Dutch East Indies

[Heliopause]

27th Dec
Dutch submarine K XIV departs Holy Loch, Scotland for Colombo, Ceylon. The journey also taken by HMS Storm under command of Edward Young. He later wrote in his book "one of our submarines":

"We sailed down the Irish Sea in company with two other submarines - K.14 (a Dutchman, also bound for the Far East) and Bannar-Martin's Viking (bound for Plymouth) -all three of us escorted by our old friend Cutty Sark. Soon after eleven o'clock on the morning of the 29th we were diving south of the Scilly Isles, and through the periscope I was having my last look at England in the shape of Bishop Rock. Viking and Cutty Sark were vanishing on the north-eastern horizon, making their way up Channel to Plymouth. To the north-west of us K.14 was diving on a course diverging from ours; our orders were to make our separate ways to Gibraltar, submerging by day".
"December 31st: K.14 is forty miles farther west and a little north of us. She has been ordered to keep a look out for an aircraft dinghy with British airmen in it, reported sighted on her route. Just to the south of us are some lifeboats carrying survivors from the three German destroyers sunk by Glasgow three nights ago.
"February 6th: We met the Loch Melfort half an hour ahead of schedule and by ten o'clock Storm was secured alongside the Boom Defence Jetty in Aden. Here we spent three agreeable days waiting for the arrival of the submarines K.14 and Tantivy. On the 10th we all sailed together for Ceylon, remaining in company and under escort until we were clear of the Gulf of Aden. We had a voyage of nearly 2,500 miles ahead of us".
"February 11th: We remain in company for another two days. At the moment we are steering east along the Gulf of Aden; soon we cut down between the island Socotra and the African mainland".
"February 13th: The escort leaves us at 0130 in the morning. Tantivy diverges to the northward, K.14 carries straight on, and we diverge to the southward. From that moment on we return to a proper wartime routine. The holidays are over. The Jap is a clever and determined enemy, and his tentacles reach out far and wide, even to the Arabian Sea".

 

K XIV had been succesfull in the opening weeks of the war in the Dutch East Indies, hitting enemy transport ships at Kuching, Borneo on December 23rd 1941. A year later she had arrived at the U.S. Navy Yard in Philadelphia for repairs and maintenance. In July 1943 she had arrived at Dundee, Scotland receiving further refitting and some new equipment, including radar, installed.

[Heliopause]

28th Dec
Armed recon flight by Sqn 18 NEI to Dutch New Guinea. B-25 under command of Lt. Theunissen makes the flight to Merauke followed by the flight towards the Wissel lakes (Paniai lakes). Eranotali receiving further attention with an enemy cal 0.50 machine-gun being taken out with bombs.

[Heliopause]

2nd Jan
Eight Beaufighters, Sqn 31 RAAF,  carry out an harrassing attack on Aroe islands. A reconnaissance of the islands is made with Moror village being strafed.
"AA fire from several parts of the island was slight and inaccurate".

[Heliopause]

4th Jan
Six B-25's and eight Beaufighters (Sqn 18 NEI & Sqn 31 RAAF) perform a strike on Tenau harbor, Timor. Take-off is from Drysdale with the Beaufighters acting as top cover during the bombing run on enemy shipping. When approuching along the Timor coast an enemy plane "Betty" is sighted with Sqn/L Gordon (DFC) then intercepting. He shoots down the bomber and returns to his place in the formation. Heavy rain over the target area makes observation of the B-25's bombrun impossible. The B-25's perform mastheight attacks with a direct hit on a freighter. Results on two other vessels can not be observed due to the bad weather. Another vessel is soon discovered and also attacked with bombs and machineguns. It is seen burning as the planes leave the area. Heavy and accurate AA is present with e.g. N5-130 returning with holes in the fuselage and two bulletholes in the cockpit. The Beaufighters strafe a barge and a 50' prahu in Semaoe Strait with the barge blowing up. One Beaufighter is slightly damaged from pieces of the barge. All aircraft return safely to base.

