Dutch East Indies

[Heliopause]

Jan 15th
Recon flight by a single B-25 Sqn 18 NEI. Four middle sized and two small submarines are observed. Further on an oil spot is seen. All information is quickly passed on to HQ NW area.

 

Transport remained importent aswell. C-47 "Grobak" one of the planes used by No. 1  Transport Squadron NEI.

The unit also used a number of TB-25's and C-60A Lodestars.

[Heliopause]

Jan 16th
Six Beaufighters Sqn 31 RAAF carry out a mission "Attack personnel and stores area Sidate". On the 5th the Squadron had used Napalm bombs for the first time during an attack against installations at Menado power house. The following day 12 Beaufighters had attacked Likoepang village with 72  100lbs Napalm bombs and many strafing runs "which resulted in the practically the entire town being obliterated".

 

Sqn 31 RAAF at Morotai

[Heliopause]

Jan 22nd
Armed recon along Timor's NW coast by four B-25's Sqn 18 NEI. Near the island of Roti an landingcraft is observed and destroyed.

[Heliopause]

Jan 24th
British Pacific Fleet begins operation Meridian targeting refineries and airfields in the Palembang area of southern Sumatra. A force of 133 aircraft attack te refinery at Platjoe and airfields at Lembok, Palembang, Talangbetoetoe and the coastal airfield at Mana. 87th Sentai Ki-44 pilots getting airborne shortly after the air raid siren had suddenly started up. Pilot Hideaki Inayama seeing tracers flashing past as he is rolling down the runway. Two FAA Corsairs streak past above him. He is able to climb to 15000ft and join other Ki-44's in a diving attack on an formation of nine Avengers (diving through the fighter escort of Corsairs and Hellcats). Able to attack an Avenger from behind he pulls then up into a steep climbing turn and glancing back thinks he sees it burst into flames and spin down in the jungle below. Shortly thereafter he dives down on a Hellcat that is chasing a Ki-43. He fires a short burst at the Hellcat before turning sharply to get on its tail but soon finds himself flying almost level with the Hellcat. Inayama quickly pulls up to loop onto the Hellcat's tail but it dives away to starboard making of close to the jungle canopy. After circling the refineries he spots a second wave of Avengers coming from the south. Making another diving attack he manages to fire at one of the machines and then climb steeply through the formation. Escorting Hellcats latch on to him but he quickly turns sharply to port. Anti aircraft fire disrupts the Hellcats attack however and  Inayama starts to climb again. He then spots 2 Avengers at 1500ft and makes a diving attack closing to almost point blank range before opening up with all four guns. Flames are seen from the left wing root and it rolls inverted towards the jungle below. The second Avenger reaching the safety of cloud cover. Low on fuel Inayama is able to land back at base. The 87th has lost 12 Ki-44's and seven pilots killed or wounded.

 

Ki-44's starting up

 

Avenger of Sqn 849 crossing the Sumatra coast during Meridian

[Heliopause]

Jan 25th
Attack on the Japero area by Sqn 120 NEI. Four P-40's led by Lt. Simons out of Merauke perform the mission, the results are reported to be satisfactory. Yesterday the squadron was notified of a planned relocation to Jacquinot Bay, New Britain.

[Heliopause]

Jan 28th
Shipping sweep by two B-25's Sqn 18 NEI. The mission starts out of Truscott. At the island of Rio two landingcraft are discovered and attacked. Medium AA is present near the town of Moamere. During this month some of the crews have been rotated. Replacement crews have previously flown missions with the squadron.

 

Flight to Eastern Java by a single B-25 under the command of Van Breemen.
Shortly after midnight the mission starts out of Broome, Australia. To the south of Kediri the machine approaches Java. A weather-front forces a climb to 10000ft. Because of this D-tour daylight has already started at Surabaya when they approach the city at 400ft altitude and fly over the Wonokromo bridge. Almost immediately tracers (20mm) are seen coming over the left wing. Before reaching the Naval harbour Van Breemen turns the plane around with leaflets then being dropped over the city. Near the oil refinery complex AA is again present with tracer fire coming just over the tail of the plane. Flying low over the rice fields to Madioen (overflying Modjokerto) the airfield of Maospati is seen to be deserted. The flight then continues to Solo (on the way over photos are taken of a camouflaged sugar plantation) again leaflets are dropped. Next city is Semarang with again photos taken and leaflets being dropped. At the airfield of Kalibentang a twin engined bomber is strafed. Over Ambarawa the crew discovers large internee camps with women and children. This was suspected but now there is evidence. Circling at low alt four camps are observed with women and children clearly to be seen. An estimate of 2000 woman per camp is made. At some 60 meters altitude leaflets are dropped over the gathered crowds.
The flight is then continued towards Magelang where the airstrip is seen to be blocked and unusable. Over Boroboedoer Djokja is approached, the airfield of Magoewo is observed to be deserted and out of use. Then a heading is taken to Java's south east. Near Banjoewangi a suspected camp is searched but nothing found aswell as a radarstation. Total flying time over Java is 4,5 hours. Moesson (rain) fronts hinder navigation and the engines start irregular operation. By keeping the plane in a descent attitude the engines still receive fuel. Just before giving the signal for ditching a clear direction is received and Van Breemen then performs a straight-in landing at Broome on the last drops of fuel. Total flying time is 14 hours and 15 minutes.

