Dutch East Indies

[Heliopause]

B-25 piloted by De Jongh seen here as it rests. For the first 4 days the crew  stayed with the machine using parachutes over the tail as make-shift mosquito nets. Finally trekking their way to civilization when supplies became low they where picked up by a raft crewed by two aboriginals and a sportive Aussie from McDonald airstrip. It would take almost a week for the crew to get back to base.

Edited February 7, 2023 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

18th Febr
B-25's of Sqn 18 NEI are out on another offensive mission. Today shipping around Dilly (Timor) is to be attacked with a six-ship formation. Over the target area the B-25's encounter heavy AA. After bombing an enemy vessel in the harbor five enemy fighters intercept. The Zero's attacking for some 30 minutes with one of them shot down by the bombers defensive fire. However one B-25 (N5-144) is hit in the left engine by a Zero that "pressed home its attack to within 60 yards".
After a few minutes the engine quits and the Zero then quickly makes another attack from above killing the 1st pilot and bombardier. The second pilot taking over control and ditches the damaged machine after flying a further 20 miles. The other B-25's come to the aid and the remaining Zero's (already far out over sea) turn back to Timor. Three Hudsons will fly out later with supllies and a message for the survivors that a ship is send to pick them up.
Indeed destroyer HMAS "Vendetta" is on the way. The survivors in their dingy having only one flare and keeping a close watch in order to notice the destroyer when it shows up. This happens around 1am on the 19th and the survivors are picked-up and after arriving at Darwin, taken to hospital.

 

B-25  N5-144 seen here in better days. The four wounded survivors incl. f/Sgt Horridge, RAAF.

[Heliopause]

21st Febr
Dutch submarine O 24 uses her deck gun to sink an enemy coaster (Bandai Maru) near Salang island to the west of Sumatra. O 24 is operating out of Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) together with Submarines O 21 and O 23 she is part of the British Eastern Fleet. O 23 had already seen succes operating out of Colombo in 1942. In August it had sunk two enemy freighters (Zenyo and Ohio Maru) out of a convoy and in October had also moved in on an enemy convoy hitting the Shinyu Maru.

 

All three Submarines had previously carried out patrols in the Mediterranean Sea during 1941. O 21 sinking three Italian schooners on separate occasions in the second half of November and whilst returning to Gibraltar had stumbled on a submarine in the twilight. As the other submarine started to send communication by signallamp it became apparent that it was an enemy. O 21 quickly prepared and launched 2 aft torpedoes at what would a little later turned out to be U-95 (destroying it and picking up 12 survivors). During that summer O 23 had sunk the Italian tanker Capacitas of the coast of Pisa and on a later patrol damaged the Madalena Odero (beached two days later at Lampedusa and subsequently destroyed by Blenheims). O 24 meanwhile had been the first Dutch Submarine to destroy an enemy vessel when on June 12th 1941 it succesfully attacked the Italian tanker Fianona in the Gulf of Genoa.

 

A picture of O 21 at Gibraltar.  Lord Gort, V.C. Governor and C-in C is seen visiting her.

[Heliopause]

13th March
Six B-25's from Sqn 18 NEI carry out an attack with RAAF Beaufighters from Sqn 31 on Timor. The enemy airfield of Fuiloro and harbor installations at Lautem receiving attention. Bad weather and a technical failure in the machine of patrol commander Wetters sees three B-25's turn back. The other B-25's under G. Winckel continue and bomb the airfield through an overcast. Shortly thereafter 4 Zero's intercept and Winckel drops his patrol to tree-top height. One enemy fighter is hit and seen falling with a smoke trail. The remaining fighters attack from 1 oc high and damage the machine flown by Hagers. Airgunner Hutchinson (RAAF) is wounded in his left arm by shrapnel. The oilpressure of the right engine droppes and the trimtabs are no longer controllable. Hagers shuts down the engine and manages to reach cloudcover. For the next 2 1/2 hours he is able to keep flying on the remaining engine (meanwhile pushing one foot on the pedalcontrol to keep the damaged plane level) and manages to safely reach Darwin.

 

Far to the North Dutch submarine O 21 is on patrol out of Colombo, Ceylon. Near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands she carries out an attack on enemy vessel "Kusaga Maru No 2". Four bow torpedoes are launched, two of which hit.