 

Another three B-25's subsequently set out to attack another freighter at Tenau with one Beaufighters as escort (three Beaufighters fail to rendezvous). A low level attack is set in on a 4,000 ton vessel when at 500 yards distance N5-137 is hit in the wing by AA from the shore. It then hits the masts of the vessel and explodes as it hits the water. The two remaining B-25's follow closely and score direct hits, the burning vessel later being observed by overflying B-24's. The Beaufighter (flown by F/O Wickens) meanwhile attacks a small craft (45' prahu) filled with personnel.

 

B-25 N5-137 seen here in better days whilst landing at Batchelor airfield. 

[Heliopause]

7th Jan
Three B-25's of Sqn 18 NEI set out to find two reported enemy freighters and escort vessels near Kisar island. Escorted by eight Beaufighters (Sqn 31 RAAF) the formation flies to the islands north coast and starts a search. The formation of planes is unable to find the enemy ships however and the bombs are jettisoned on return.

[kestrel79]

I love hearing about this stuff! I remember doing some single player campaigns in this theater in the original IL2. P-39s vs Zeros and Ki-43s it was tough around Rabul area I want to say.

[Heliopause]

9th Jan
Night attack on Koepang, Timor by six B-25's of Sqn 18 NEI. Bombs are dropped from an altitude of 8,000feet with most falling in the targe area. Fires are observed aswell as a big explosion with the flames clearly visible.
 

[Heliopause]

10th Jan
Attack on Lautem, Timor in the evening with four B-25's. Photos are taken of the attack and pamflets are also dropped. AA although not accurate is intense.

[Heliopause]

17th Jan
Night attack on the airfield of Laha, Ambon by four B-25's of Sqn 18 NEI. The target is bombed with fire- and clustersbombs. AA is absent and no nightfighters are detected. 
 

[Heliopause]

20th Jan
Six Beaufighters (Sqn 31 RAAF) give cover in pairs to a PBY Catalina as the latter performs "rescue dutie" of a B-24 crew on Seroea island.

 

Some 36 B-24's had arrived in Australia in May 1943, all that could be spared from the New Guinea front. The following link has a book about

the 380th Bomb Group, a nice read. https://www.fold3.com/image/624157814

 

 

 

[Heliopause]

27th Jan
Three B-25's covered by two Beaufighters (Sqn 18 NEI & Sqn 31 RAAF) set out to attack a sighted ship between Dilli and Atapoepoe (four Beaufighters are assigned but two fail to rendezvous with the bombers due to unfavourable weather conditions). Ultimatly the vessel is not found and the B-25's formation leader orders all aircraft to return to base.

[Heliopause]

4th febr
Bombing mission to attack Laha, Ambon by three B-25's Sqn 18 NEI. One returns quickly however due to engine problems. The remaining two bomb the target area from 9,000feet with some heavy AA observed.

[Heliopause]

6th febr
Low level attack mission on Larat, Tanimbar islands by three B-25's Sqn 18 NEI. Adaoet, Lingat and Larat are attacked with bombs and machineguns. Fires and damage is observed on buildings and houses.

 

One of the B-25 strafers used by the Squadron.

Edited February 6, 2024 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

8th febr
Attack mission by eight B-25's on Toeal. One bomber returning due to engine trouble. The remaining seven bomb enemy barracks near Toeal with medium AA present.

[Heliopause]

The training at the Royal Netherlands Military Flying School (RNMFS) comes to an end. In the next two weeks the last group of freshly trained crews will leave for Australia to join Sqn 18 NEI (B-25) or Sqn 120 NEI (P-40). Dutch Navy personell have already found their way to Britain joining units like Sqn 320 RAF (B-25) and 860 and 1840 Naval Air Squadron, Fleet Air Arm (Swordfisch and Hellcat resp.). 
A farewell reception is given with among the invited T.J. Hanley Jr. Commanding General of Flying Training Command and Col. Th. Foster commander of Jackson Army Air Base. Col. Giebel commander RNMFS expresses the gratitude in his speech: "I do not believe that in any country in the whole world could we have found the training possibilities which we have found here. We found here the best equipment, the best training methods, moreover we found here an assistance and goodwill from all members of the Army Airforce from all ranks, which has been beyond praise".
Officially the RNMFS will close on Febr 15th and deactivate. The Dutch flag will be taken to Australia by Giebel personally.