[Heliopause]

Jan 30th
Photo rec flight to Tjilatjap, Java out of Broome. Under command of Van Breemen the mission is flown towards Tjilatjap to make a series of photos of the harbour complex. Over the Bay of Penandjang photos are made from 8000ft initially. Later also from a lower altitude. Hardly any activity is observed. AA is non existent. At 12:15 hours Van Breemen returns at Broome. Total flying time 9 hours and 45 minutes. This mission concludes Van Breemen's three flights to Java (the first was flown on Sept 24th).

[Heliopause]

Febr 4th
Armed recce by four B-25's Sqn 18 NEI. The north and south coast of Roti island is observed followed by the east coast of Timor. SW of the island Semaoe an landingcraft is found an destroyed. Over Atapoepoe an enemy single engined fighter plane is seen (wether it attacked is not recorded). Fairly accurate medium AA is present.

[Heliopause]

Febr 5th
Sqn 120 NEI performs two escort missions out of Merauke to Kamiri airfield at Noemfoor.

[Heliopause]

Febr 6th
Sqn 31 RAAF at Morotai: Sweep from Cape Kandi to Cape Doelang by two crews. However Duty 2 "returned to base due to engine failure".
Four other Beaufighters go out on a search mission. "Search for Dinghy sighted by B24 crew" with Duty 6 returning to base "due to failure of Port Motor".

[Heliopause]

Febr 7th
Sqn 120 NEI performs a training flight with six P-40's. Two planes do not return however. Pilot De Raadt his machine has engine trouble at take-off from Tanahmera and is severely damaged. It proves to be a total loss. The second P-40 flown by Tlt Fokkinga arrives later.

[Heliopause]

Febr 8th
Dutch submarine O 21 starts her voyage to Fremantle, Australia out of the USA. She had received maintenance at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard from May till November 1944. The last two months have been used for working up. She will sail through the Panama Canal and make a stop-over at Wellington, New Zealand to undergo repairs.

 

O 21 - view from the tower.

[Heliopause]

Febr 9th
B-25 N5-217 of Sqn 18 NEI is damaged during landing at Pell Airfield. A local unit reported:  "A few exciting moments were experienced when a NEI pilot landed a B-25 with his undercarriage partially down. The pilot made a splendid approach and a remarkably good landing with only slight damage to the aircraft and no injuries of any description to the crew".

[Heliopause]

Febr 11th
Armed recon toward the islands of Roti and Timor by four B-25's Sqn 18 NEI. Near Goemoek a barge is destroyed and at Cape Garemarat six small landing craft are destroyed. Near Vila Nova Malaca accurate medium AA is observed together with less accurate light AA. B-25 N5-170 returns from the mission with holes in the rudders.

[Heliopause]

Febr 13th
Sqn 120 NEI at Merauke, Dutch New Guinea receives orders to go "non ops" per tomorrow because of a planned transfer to Jacquinot Bay. Test flights and a number of training flights will still be flown.

[Heliopause]

Febr 14th
The town of Tondano on the island of Celebes is attacked by a force of RAAF Kittyhawks and Beaufighters. Some 90 planes participate in the attack mission with the Kittyhawks starting the attack divided in three groups. The Beaufighters conclude the attack which lasts some 45 minutes.

 

Beaufighter crew after the mission with AA damage to machine A19-212  "incurred on raid on Tondano, Celebes".