[cardboard_killer]

[80 years ago today] "• A Dutch Mitchell Mark-II (B-25C) is making a solo reconnaissance mission over New Guinea when jumped by a pair of Japanese fighters, probably Ki-43s. The tail gunner claims to down both fighters and the Mitchell is forced to make a crash landing on Melville Island since its fuel lines have been cut by machine gun fire. The co-pilot is slightly injured.

 

Crewmen visiting their crash site in 1986"

[Heliopause]

You beat me too it C_K ? 

Nice pic! (could it be Swane and De Wolf?)

 

March 30th
Recon mission by a single B-25 of Sqn 18 NEI under command of Lt. Swane to Kaimana (Dutch New Guinea) and its sealanes. For freighters and a tanker are spotted and the biggest ship is attacked from 12000 feet. However it evades and near misses are reported. Soon after this two Zero fighters move in and make head-on-attacks. Lt. Swane's defence is to fly straight towards the enemy and use the two machine guns in the B-25's nose. The enemy leader at one point attacks from six o'clock high and closes in to 60 yards hitting the right engine. Swane and second pilot De Wolf manage to shut down the engine and feather it. The top gunner keeps firing until the safety of cloud cover is reached. The next 650 miles over the sea have to be flown on single engine. As the target area was at the extreme limit of the B-25'range and because of the airfight that had taken place Darwin can not be reached. The crew is able to just make it to Melville island and glide in.

 

B-25 N5-133 at its resting place. The next day it will be found by another B-25 from Sqn 18 NEI  out on a search (flown by Pelder who had escaped captivity on Java on March 9th 1942 by Lodestar flying to Ceylon). After two days shortly before a rescue ship arrives the crew is picked up by a "Walrus" and flown to civilization.

Edited March 30, 2023 by Heliopause

[cardboard_killer]

7 minutes ago, Heliopause said:

You beat me too it C_K

 

You are six hours ahead of me, so I figured if you hadn't posted it yet, you weren't going to!

[Heliopause]

5th april
A three ship formation of Sqn 18 NEI sets out for a mission to Timor. After take-off some 5 miles north of Darwin one B-25 crashes in the sea with the entire crew lost. The remaining two B-25's press on and fly along the North coast of Timor at low alt. between Dilly and Bacau. No enemy shipping is sighted and the two planes return safely. The lost crew will be buried at Adelaide River (incl. bombardier Sgt. Weller and F/Sgt Airgunner Hill, RAAF).

 

The fully laden B-25's often have a weight that exeeds the max.limit. This has a (major) part in the cause of the crash. A number of reports where written and send to high command about this situation but up untill now has fallen on deaf ears.

Edited April 5, 2023 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

11th April:
The north coast of Timor is searched for enemy shipping by a 5-ship formation of Sqn 18 NEI. No vessels are observed and finally Bacau is bombed (16 x 300 lbs).

AA is absent over the target area.
 

[Heliopause]

14th April
Sqn 18 NEI has a 3-ship formation flying to the Kaimana area (Dutch New Guinea) for an armed rec. In the bay two ships are sighted and bombed from 9000ft. No hits are reported. Another ship is later observed. 

 

A picture showing some of the early machines of the Squadron. N5-139 (front) and N5-140 where already taken from the inventory list by this time as N5-140 was lost on April 5th due to a crash and  N5-139 on January 31st to an emergency landing after running out of fuel.

[Heliopause]

16th april
A testflight is carried out by Sqn 18 NEI B-25 N5-136 to find out the exact fuel consumption/range of these machines. It lasts from around 10:30 to 16:30 hours. It demonstrates that the range is not enough for operations towards the Babo - Kaimana area (Dutch New Guinea). A number of missions have already been carried out in that particular area and the flightcrews are already well aware of this. It is also stressed to beef up the armament in the nose of the plane (turning it into a 8-gun strafer). The testresults are quickly sent to HQ.

For future operations the airfield of Hughes was inspected on the 4th April as a possible replacement for airstrip McDonald (from which a stop-over at Darwin with fully laden machines is necessary for most missions).

[Heliopause]

22nd April
Dutch submarine O 21 is out on patrol in Malacca Straits. In the night of April 21st/22nd she is able to attack the enemy freighter Yamozato Maru, resulting in two torpedo hits. Her cargo is probably fuel as "a sea of flames" developes. An enemy destroyer acting as escort is positioned on the other side of the flames so O 21 is able to remain undetected.