 

Had the first trainees arrived in "what they still had" they later got the American uniforms and sunglasses alike. Here we see ML-KNIL trainees,

soon they would find there way to Australia.

 

B-25 "Palembang 1" seen at Jackson, Missisippi. Girlfriends included!

 

B-25C with airplane number 782. It was delivered in 1943.

 

The route to Australia. Ferry crew at Christmas island.

Edited February 9, 2024 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

16th febr
Night attack on Ambon by eleven B-25's Sqn 18 NEI. The bombers perform the mission with small intervalls and from different altitudes. Flares show that the bombs are dropped in the target area with huge fires observed in the enemy barracks. Light and heavy AA is present over the target area. An enemy nightfighter attacks B-25 N5-158 but gunner Zeelen in the top turret quickly fires a short salvo and the enemy plane is seen to go down in flames and crash near the coast, witnessed by a number of crews.

Early in the morning after resting a few of hours Capt. Wittert van Hoogland gives a flight demonstration for Air vice marshal Cole and other RAAF officers over nearby Coomallie airstrip. It consists of some low level flying, single engine configuration included. Afterwards the B-25 is inspected and Van Hoogland is also able to give some first hand account of the night mission to Ambon.

[Heliopause]

19th febr
An attack is carried out by six B-25's on a bridge over the Mina river (Timor) with seven Beaufighters acting as escorts (an eighth Beaufighter already back at base due to engine trouble). The Beaufighters strafe before the bridge is bombed. The B-25's attack from 2,200feet with hits being observed on the centre section. "There was no ack-ack or interception. All aircraft returned safely".

[Heliopause]

Transportation was also part of the workforce. A number of Lockheed Lodestar's had survived the NEI-campaign in early 1942. Eleven reaching Australia and

used initially by the 22nd Transport Squadron. They later became part of the Allied Air Force SWPA organazation.

 

Lodestar VH-CAC (former LT-909) seen here when flying for Guinea Airways in 1943.

 

Six new Lodestar's had been delivered by the end of 1943 for use with the NEI Squadrons. Here LT-933 with P-40's (Sqn 120 NEI) at Canberra.

 

Same machine seen here at Merauke in February 1944.

[Heliopause]

6th march
Nightattack by Sqn 18 NEI. Nine B-25's fly towards Toeal, Timor. The target area is bombed from different altitudes. AA is absent for the most part but three to five enemy nightfighters are observed by a number of crews. Tracers are seen and two crews observe some kind of explosion. B-25 (N5 179) under command of Sgt. Soeterik does not return from the mission.

[Heliopause]

9th march
Order is received to quickly relocate a number of squadrons (79 Wing) towards Potshot, Exmouth Golf. Sqn 18 NEI and Sqn 31 RAAF (Beaufighters) react instantly. Ten B-25's from Sqn 18 NEI move out from Batchelor today with another six following tomorrow. Sqn 120 NEI with its P-40's (although based at Canberra and preparing the move to Merauke, Dutch New Guinea) is also ordered to take part in the operation. The aircraft arrive in the middle of a tropical storm, the weather factor is disregarded due to the urgency to what is considered a serious threat.

The enemy fleet moving away from Truk to Singapore (incl. two battleships) and a number of enemy ships moving towards the Indian Ocean give rise to speculations. One of them is a possible attack on Australia's west coast. Recon-flights will be carried out into the Indian Ocean for the upcoming days.

 

P-40 at Potshot. The first seven P-40's relocate to Exmouth Golf today led by Maj. Maurenbrecher. Due to a sandstorm one pilot lands "in the middle of nowere" succesfully. Tomorrow an B-25 flying overhead is quickly followed and using it as a navigational plane the P-40 pilot is also able to reach Potshot (landing in a tropical storm!).  Another twelve P-40's will also make the trip in the next few days. Another three stranding along the way due to engine trouble or landing accidents.

 

Beaufighter of Sqn 31 RAAF at Potshot.