[Heliopause]

Febr 16th
Dutch submarine Swordfish is near Poeloe Tenggol island on Malacca's eastcoast. Earlier on in her warpatrol three torpedo's had been fired on a convoy. An enemy destroyer had come straight for Swordfish (probably directed by the plane circling overhead) at the moment of attack. Luckily the depthcharges that quickly followed failed to be accurate. After the "noise" of the depthcharges a "soft and dull" sound was registered. "Claus had kept counting: 3min and 23sec which coincided with the original target, a freighter". Now at Poeloe Tenggol Swordfish is at the surface to check the front periscope as it is fogged up. The radar is turning but it is suspected not to function properly. Eight men are on the look-out however. The weather today has taken the shape of a low cloud base. A yell of the boatsman checking the rear has the men move quickly into the submarine with orders to dive. Four bombs are seen falling from the attacking enemy plane as the last man is in the proces of closing the hatch. Bombs explode before the sub has time to fully dive. Although substantial damage is received the rudders still respond to the input given. In the hours of darkness Swordfish travels at the surface and checked for damage. The deckgun is found to be stuck and the thick glass cover of the starboard nav light is missing. Swordfish starts to travel back to base as in this condition her warpatrol is discontinued.

[Heliopause]

19th:
Dutch submarine Swordfish is on her way back to Australia but technical difficulties have arisen. During the night of the 17th the port engine had to be shutdown. In the night of the 18th the starboard engine had started to run rough and is now carefully operated. Swordfish is in need of an escort for if the remaining engine seizes the crew can be picked up as soon as possible. US submarine Charr will rendez-vous (in a day or two?) as she is in the vicinity  A Dutch officer later noted: "Halfway Karimata Strait we rendez-vous with U.S. Submarine "Charr". She came out of America and was already on patrol for 63 days. We could almost hear them grind their teeth as we signalled we could not go faster than 8 miles. On the first day the oldest officer came over in a dinghy to discuss the tactics to be used. I was surprised to find out that the Commander of Charr was Commander Boyle. I had met "Lieutenant" Boyle, a great friend of the Dutch, two years ago on the other side of the globe (in the officersclub in Philadelphia), we had drunk a coca-cola "with something added". To warm up the oldest officer for his journey back we poured him a glass of whiskey. Dutch submarines are dry but not as dry as the American ones. For "show of flag" a bottle is sometimes opened. Who does good - meets good".

 

Charr had started her warpatrol out of Pearl Harbor on Dec 30th and had already picked up a Naval Aviator of a PBM patrol plane off the French Indo-China coast.

[Heliopause]

Febr 20th
Capt. Simons of Sqn 120 NEI flies over to Jacquinot Bay in the Lockheed L12A to check facilities and make initial arrangements for the upcoming transfer of the squadron.

 

Armed recon by Sqn 18 NEI towards the islands of Alor and Konga. The two B-25's bomb Cape Goemoek, fires are seen to start with black smoke rising to 400-500 meters. Camouflaged stationary ships are discovered and strafed.

 

Loading of ammo at Batchelor airfield

[Heliopause]

Febr 26th
Armed recon by two B-25's Sqn 18 NEI towards the islands of Alor and Konga. An unidentified submarine is observed with a HDG south. Near Lautum inaccurate medium AA is present. Yesterday a small group of Dutch and Australian officers went to Jacquinot Bay, Papua New Guinea to discuss the plan of relocation of the Squadron.

 

Around this time:

Dutch submarine Swordfish with US submarine Charr as escort are still on their way getting out of enemy territory. As a Dutch officer noted:
"The real test was Lombok strait. We where discovered by an enemy destroyer. Our protector lured it away around the north. A little later another US submarine went passed us followed on its heels by a second destroyer. We didn't feel very happy. To get more speed we started to run the "broken leg" (port engine). To its own faith Swordfish limped through the notorious strait. From the leaking gaspipes sparks erupted. A scandalous act for a submarine where even on deck smoking was prohibited. With wet blankets we tried to mask this beacon from enemy eyes. Halfway the strait a third destroyer passed us. Clearly visible with the naked eye.
It remained in position. Unexplainable to us. Did it have enough of the heavy traffic in the calm strait on this moonlit night? Or did lucky stars cause the enemy to have condensed glasses? A sigh of relieve when we has passed the strait and the wide ocean was in front of us. But still our ordeal was not over. Behind us a dark silhouette appeared and at the same time the wounded diesel gave up. Slowly water bubbles passed the submarine clinging on the thick skin of the vessel. The silhouette became bigger. Then came through the short wave speaker in American: Is that you Swoardfish - I can see you now. It was Charr who came closer. We thanked her and told her we could cope with the rest. For a moment she slowed a bit but then the call of the shore became to strong. As an arrow out of a bow she went ahead and disappeared it the distance. We hoped she would leave something for us".