 

O 21 would turn out to be the most succesfull of the Dutch submarines. Commanded by Van Dulm from 1940 to 1944. Perhaps his beard acted as a talisman?

[cardboard_killer]

Yamazato Maru

 

Van Dulm on O-21 at Gibraltar after sinking U-95

[Heliopause]

23d April
Sqn 18 NEI carries out a night attack on the airfield of Dilly (Timor) with 9 B-25's. However two machines develop technical problems and return. The bombardment results in huge fires. AA is light.
(On the 21st April 3 B-25's had carried out an armed rec. to Kaimana (Dutch New Guinea). No ships where sighted and the town was bombed. Huge explosions and black smoke where observed. Three enemy fighter planes where seen but these did not attack).

 

Meanwhile an advanced party has arrived at Batchelor airfield. The squadron will relocate soon to this base f(rom which a stopover at Darwin is then no longer nessecary).
 

[Heliopause]

28th april
Sqn 18 NEI carries out an attack on two ships at Dobo (Aru islands). The 3 B-25's are set to attack at dusk. The two ships and an escorting E-boat are seen at open sea and attacked at mast height. A direct hit is scored on one of the ships. However one B-25 is shot down by AA fire and crashes not far from one of the vessels. Another B-25 is hit and loses a hatch of the nose-wheel compartment while the other machine has its flaps and rudder riddeld with bullet holes. The 2nd pilot of the doomed machine is Knecht, flying his first operational mission. He had only recently arrived at the squadron with a small group from flight training in the USA*

 

* In January 1942 it was decided that the flightschool of at Kalidjati, Java was to relocate to Australia to keep it out of the war zone. In Februari '42 the student pilots and instructors sailed out of Java succesfully on the vessel Boissevain. After arriving in Australia it was quickly realised that there was a lack of trainer aircraft, spare parts and fuel at the assigned airfields. The focus then shifted to America and on April 8th 1942 General Marshall on behalf of the US Government agreed to establish a flight school in the USA (Royal Netherlands Military Flying school) at Jackson Army Air Base, Mississippi and have the flightschool transported from Australia as soon as possible.
The group arrived on May 8th 1942 at Jackson. The flightschool being described in the USA as 'A self-contained military installation of foreign nationals under a united-nations agreement between the US and exiled Netherlands government in England. It was one of the few schools of its kind in the US where the personnel, transplanted from their own habitat under duress of war, maintained their sovereign rights and conduct the training of its own numbers'.

 

Part of the NEI flightschool at Parafield, Australia during the short stay before moving to Jackson, Mississipi.

 

Commander Giebel is seen here greeted by Capt. Asjes and Lt. Kol. Van Haselen in front of an Lockheed L-12 at Jackson. The Lockheed has temporarly an American star. Later the Dutch flag would be carried on these planes.

[Heliopause]

 

Lockheed and Beechcraft of the Royal Netherlands Military Flightschool seen here at Pittsfield, Massachusetts in August 1942. Primary training started at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas-City on Fairchilds.

[Heliopause]

3rd May
Sqn 18 NEI has 4 machines carry out a night mission to Penfui, Timor. The B-25's fly the mission individually. Fires are seen to break out and the attack deemed succesfull. Later in the day a B-25 is send out to search for a missing spitfire pilot, however nothing is found.

 

Around this time pilot Ekels has returned to the squadron after being "on loan" for a few months to 319 BS USAAF (B-24) at Fenton. Ekels had arrived in the Dutch East Indies in 1937 and flew for the KNILM (Dutch East Indies Airline). He is able to pass on his experience of navigation and weather conditions in the NEI to the US crews at the base. He has also participated on a mission to Surabaya (Java) and Fak Fak (Dutch New Guinea) acting as second pilot.

A number of other Dutch KNILM pilots start flying with the 39th Troop Carrier Squadron (later with the 21st TCS) at Brisbane. Some of these pilots under Capt. Van Messel are requested to operate the Brisbane-Townsville-Port Moresby route as couriers for Gen. MacArthur's HQ (taking operational orders to the commanders at the front on a daily basis). The request is made by Col R.T. Elsmore from Directorate (Air) Transport AAF SWPA. Van Messel and his men with their pre war experience with the KNILM are able to operate under the difficult conditions (flying at night to reach Port Moresby, New Guinea just before dawn. The trip includes a 700 mile stretch over open sea with a (daily) tropical rainfront).

