at 7 am they leave for Palembang, Sumatra since
the airfield is no longer save. Some 2 hours later the remaiming 2 B-10's also leave for Palembang. At the south end of Borneo they spot bogeys and the flight is continued in the clouds on instruments. Subsequently 1 plane reaches Palembang, the other reported missing. 7 B-10's have arrived at Palembang of which 5 are operational.

 

Dornier Do 24 X35 meanwhile starts shadowing the enemy convoy (discovered yesterday), taking over from Do 24 X6 who picked up the convoy again earlier in the day. X 35 later encounters Dutch submarine K-XIV and by means of signallamp it informs K XIV of the enemy convoy, its position and heading. The submarine then moves in the direction of the convoy in order to attack. X35 keeps shadowing the convoy further. A number of times X35 returns to K XIV to give the latest details.
Floatplanes are spotted at some point and X35 draws these away to make sure K XIV remains undetected by the enemy force.
X35 received some damage from the enemy floatplanes but is finally able to fly into cloudcover. It then screened the sea further aft of the enemy convoy dicovering yet another formation of enemy vessels.

In the evening K XIV attacks the enemy ships at the port of Kuching in a 75 min timeframe. With a depth of around 14 meters and the presence of a cruiser and 2 destroyers moving around K XIV kept manouvering into different positions.
The first torpedo fired was on a destroyer which passed at the back but this did not hit. Eventually 4 of the 6 transportships are struck by torpedoes. One of the ships breaks in half and a transport and a tanker are left sinking. Commander Van Well Groeneveld refrained from using the deck gun on yet another sighted transportship and K XIV finally slips out of the area again and signals the results to Navy HQ (with its torpedoes spent she will get the order to return to Surabya).

 

Painting depicting the encounter between Dornier Do 24 X35 and submarine K XIV. Their coöperation resulting in the succesfull attack of K XIV at Kuching.

 

K XIV seen here during her launch at Rotterdam in 1932. After becoming operational in 1933 she arrived in the Dutch East Indies in 1934.

Edited December 23, 2021 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

Dec 24th:
The 5 Brewsters at Singkawang II also prepare to leave for Palembang. The field is no longer save. Groundcrews are to stay behind (Far East Command perhaps thinking of a return). Shortly after they have left around noon, G4M's bomb the field and 6 zero's make strafing attacks. The Brewsters meanwhile fly into rainshowers with bad visibility. The leader orders the return to Singkawang II. One pilot doesn't hear the order and continues through the clouds alone savely making it to Palembang, Sumatra. The other Brewsters are able to land between the freshly created bombcraters.
 

3 B-10's from Singapore followed by Blenheims (Sqn 34) carry out a mission againt enemy shipping at Kuching. It is at the extreme range of the planes. Only one bombrun can be made. The B-10's attack from 2000 meters height and damage a transport ship which is seen listing (Hioyshi-maru). The 5 Blenheims follow up and report near misses.

 

Dutch submarines K XV and K XVI have taken position in the Kuching area as to follow up on K XIV's succesfull attack the previous day. K XVI makes an succesfull
attack on the enemy destroyer Sagiri which sinks. She also launches two torpedoes at another destroyer (Marakumo) but this attack is unsuccesfull. Depthcharges
then follow but these are to far off. K XVI then disengages and moves out of the area. It later signals the results of the attack to Navy HQ and informs that
the enemy transportships are unreachable due to shallow depth and destroyer protection. K XV is not able to penetrate the destroyer screen and keeps distance.

 

Dornier Do 24 X32 on patrol finds the American ship "Ruth Alexander" under attack from an floatplane. The two planes fight and the F1M2 is damaged.
Upon returning to its tender "Kamikawa maru" it sinks before it can be hoisted aboard.

 

8 PBY's Catalina's of Patwing 10 have left Soerabaja, Java for Ambon. Taking up positions with 3 Dutch PBY's.
From there it starts recon. operations to the north and eastern parts of the archipelago.

 

In Malaya Dutch submarine K XII picks up a crew of Sqn 205. Their PBY Catalina was forced down and lost after an 25-minute engagement with an G3M. The survivors return to Seletar, Singapore.

[Heliopause]

Dec 25th
Submarine K XVI is struck by an torpedo from Japanese submarine I 66 and is lost with all aboard. K XVI travelled at the surface possibly to charge her batteries and
to be ready for another submerged attack in the Kuching area.