Edited February 27 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

Some of the older B-25 machines where later used as transports. Seen here a machine as a TB-25.

 

The C-47 was also used. Here a machine seen after landing in Dutch New Guinea delivering a KNIL platoon for a patrol.

[Heliopause]

March 2nd
Armed recon with four B-25's Sqn 18 NEI towards Solo and Alor islands. Harbor installations at Kalabahi are bombed by two planes and three barges are strafed.

 

March 3rd
Attack mission to Flores by four B-25's. Both bridges at Ende are destroyed by bombing and a ship in the harbour is damaged by strafing. AA is present and the top turret of machine N5-239 is hit and put out of action, luckily the gunner receives no injury.

[Heliopause]

March 4th and 5th
Search missions by B-25's Sqn 18 NEI for a missing C-46 transport plane of the U.S. Army Air Forces.

[Heliopause]

March 6th
Road sweep by two Beaufighters Sqn 31 RAAF from Gorontalo to Bongo. On the first day of the month five machines had bombed an strafed a bridge at Pagimana, Celebes. On the 3rd of March an enemy barracks area was bombed and strafed by 12 Beaufighters at Gorontalo whilst the following day two crews performed a sweep to Soela and Boeroe islands resp.

[Heliopause]

March 12th
Armed recon with two B-25's Sqn 18 NEI towards Roti and Timors north coast to Ende and Sawoe. A motorboat is observed and attacked resulting in it sinking.

[Heliopause]

March 19th
Armed recon with four B-25's Sqn 18 NEI towards Alor and Solor islands. In the harbour of Dilly one large and six small landing craft are observed and attacked. Leaflets are also dropped.

[Heliopause]

March 22nd
Armed recon to the north coast of Timor with two B-25's. A barge is attacked and destroyed and in the bay of Goerita two cargo ships are strafed and (most probably) left damaged.

 

Keeping the turret spotless. B-25 at Batchelor.

[Heliopause]

"A small Japanese transport vessel (code named a Sugar Dog) at Sanghi island, Celebes. Picture taken from a Beaufighter piloted by F/O L. Cox as he is turning to attack."

Edited March 24 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

March 26th

"These are some of the crews that participated in a succesfull raid on grounded Japanese aircraft, Bettys and Dinahs, in the Ceram and Ambon areas, destroying seven Japanese twin-engined bombers, probably destroying two and damaging five."

 

Sqn 31 RAAF crew in front of machine "24".

Edited March 26 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

March 28th
The first sorties (over Timor and Flores islands) with a Mosquito PR.XVI are flown by Sqn 87 RAAF. Since September 1944 missions where flown with a number of PR.41 machines (modified with a solid nose) e.g. over Celebes, Macassar, Bima and Ambeia and Koepang airfields. In late November a number of recces of eastern Java had been carried out, each sortie some eight hours long. On one of the missions encountering some inaccurate, but heavy enemy anti-aircraft fire from Malang airfield.

 

Mosquito PR.XVI A52-601 operating out of Coomalie.

[Heliopause]

March 29th
B-25 N5-236 of Sqn 18 NEI crashes at Merauke, Dutch New Guinea.

[Heliopause]

April 3rd
Attack on a radarstation at Selaroe by two B-25's, Sqn 18 NEI. Two installations are ordered to be destroyed with both being attacked with bombs and strafing. Complete destruction as a result.

 

April 4th
Attack by eight B-25's on enemy dumps and warehouses at Adaoet bay, Timor. The target area is successfully bombed with eighty procent of the bombs hitting the target. A number of planes then also carry out strafing attacks. Many fires are seen as a result with huge smoke columns developing still visible from a great distance.

 