 

Van Messel seen here on the right with Van Breemen. He had arrived in the Dutch East Indies in 1937 and flew as a captain for KNILM. Reaching Australia shortly before the surrender of Java in March '42 he then joined Sqn 18 NEI. Van Breemen had also started to fly in the 1930's for KNILM. Whilst on leave in Holland from August 1939 to February 1940 he was called up for the military as part of mobilisation and flew as a Res.Lt. on the Fokker D.21. On December 17th he intercepted a high flying He 111 after taking-off from the airfield of Soesterberg.  Shortly after opening fire on the intruder his machine-guns stopped working however due to the freezing temperature. Both men participated in flying under the Sydney harbor bridge in May 1942 (as part of a 5-ship formation) before handing over the last of the KNILM machines to US forces (a DC-5 and DC-2/-3 machines).

[Heliopause]

8th May
Sqn 18 NEI is now stationed at Batchelor airfield. This field is positioned closer to Darwin and more importantly closer to the theatre of operations. For the next few days the squadron will not perform any operational missions however in order to settle down.

On the 5th a daytime mission was flown to Tula with six planes and another mission was conducted in the evening of the same day with an attack on Dilly (Timor) with a three-ship formation. Two fires where seen breaking out with medium and heavy AA over the target area. On the 7th was another night attack on Penfui, Timor with five B-25's (attacking individually). Accurate AA was present over the target area incl. search-lights (the latter proved ineffective).

Edited May 8, 2023 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

12th May
Sqn 18 NEI has 2 machines carry out a nightattack on Penfui, Timor. Fires break out and are still visible at 30 miles distance. The previous night also saw an attack on Penfui (by 3 B-25's). Bombs where dropped with the help of fire bombs and flares dropped in advance by RAAF machines. There was light AA over the target area.

[Heliopause]

20th May
Vice-Admiral Helfrich returns to Ceylon aboard Catalina Y 57 from Perth, Australia. Helfrich had left Colombo, Ceylon six month previously for London (staging through Karachi, Basra, Caïro, Gibraltar) for meeting the Dutch government in exile and Churchill (the latter for a lunch at Chequers) amongst others. Later continuing to the USA by ship (Queen Elisabeth) meeting many Navy Admirals like King, Hart and Purnell aswell as Marshall and Arnold (Army Air). Following on from San Franscisco to Hawaï by flying boat. A stay of two days meeting Adm. Nimitz. Arriving at Melbourne februari 6th '43.
The flight to Ceylon will be made in one go (no stop-over at the Cocos islands). The Catalina has already been fitted with five extra fuel tanks and a favorable weather report gives the final push for this idea to be carried out. The trip of some 5700 kilometers to Ceylon takes 28,5 hours. Near Foul Point four Hurricanes join to escort the Catalina on the last stretch to its base at China Bay. The non-stop flight between Ceylon and Australia will see a follow up by Quantas flying boats later in the year (the "Double Sunrise" service as it will be known). In the meantime Sqn (Dutch) 321 based at Ceylon had received 11 more Catalina's (amphibians) and had some planes operating from South Africa in the convoy protection role for the last months.

 

Helfrich had left Java for Colombo, Ceylon on 2nd March '42, being Commander of the Dutch Forces in the East. However some of the vessels, planes and personnel had arrived in Australia thus splitting up a combined force and this troubled the command structure. A good and fast connection between Ceylon and Australia was very useful.

Helfrich is seen here flanked by Adm. G. Layton (Royal Navy) and Adm. T.C. Hart (US Navy). 