[Heliopause]

17th March
Dornier Do 24 A49-1 (former X 5) RAAF, rescues the crew of an A-20 of Kiriwina-based Sqn 22. On the 9th of February A49-3 had taken up rescue duties at Kiriwina to be relieved by A49-1 per yesterday.

 

Tail end of Dornier A49-3. Formely used by the Dutch Navy with code X 8 in the East Indies.

 

The last Dorniers are used in the rescue role. Most tasks already taken over by Catalina's and Mariners.

[Heliopause]

21st March
Sqn 18 NEI, Sqn 120 NEI and Sqn 31 RAAF are still at Potshot, Exmouth Golf. No enemy ships have been found in the last week. Yesterday the signal came through that the threat is no longer. Sqn 31 RAAF performs (one of) the last mission(s).  "Shipping recce ordered by 79 Wing. A/C operating from Potshot. Three Beaufighters. Task completed. Nil enemy sightings".

 

Potshot initially became an advanced submarine refuelling base. Work on this started in 1942. This small plaque was put in place to commemorate this. 

 

View from control tower in 1943. The squadrons had their tents with them with the first three days a tropical storm to deal with.

[Heliopause]

23rd March
The squadrons at Potshot are ordered to return to their airfields. No enemy ships have been discovered and luckily no enemy attack has come forth. Sqn 18 NEI returns to Batchelor. Sqn 31 RAAF notes: "Air echelon departed Potshot on return to Coomalie". 

Sqn 120 NEI receives the order to return to Canberra. However this proves not feasible due to non-availibility of transport aircraft.

 

Aircrew tent at Batchelor. The personell are glad to be back from Potshot. Batchelor is considered an El Dorado!

[Heliopause]

25th March
At Sqn 18 NEI D.L. Asjes becomes the new Head of Operations. He replaces Wittert van Hoogland who has completed a tour.
Born at Surabaya, Java in 1911 Asjes went to Delft, Holland for studies in 1929. The following year he started flying in the military receiving his wings in August 1931.
He later became a flying instructor on sports planes and also participated in flights to the Dutch East Indies. With the Pander mailplane he left on December 9th 1933 to Bandung, Java. The return flight started on January 6th, arriving at Amsterdam on January 11th. The flight was seen to contribute to economical and technical developments.

Later in the year he participated in the MacRobertson Air Race from London to Melbourne. However during take off in the dark at Alahabad the Pander mailplane struck a 'floodlight' that was driven over the field. The plane was a total loss but Asjes and his two fellow crew members got out in time before the fire spread.

He went to Borneo in 1939 for the Shell oil company staying active in the flying scene at the local sportclub. Called for active service in December 1941 he commanded a Martin B-10 training unit on Java. On January 14th 1942 he was to lead a bombing mission to Tarakan island from Samarinda II airfield, Borneo but at the last moment it was cancelled due to previous losses.
He then returned to Java receiving the order to relocate the flight school from Kalidjati to Australia. He later was an instructor at the Royal Netherlands Military Flying school at Jackson Army Air Base, USA. In December 1943 he flew one of the new C-47's to Australia being posted to Sqn 18 NEI shortly thereafter.

 

Asjes seen here on the wing of the Pander mailplane at Bandung at the beginning of 1934.

 

Asjes (third from left) with crew in front of a B-25 at Batchelor.

[Heliopause]

26th March
A mast height attack is ordered for Sqn 18 NEI. Enemy ships have been sighted at Maeomere, Flores. Four planes fly out to Drysdale for a stopover with one plane returning to Batchelor due to engine troubles. At Drysdale two other B-25's turn out to have technical difficulties. The mission is then cancelled.

[Heliopause]

27th March
Sqn 18 NEI has two B-25's set out to attack enemy vessels. Although the weather conditions are good and an extensive search is made the ships are not found.

Sqn 31 RAAF is ordered to carry out an harassing attack on shipping at Roti islands. Six Beaufighters set out with strafing attacks made on five 30'prahus
left damaged and smoking. Two strafing runs are made at Oenggae bay on three 30'prahus followed by buildings strafed at Feapopi with smoke being observed.
One Beaufighter crashes after it hits the mast of a prahu with the crew reported as "missing, believed killed".