April 7th
An Japanese cruiser (Isuzu) and four escorts where sighed on April 4th. An attempt to evacuate troops and materiel out of Timor was assumed. Two Mosquito planes confirmed the eastern heading of the convoy with probable destination Koepang (the Japanese 7th Air division giving fighter protection along the main islands). On the 5th B-25's relocated from Batchelor to Truscott. Formation leader for Sqn 18 NEI is Capt. J. Renaud. He will execute an 10 plane formation attack as to be able to perform a single bombing pattern. Sqn 2 RAAF will follow up the attack with three patrols that attack each from different directions. Nine B-24's from Sqn 21 and 24 RAAF conclude the attack (in three groups of three). At night the convoy is detected to have left Koepang by an Catalina. Mosquito planes again confirm during the early morning. The B-25's are to rendez-vous with the B-24's over the eastern part of Soenda island. However the Libs arrive later than planned and Capt. Renaud has already moved towards the enemy with a sighting of the convoy at 10:30 hours. Enemy fighters are seen to intercept. The lead bombardier is focussing on his task meanwhile and when the bombs are seen to fall from his plane the remaining nine B-25's also release their bombload. The gun turrets are under a "fire controller" as to have them all pointed in the direction of danger. AA from the enemy vessels is observed on the same altitude but behind the formation. When the bombs fall the enemy ships take to evasive manoeuvres. As the formation starts to turn for a heading to Truscott the crews can observe the results. Commander of Batchelor Lt. Col. Van Haselen has joined the attack as second pilot to Lt. Merkelbach. The gunners are firing while the formation keeps together. Than the bomb explosions can be seen. Those falling in the sea give a white spot as they explode under the surface. Two black smoke columns however can also be seen from Isuzu. Hit forward and amidship, unable to escape from the bombing pattern. Sqn 2 RAAF then makes it attacks with the B-24's following some 20 minutes later.

The enemy is now fully alerted and two Liberators are lost due to enemy fighters. Some of the crew are picked up by a Catalina but this proves also an ordeal as it is attacked by an enemy Zeke and set alight. A second Catalina will be attacked during take off by an "Irving" but is able to get out of the area and reach Darwin. In the evening Isuzu and escorts (minus one destroyer) move into Sapi strait between Soembawa and Flores. US submarine Besugo torpedoes a minesweeper with Isuzu seeking a haven in Bima bay. At 4am US submarine Gabilan fires five torpedoes at Isuzu (seen without escorts 60 miles NW of Bima) with one hitting portside below the bridge. The explosion is observed by yet another US submarine: Charr. She fires four torpedoes at the cruiser hitting portside twice near the aft engine room. Another two torpedoes are fired by Charr, one of which brakes off Isuzu's bow. 450 crewmen including the captain are rescued.

[Heliopause]

Apr 10th
Dutch submarine O 19 observes an enemy tanker (Hosei Maru, formerly NEI ship Poseidon). It is attacked and sunk by means of the deckgun. O 19 started her war patrol out of Fremantle, Australia on April 1st after repairs had been carried out due to damage received on Jan 9th.

[Heliopause]

Apr 13th
Dutch submarine O 19 lays 40 mines in the northern part of Banka strait.

[Heliopause]

Apr 14th
Dutch submarine O 24 destroys the fishing vessel "Goenoeng" (40T) by means of the deck gun. 0 24 had started her war patrol on April 7th out of Fremantle.

[Heliopause]

Apr 18th
Dutch submarine O 19 observes an enemy heavy cruiser. Four torpedoes are launched but the attack proves unsuccessful.

[Heliopause]

April 22nd
Dutch submarine O 19 again observes an enemy heavy cruiser. It is thought to be the "Ashigara" (although some sources mention "Haguro"). Four torpedoes are launched with one hit registered.

[Heliopause]

Apr 25th
Dutch submarine Swordfish, operating in the Java Sea, halts two "prauwen" (local fishing vessels) of 30T and 40T. These are found to be loaded with coals and destroyed by placing explosive charges. Swordfish had received damage on February 16th and after repairs at Fremantle, Australia started her current war patrol on April 9th.

Sqn 18 NEI still operates out of Batchelor and performs Recce flights although part of the Squadron personnel is already on its way to Jacquinot Bay, Papua New Guinea for planned future operations.

 

B-25 N5 237 at Batchelor, Australia. Forward guns getting cleaned.

[Heliopause]

April 28th

Sqn 31 RAAF is still operating out of Morotai.
"Armed recce of Toli Toli by 2 Beaufighters. Duty carried out with nil sightings of enemy aeroplanes. Duties strafed whale boat in mouth of creek South of Koeandang Bay. Boat damaged but not sunk".

 

On te 23rd two Beaufighters had: "strafed and hit 2E Transport Type aeroplanes of unknown serviceability at Liang. Duty 2 holed by M/G bullet at Haroekoe".
On the 19th six Beaufighters had "carried out strafing attacks along Tarakan waterfont in support of B 25 on Photographic mission. All ack ack positions attacked ceased firing. Duties strafed oil tank which emitted dark smoke. Strafed warehouse with unobserved results. Strafed Jetty which burned slightly". All six aeroplanes staged overnight at Zamboanga, returning to base the next day.

Edited April 28 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

Apr 29th
Dutch submarine Swordfish attacks two coastal vessels. These prove unsuccessful due to torpedo tube problems. Additional radio failures make Swordfish return to Fremantle, Australia.