[Heliopause]

24th May
On the night of 23/24 May Catalina Y 85 of Sqn 321 (Dutch) RAF is covering a convoy near Port Elisabeth, South Africa. This type of mission can be quite monotonous but at 6:20am the radar shows a "blip" 2 miles to starboard. The flying boat sets course to the area and is able to spot a submarine (at 6:23am) and some tracer fire is seen passing the left wing. Darkness obscures the vessel quickly afterwards. Y 85 (under command of Off/pilot Lt. Vonk) then returns to the convoy and sends a warning by signallamp. Returning to the area of the submarine 2nd pilot Van Den Boogaart spots a periscope (at 7am) 1 mile out to starboard. In the next 30 seconds the Catalina moves in and attacks with four depthcharges (one hook-up) from 80 feet height. The charges being set with a separation of 60 feet and a depth of 25 feet. Explosions are seen 170 feet infront of the position where the periscope was last observed. Circling the area oil is seen to form at the surface. Four month later, after intel work in London, it is acknowledged as destruction of an enemy submarine. Vonk later receiving a DFC. 

 

Sqn 321 (Dutch) RAF was activated in the summer of 1940 in Britain equipped with the Avro Anson only to be (temporarily) disbanded in February 1941. Re-activitated at Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in July 1942 with Navy personnel that had seen service (and action) in the Dutch East Indies. The men had initially made their way to Australia but where relocated with their Catalina flying boats to Ceylon in the early summer of '42. Around this time in 1943 detachments are stationed in a number of places along South Africa's coast for convoy protection although the Squadron's main base is at China Bay, Ceylon where it performs training, maintenance (incl. complete engine overhauls) and convoy protection flights over the Bay of Bengal.

 

Catalina Y 85 seen here during maintenance at St. Albans, South Africa.

Edited May 24, 2023 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

29th May
Japanese troops arrive in the Paniai lake district, Dutch New Guinea. District officer De Bruin has left the area four days ago being well aware of the approaching enemy. His group now consists of nine people, others taken by flying boat to Australia. De Bruin's small group consist now of his radio man R. Gout and Corp. Berger, three policeman and carpentar Tumahu, convict Boo and De Bruins's houseboy Nurwe. All voluntary chose to stay. They now move further from the town of Enarotali and well into the interior into the tribe area of Ekaris and Miganis. Even the post "Margrietdorp" (used since the beginning of the year) is abandoned as it has become clear by friendly tribe people that the enemy has 60 troops and 50 bearers following track. De Bruin instructs the people to tell the enemy that he too has left by plane in order to shake them of.

 

De Bruin had been picked up by a Dornier Do 24 flying boat in July 1942 for treatment and meeting Dutch officials in Australia. Although offered a desk job a couple of times he had chosen to return (doing so on November 5th '42). With him came radio man Rudy Gout.

 

Born on Java near Magelang in 1913 De Bruin had studied at Semarang school and in 1931 continued at Leiden University in Holland. Returning to the Dutch East Indies in 1938 he was posted on the Molucca islands and on the island of Ceram before being posted to New Guinea. He had wished for a posting there because of the recent discovery of the Wissel Lakes (Paniai Lakes) in 1936.  He is seen here just after WWII.

[Heliopause]

31st May
For Sqn 18 NEI the month of May comes to a close. On the 14th a night attack on Dilly (Timor) had been carried out although results could not been seen. The 17th had seen three night attacks, one on Laha (Ambon), adverse weather forced the two planes back however. A second to Penfui (no visible results) and the third to Dilly's harbor area (bombing from 7000 feet, encountering light AA). The 21st had seen a three-ship formation searching for enemy shipping around the Tanimbar islands. As no vessels where spotted Saumlaki was bombed experiencing heavy AA. The B-25 under command of Lt. Bal getting hit in engine number 2. The machine then caught fire and was seen to crash in the sea 1,5 mile out of the target area. The 23rd had seen two night attacks, one on Penfui whilst the other on Dilly, both without visible results. On the 24th the night attack on Penfui was repeated (2 x B-25) with bombs dropped on the runway. Fires seen as a result still visible 30 miles out. On the 26th and 27th the airfield of Langgoer had received special attention (on the latter mission one B-25 and 3 Hudsons) although results could not be seen. The 29th concluded the missions of May with a night attack on Penfui and Dilly (each carried out by two planes).

 

RAAF Beaufighter attacking Langgoer on May 31st 1943.

[Heliopause]

June 3rd

A mission is flown by two B-25's of Sqn 18 NEI in search of the missing machine of Van Den Berg. It went missing yesterday. Nothing is found however.
It was one of four machines set out to attack enemy shipping near Lautem. After spotting the vessels an attack had been carried out from a height of 1500 feet. The planes where greeted by intense and accurate AA, one machine being riddeled by bullets and another had the cockpit glass shatered by a near explosion. Only near misses on the ships where reported. The machine under command of Van Den Berg went MIA.
 