 

From Samarinda II missions resume. B-10's fly to Kuching to attack enemy ships. 1st patrol has its view blocked by clouds. 2nd patrol is able to spot some
ships for a brief moment and two attack runs are made. To no evail, clouds obscure both times at the last moment. On the return flight a rainfront has to
be passed. The formation breaks up. 1 B-10 can't find the other planes again and diverts south. It arrives at the auxilary airfield at Kotawaringin in
the south of Borneo. After landing it turns out that one of the ailerons cabels is severed due to enemy flak. Luckily the aileron was locked in
the neutral position otherwise the plane and crew could have been lost.

 

The remaining 4 Brewsters at Singkawang II leave for Palembang, Sumatra.

 

Brewster pilot De Waardt at Singkawang II shortly after the start of hostilities. Pilots could  communicate by means of radio but with the rainseason it sometimes became interfered. Once airborne there was no groundcommunication though.

 

On Tarakan island an enemy flying boat makes a pass over the airfield, dropping bombs and its machine guns firing.

 

At Kallang, Singapore a Sqn 488 dinner party is held with a number of Dutch East Indies officers invited. For the last couple of weeks there have been practice flights with the New Zaelanders and Britisch and the occassional scramble. The latter proved fruitless as the enemy recomnnaissance plane is flying higher and faster than the Brewsters ever will.

Another event: on Dec 12th Dutch groundcrew were on their way to Ipoh, Malaya by train as it was planned to have the Dutch Brewsters operate from there. A trainjourney lasting 3 days. However as previously agreed the Dutch are to operate from Singapore and after pointing this out the plan is canceled. The groundcrew meanwhile sleep one night at Ipoh and then take the train south again arriving back at Kallang on the 17th.

 

[Heliopause]

 

 

Dec 26th

From Samarinda II another mission by B-10's against ships at Kuching. 6 B-10's set out. One returns due to her fuel situation. The 5 remaining B-10's reach the target area and one enemy transportship is hit (an enormous explosion is observed*) plus a hit on an minesweeper. Around 13:00 hours the bombers start the returnflight.
Floatplanes are seen to climb trying to intercept but these can not reach the B-10's. Then bad weather intervens and one B-10 diverts to
Oelin airfield in the south near Banjarmassin landing on fumes. Another B-10 reaches the coast 70km south of Balikpapan where it ditches. During the
descent the engines quit as it runs out of fuel (the next day the crew is spotted by a B-10 that searches for them followed on the 28th by the arrival of a
small drydock by tug. Not long after that the plane is shipped to Java).

  *Upon returning to Samarinda II airfield a telegramm by the Navy has already been received. It congratulates the crews for the succesfull attack. The
  hugh explosion has been witnessed by a Dutch submarine through its periscope near Kuching harbor (my guess: the K XV).

 

At Tarakan 3 Brewster are scrambled. After flying around for a while nothing is seen by the pilots. Patrol leader Wink orders the other 2 Brewsters to stay up at the south of the island. He returns to the strip to ask for clarification. On finals explosions on the runway appear and Wink quickly applies power to keep flying. However one of the explosions throws mud on the engine of his plane and cilinderhead temperature rises. After circling around the field he lands between the bombcraters (7 enemy bombers have attacked from an altitude from around 6km height ploughing the grasstrip).

 

On Lake Tondano, Celebes 4 Dorniers Do 24's are being prepaired for an attack on the enemy ships at Jolo as suddenly enemy fighters appear overhead. The Zero's attack and the Dorniers are left burning. One Do 24 (X30) is returning from a recon to Davao and diverts in time. It will be used to fly the wounded to Java.

 

On Laha airfield, Ambon the Brewsters take off to intercept an unknown airplane. The search proves unsuccesfull. During landing the Brewster of pilot
Brouwer suffers a collapsing left maingear and ends up next to the runway. The pilot suffers a slight head injury. The damaged Brewster will be shipped
to Java for repairs. Its radio, battery and armament are kept on Laha. Now only two Brewsters remain for local protection.

Edited December 27, 2021 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

Dec 27th

3 B-10's from Samarinda II airfield set out to Miri to attack targets of oppertunity. Weather is cloudy. No ships are sighted nor is the airfield at Miri visible.

 

From Ambon PatWing 10 has 6 PBY's make an attack on the enemy fleet at Jolo, Phillippines at dawn. One transport is sunk and a light cruiser is beached and burning. However 4 Catalina's are lost by enemy AA and Zero fighter planes (some of the crew surviving with help of natives, local authoraties and Chinese storekeepers and being able to move from island to island reaching Tarakan and Surabaya thereafter).
Dornier Do 24 X33 from Tarakan follows up making an attack against the same fleet. It selects a cruiser which is attacked without succes. The Do 24 returns to Tarakan with AA damage. The next day it is flown to Surabaya naval base for repairs.