 

Meanwhile Sqn 120 NEI has its P-40's flown out from Potshot to Canberra now that transport planes have been arranged. One P-40 crash-lands at Parafield due to bad weather and two P-40's are lost as the pilots lose their bearings and run out of fuel (taking to their parachutes succesfully). The final flight from Potshot will be made on April 8th by a TB-25 with the rear party of personnel.

 

The P-40's stage through Kalgoorlie, Forrest, Ceduna and Parafield. Sgt. Gottschalk crashing on landing at Parafield due to weather conditions.

[Heliopause]

1st April
Bombing mission on Lautum by Sqn 18 NEI. Seven B-25's attack in the evening individually from an altitude of 8000feet. Many bombs fall in the target area with two planes experiencing "hung-ups".

The squadron had ended the month of March with night attacks on the 30th and 31st. Both missions by eight machines on Penfui, Timor.

Dutch submarine K XIV meanwhile is on patrol from Colombo, Ceylon to Freemantle, Australia. She successfully shelled the oil storage tanks at Emma harbour in Padang, west coast of Sumatra on March 29th.

[Heliopause]

2nd April
Night attack with seven B-25's on the airfield at Penfui, Timor. The target area is succesfully hit with many fires seen to develope. One of these being very big. AA is intense and of different caliber forcing some of the planes to abort the bomb run and go a second time over the target area.
 

[Heliopause]

3rd April
Night attack on an enemy camp (near the airfield) at Penfui, Timor. Six B-25's bomb succesfully although there is heavy AA over the target area. Two searchlights are able to "intercept" the various attacks. A seventh B-25 doesn't participate due to landing gear problems.
 

[Heliopause]

5th April
Night attack on Kupang, Timor by Sqn 18 NEI. Six B-25's bomb the designated target area. Two of the planes are intercepted by one or two nightfighters but are not hit and move out of the area without further mishap. AA is light and inaccurate.

 

6th April
Bombing mission on Kupang-town. Seven B-25's attack at sunset. Heavy AA is present from Kupang and Cape Usapa. Fierce fires are observed in the target area. Pamphlets are also dropped.

[Heliopause]

7th April
Night attack on enemy barracks at Penfui, Timor by six B-25's, Sqn 18 NEI. The target area is hit with explosions and fires observed. AA is light and inaccurate.

 

8th April
Night attack on the barracks at Penfui, Timor. Eight B-25's are assigned but one returns due to engine trouble. The target is hit again with heavy AA and two searchlights present over the area.

[Heliopause]

9th April
Another night attack on the barracks at Penfui, Timor carried out by five B-25's. During the attack an intense glow is observed near the barracks complex. AA is of different calibre although inaccurate.

 

Six Beaufighters, Sqn 31 RAAF carry out an attack on Soe village. The bombs and strafing resulting in: "Many buildings destroyed and damaged, a camouflaged petrol dump caught fire".

[Heliopause]

11th April
Night attack on the airfield at Penfui, Timor. Five B-25's, Sqn 18 NEI are assigned with one plane returning due to engine trouble. Of the other four only two are able to find the target due to weather conditions. Results can not be observed.

Eight Beaufighters, Sqn 31 RAAF set out to strike North West Timor. However: "Mission not completed due to adverse weather".

 

Meanwhile an advanced echelon of Sqn 120 NEI moves to Merauke, Dutch New Guinea in order to prepare the arrival of the squadron with its P-40's.

 

P-40's Sqn 120 NEI at Canberra.

[Heliopause]

13th april
Dutch submarine K XIV under command of Lt. t/z 1e kl. Drijfhout van Hooff arrives in Fremantle, Australia. It had started her patrol out of Colombo, Ceylon (Sri lanka). She successfully shelled the oil storage tanks at Emma harbour in Padang, west coast of Sumatra on March 29th. It will now operate from a number of Australian bases mostly for secret (Dutch) assignments.