[Heliopause]

13th June
A number of missions are carried out today by Sqn 18 NEI, One B-25 is on a convoy protection flight keeping an eye on possible enemy submarines. Another machine is out to Timor for a supply drop for friendly troops. However it fails to get into contact (signallamp) and the crew returns with the cargo.

Two planes are on an attack mission to Dilly. Bombs are dropped but results are not observed because of clouds. On the return four enemy ships are spotted on a HDG of 260. The info being passed on to HQ. The final mission involves two B-25's attacking Koepang and performing a search towards Dilly. Bombs are dropped in the target area but heavy clouds obscure the results from being seen. Heavy AA is present. The search towards Dilly is not completed because of the deteriorating weather.
 

[Heliopause]

14th June
Another flight is made to drop supplies for friendly troops on Timor. This time the mission is succesfull, however is takes more than an hour of flying in the designated area before the signal is received from the men on the ground. Like yesterday B-25 "NF-128" is used, this time under command of Lt. Hulscher.
 

[Heliopause]

16th June
Sqn 18 NEI has six planes set out on a search mission between Jaco island and the nortside of Timor towards Koepang. As no enemy vessels are found Koepang is bombed from between 8000 and 10000 feet. AA is present over the target area and one B-25 crew reports seeing an enemy fighter but this does not attack.

 

Picture of a crew that set out on a daylight mission to Tula (May 5th 1943). Aussie crewmember (note the hat) in the middle.

Edited June 16, 2023 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

20th June
Three missions are conducted by Sqn 18 NEI. One mission is a convoy protection flight, the crew of N5-129 keeping an eye out for enemy submarines. Another mission is a search mission like on June 16th with four planes. Vessels are not observed and Koepang is again bombed. A fire is seen to break out and is still visible 60 miles out. AA is heavy and the crew of N5-153 reports being chased by an enemy nightfighter. Another two B-25's attack Koepang later at night with heavy but innacurate AA over the target area.

[Heliopause]

July 3rd
Nightattack by Sqn 18 NEI on Koepang, Timor. The four planes bomb the area but adverse weather conditions deny any observation.

The month of June had been closed with two attacks. One on Penfui (on the 29th) by eight B-25's. Seven where able to bomb the designated area with hughes fires as a result, possible of hitting a fueldump. AA was light. On the 30th a night attack on Cape Charter (Timor) by seven B-25's. Most bombs where seen to fall on the target area with flames seen to erupt. Meanwhile earlier in the month of June four pilots had arrived at the squadron after finishing training at the Royal Netherlands Military Flying school in the USA.

[Heliopause]

July 6th
The whole area receives an alarm because of enemy attacks on airfields. The flyable B-25's of Sqn 18 NEI are sent up in the air as to prevent them from being "sitting ducks". Luckily Batchelor airfield is not attacked. The crews keep flying until the "all clear" is given.

 

Nightattack on Penfui with five planes. The bombs are dropped in the target area from a height between 5500 - 7000 feet with a huge explosion and many fires observed, still seen 25 miles out. AA is heavy and a number of searchlights are active. Both prove inaccurate however.

 

Lunchtime scene at Batchelor airfield.

[Heliopause]

July 12th
Two B-25's of Sqn 18 NEI carry out a mission out to Selaroe island performing a bombing attack (low level) on Lingat airfield and a number of landing craft.

 

On the 7th a mission had been carried out attacking Selaroe airstrip, Tanimbar island also by two machines (these converted to "strafers"). One of the planes had its hydraulics knocked out by AA during the low level attack. Lt Hagers flew the crippled B-25 back to Batchelor airfield and performed a succesfull emergency landing.

On the 9th three missions had been carried out by the squadron. The first a pre-dawn attack on a new airfield and dispersal area near Fuiloro, Timor by three B-25's. The target area was not found and Charter airstrip bombed instead with bombs falling on an AA area. A follow up attack on the initial target sees one B-25 return before reaching the target area. The remaining two planes bomb the target but adverse weather conditions don't allow any good observations. The day was closed with an night attack on Dilly by three B-25's. Bombs where dropped from an altitude of 6000 feet through an overcast. Also pamflets where dropped.