Edited December 27, 2021 by Heliopause

[DD_fruitbat]

@Heliopause

 

Great thread, only just come across this, really interesting read, thanks.

[Heliopause]

Dec 28th
Again 3 B-10's fly to Miri for targets of oppertunity. From 5000m a big enemy transportship is bombed and this receives some direct hits. Then the bombers are
intercepted by 5 Zero's. 1 B-10 is shot down with only one of the crew surviving (after parachuting he will trek the jungle and reach Pontianak followed by
sailing to Java on a small fishing boat). The other B-10's, although heavily damaged, reach clouds and are able to return to their airfield of Samarinda II. Back at

base they turn out to look like sieves with holed wings and parts shot away (the Zero's already being stationed at Miri airfield since dec 22nd).

 

From Sembawang, Singapore B-10's set out to attack the enemy ships near Kuching. First patr finds nothing because of heavy cloudlayer.
2nd patrol is able to spot an enemy vessel and make a bombrun, only near misses are observed. The target area is at the extreme range of the bombers and
they select to land at Seletar because of the critical fuel situation. During taxiing some engines already stop running.

 

At Tarakan a scramble is made by 5 Brewsters but the alarm comes too late. The first Brewster gets hit by a Zero fighter just after its wheels are retracted. The second one immediatly becomes involved in a turning fight. The remaining Brewsters also have to fight straight away after take-off. One of these has its stick shot in half. The pilot succesfully taking to his parachute. Another Brewster is also shot down whilst one finds cloudcover. The strong vertical currents putting the plane in an vrille almost straight away. Coming out of the cloud the Brewster pilot suddenly looks at the belly of an enemy fighter plane and gives a short burst before flying into the next cloud. After circling the clouds a bit the Zero's give up and leave.
After this attack 4 pilots and 3 operational Brewsters remain for the protection of the oil rich island.
In the early afternoon there is another enemy attack. This time 7 G3M's bomb from 6000m height. The local AA 40mm guns are unable to reach the enemy bombers. 4 Zero's follow up with a strafing attack setting fire to a Brewster that is under repair.

 

At Kallang, Singapore a filmcrew shoots some film of the Dutch Brewsters.

 

Dutch Brewsters at Kallang. On the fuselage the units emblem, a Javan Rhinoceros.

 

 

Edited December 28, 2021 by Heliopause
Tarakan

[ZachariasX]

A very nice thread, thank you @Heliopause!

Edited December 29, 2021 by ZachariasX

[Heliopause]

Dec 29th:
At Kallang, Singapore a Blenheim landing at night overshoots and hits 2 parked Dutch Brewsters in the proces.

 

Dornier Do 24 X15 performing a maritime patrol is shot down by a G3M "Nell" near Midai Island.

 

At Samarinda II mostly training flights are carried out for the next few days as to give operational training to a number of gunners who recently arrived out of the
gunnery course.

 

Newly trained gunners seen here on a B-10 gunnery course on Java.

[Missionbug]

These threads are a fascinating read, all kinds of things that it is probably fair to say many of us were unaware of.

 

Take care and be safe.

 

Wishing you all the very best, Pete.

[Heliopause]

Dec 30th

3 G4M bombers attack the harbor of Taraken. However this proves unsuccesfull.

[Heliopause]

Dec 31st
Over Singkawang II airfield suplies are dropped by 3 Blenheims for the British troops that have arrived there from Kuching (in the night of 28/29th).

 

At Kallang 8 Dutch Brewsters are posted back to Semplak, Java for convoy protection duties. The flight back is made in one go (of the Dutch fighter planes 6 Dutch Brewsters now remain).

 

From Java 9 B-10's are relocated to Palembang, Sumatra. This unit being newly formed for operations and it has worked-up in the last few weeks on Java. The machines where previously used at the flightschool and the unit consists of freshly trained crews under the leadership of intructors. It will now be part of the striking force for convoy protection duties.

 

To the west of Halmahera aircrafttender Heron is attacked by six flyingboats and five G4m's. It evades all torpedoes and bombs. Heron is able to shoot one H6K down and damage two others (the latter will sink after landing back at Davao, Phillipines). Two G4M's also receive damage.

 

Dornier Do 24 X 32 operating out of Tarakan picks up the 46 crewmen of the ship Ruth Alexander. "Like herrings in a can" the Dornier takes everybody in one go. The take-off lasting some 5 miles. The ship has been attacked by enemy bombers and is on fire. She will only sink after two days.

Edited December 31, 2021 by Heliopause