[Heliopause]

15th April
Six Beaufighters, Sqn 31 RAAF carry out a bombing and strafing attack on Soe village (Timor) including dispersed buildings NW of Soe. Results are not seen due to dust, smoke and altitude of planes. One motor transport destroyed and another damaged on road to Soe with: "Approx. 12 Japs. strafed and some considered killed". One Beaufighters crashes in the sea about 40 miles from south coast of Timor "due to ack ack" whilst another four machines receive slight damage.

[Heliopause]

16th April
Sqn 18 NEI and Sqn 1 RAAF (Beauforts) carry out an night attack on Koepang-town, Timor. Thirteen B-25's set out with twelve Beauforts, with one B-25 returning after take off due to instrument malfunction. Two B-25's act as pathfinders using fire bombs to create a cross (No. 1 squadron later noting: `several large fires observed at exactly 1830/z, indicating that the B25 pathfinders from the NEI squadron were on their target to the minute'). The Beauforts dropping some 12 x 120 frag. clusters and 49 x 250 lb. G.P. (with 5 x 250 lb. G.P. hung ups). Bombing goes according plan and afterwards a huge sea of fire is observed.

 

Six Beaufighters, Sqn 31 RAAF carry out an harassing attack on Roti island with one two masted lugger destroyed and at least five claimed as badly damaged.

[Heliopause]

17th april
De Bruijn, government official in Dutch New Guinea and his "Oaktree" party are holding out:
On the 26th February a second group "Crayfish" (4 men) had been parachuted in at Bilorai. De Bruin had made preperations for the party.

"At the same time radio man Gout was stricken down and in great pain, probably suffering from stomach ulcers. HQ in Australia suggested he be evacuated. On the 9th of March it was suggested to do this from Hagers lake (located at junction of Tariku and Bigabu rivers) however this was far to the north of their present camp.
It was necessary that a main base camp for that scheme should be established, and that meant sending forward supplies from Oeitapa to the little village of Olegaloek (situated beyond the Delo Canyon, at 900 feet above sea level and on the eastern side of the upper Rouffaer River). On the 9th april De Bruin had left for Olegaloek (Gout already being there). The country between these two villages is sparsely populated and very rough. It took de Bruijn three days to make the journey. There were steep hills to climb and nothing but jungle, jungle, jungle. Tramping in heavy rain they came to Explorateur's Bivak. Even after eighteen years, since le Roux had been there with the Stirling expedition, signs of a clearing still remained. Softwood trees had sprung up, and their growth, towering above the much-slower-growing hardwood trees, showed where the timber had been cut. Formely some of the Dem people had lived there, but they had moved across to a site by the Nogolo River because of ghosts supposedly haunting the old village. Reaching Olegaloek he discovered a plane had come over and had dropped supplies the previous day. De Bruijn later started to move to Falong, he and his men hacking through tropical growth. All this time he was able to cummunicate with the group members at Bilorai and Oeitapa by means of a portable radio".

 

De Bruijn had been in Australia for a while in 1942 but had insisted on returning.  R. Gout then joined him as a radio man.

Edited April 17, 2024 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

18th April
Two Beaufighters, Sqn 31 RAAF carry out an offensive sweep over Babar island in company with twelve Spitfires. Strafing runs are carried out with an w/t station collapsing after a combined strafing run by Beaufighters and Spitfires.

[kraut1]

On 1/9/2024 at 5:18 PM, kestrel79 said:

I love hearing about this stuff! I remember doing some single player campaigns in this theater in the original IL2. P-39s vs Zeros and Ki-43s it was tough around Rabul area I want to say.

Hi, Only for information, I am working on this campaign:

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/87764-emg-campaign-usaaf-airacobras-over-port-moresby-1942-status-mission-15-of-50-update-060424/

 

[Heliopause]

19th April
Attack on Soe, Timor by a mixed force from Sqn 18 NEI and Sqn 1 & 31 RAAF. Eight Beaufighters acting as top cover escort for the twelve B-25's. The latter bomb in three ship formations with the Beaufighters attacking AA positions and the Beauforts meanwhile striking an encampment.

 

Beaufort Sqn 1 RAAF with the target area below.

 

B-25 Sqn 18 NEI seen here shortly after bombing the target area.