[Heliopause]

July 14th
An attack is carried out on Charter-strip by four B-25's of Sqn 18 NEI. The assigned target area is bombed with small fires seen to start. It is also observed that enemy fighter planes take-off from Fuiloro airfield. 
 

[Heliopause]

July 17th
Attack on Lautem city with four B-25's. Bombs are dropped in the target area with huge fires as a result. Smoke is seen rising to 5000 feet and the biggest fire is still seen 60 miles out. Another attack by four planes is targeted at Lautem-west. The bombingpattern is seen on the runway. AA explosions follow the formation accurately.

[Heliopause]

July 21st
Two night-attacks are carried out by planes of Sqn 18 NEI. Four B-25's attack Lautem, however results can not be seen. Two freighters are spotted in the harbor due to the use of flares. The other mission is flown by three B-25's with Chater-strip as the target. Bombs are seen to fall in the target area and to the west of it. AA is light. The target is properly illuminated and even seen by the planes attacking Lautem.
 

[Heliopause]

July 31st
Seven B-25's off Sqn 18 NEI set out to attack Lautem. Bad weather over the target area sees the mission uncompleted however. Lautem had also been attacked on the 23rd by four B-25's. During that mission only a small number of bombs fell in the target area. The B-25 under command of Lt. Hulscher even coming under attack of enemy fighter planes but these did not press on and Hulscher was able to get into cloud cover and escape.
On the 26th two B-25's had set out to Langgoer for an attack in the evening. A third machine having to abandon the mission due to problems with the brakes. The machine under command of Hulscher was able to bomb through a hole in the overcast, results however could not be seen. Medium AA was present.

On the 28th two missions where carried out. In the evening three B-25's attacked Charter-strip. The target area was succesfully hit although the machine under command of Lt. Cook experienced hung-ups. Many fires where observed. The other mission was towards Lautem. Three machines set out with one returning due to problems with its instruments. The remaining two B-25's bombed Carter-strip instead with medium and accurate AA over the target area.

 

The month of July had seen new aircrew arrive at Batchelor airfield (four pilots, two observers, two radio-operator mechanics and two airgunners). They having finished their training at the Royal Netherlands Military Flying School in America (airgunners receiving training at Tyndall Field (Panama City, Florida) and the radio-operator mechanics at Scott Field (Belleville, Illinois).

 

Dutchies at the Royal Netherlands Military Flying School, USA. The different branches are present seen in the uniforms; Navy, ML-KNIL, Army. 

[Heliopause]

August 4th
Three B-25's of Sqn 18 NEI make a low level attack on Selaroe airstrip, Tanimbar island. The runway and surrounding villages are attacked simultaniously with all bombs and ammunition spend. Fires are seen to develope without any AA or interceptions by enemy planes occuring.
 

[Heliopause]

August 7th
Two missions are carried out by Sqn 18 NEI (each by two planes). One is an attack on Dilly after a search for enemy shipping along the coast. Two fierce fires are seen to develope. Seven enemy fighter planes intercept but Lt. Rab quickly dives away into the clouds preventing a slaughter of his B-25. The other mission goes to Charter strip. It is attacked with bombs falling in the designated area under heavy AA.

[Heliopause]

August 14th
Attack by eight planes on Koepang harbor, Timor by Sqn 18 NEI. Bombing is carried out from an altitude between 7000 - 9000feet. A number of B-25's drop depth charges. Enemy planes are intercepting with N5-128 under command of Sgt. Brinkman being attacked by a twin engined plane which is followed by three single engined planes. Attacks are not pressed on however with Brinkman able to dissapear into clouds.
 

[Heliopause]

August 20th
Dutch submarine O 24 under command of Lt. De Vries is on patrol out of Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka). It succesfully attacks enemy vessel "Chosa Maru" (used as a minesweeper) near Penang, Malaya. Four torpedoes are fired with one hitting the target.

 

Later in the year O 24 will sail to Philadelphia, USA for much needed maintenance. O 21 will follow in 1944.

[Heliopause]

August 22nd 
Sqn 18 NEI carries out a bombing mission to Dilly, Timor. The five B-25's succesfully attack with fires seen to develope in the target area. Enemy fighters are seen to
take-off from the airfield of Fuiloro but these are not able to intercept.