Dutch East Indies

[Heliopause]

31st July
Sunset bombardment of the airfield of Maoemere and warehouse complex (isle of Flores) by Sqn 18 NEI and Sqn 2 RAAF. Of the former squadron sixteen B-25's are assigned with one plane returning to base due to engine troubles. The remaining fifteen machines bomb first followed by twelve planes from Sqn 2 RAAF with: "Slight heavy and medium ack-ack inaccurate from unspecified positions". Many fires and explosions are observed and still seen from afar.

 

Photo shows a Ki 48 "Lily" moments after being strafed at Lingat strip on July 22nd by a Beaufighter of Sqn 31, RAAF. The squadron repeated the strafing mission on July 28th and 29th "with no enemy aeroplanes sightings".

[Heliopause]

2nd Aug
Bombing mission for Sqn 18 NEI to Timor. Fifteen B-25's participate out of Truscott. An enemy encampent five miles west of Mina river is attacked. Results can not be observed due to the huge smoke and dustclouds that develope. Only slight AA is present. 

[Heliopause]

6th Aug
Attack on sighted ships by Sqn 18 NEI. Four B-25's set out but find only a coaster in the designated area. It is promptly attacked and sank. During the action a camouflaged freighter is discovered. It is attacked from 3000ft aswell as at mast-height. A number of hits cause the ship to burn. Three B-25's then strafe with heavy and accurate AA coming from the vessel and the shore. B-25 N5-223 under command of Lt. Muurling receives damage and the plane diverts to Emergency strip Gould in order to keep the runway clear at Batchelor.

[Heliopause]

9th Aug
Daytime attack on Langgoer airfield (Kai islands) by Sqn 18 NEI. Thirteen B-25's are assigned however one machine returns to base shortly after take-off due to engine (No.2) trouble. The remaining planes succesfully hit the target with light and medium AA present. A concentration of landingcraft are observed at Teal and two freighters in Rosenburg Strait.

 

Photo of Langgoer airfield taken on August 9th.

[Heliopause]

11th Aug
Attack on Langgoer-strip during sunset by Sqn 18 NEI with twelve B-25's. Clouds obscure the target area and only a few openings allow a view of the airfield. Capt. Arens in B-25 N5-173 acts as pathfinder dropping his fire bombs on the northern part of the airfield. Four planes fail to spot the target area with the remaining machines bomb whilst aiming at the glow of the fires. Light and medium AA is present although not accurate.

 

54 B-29's of XXth Bomber Command attack the oil facilities at Palembang, Sumatra out of China Bay, Ceylon (it was estimated that the refinery produced some 72% of the enemy aviation fuel). A number of B-29's lay mines in the Moesi river to block enemy shipping. One machine has to ditch on the return flight due to mechanical problems. The crewmembers take to the rafts, however the tail gunner is lost. Two Catalina's of Sqn 321 (Dutch) RAF are on stand-by for Air Sea Rescue and succeed, by using radio direction finding, in giving an accurate position of the rafts. A Wellington is then able to find the crew after a couple of hours with a motorlaunch returning the crew back to Ceylon tomorrow.

Edited August 14, 2024 by Heliopause
attack on Palembang, oil facilities

[cardboard_killer]

1 hour ago, Heliopause said:

4 B-29's of XXth Bomber Command attack Sabang, Sumatra out of China Bay, Ceylon.

 

This was, IIRC, the farthest US bomber attack of the war, something like 17 hours in the air.

[Heliopause]

14th Aug
Anti shipping mission by four B-25's, Sqn 18 NEI. Near the island of Tior two tankers are observed and attacked although without succes. Medium AA present.

[Heliopause]

15th Aug
Four B-25's set out to find yesterdays tankers. These are not found however and on the return leg Saumlaki is bombed. Most bombs fail to hit the target with two of the bombers focussing on the village of Allilit. Luckily their bombs are seen to fall into the sea near the shore.

[Heliopause]

16 Aug
Sqn 120 NEI at Merauke, Dutch New Guinea gives escort with a full flight to the transport aircraft of Lt.-Gen. Sir Thomas Blamey, the CG of the Australian Army forces. On August 2nd and 3rd the Squadron had given aircover for an Allied convoy escorted by warships.

 

P-40's of Sqn 120 NEI on a training flight from Merauke.

Edited August 16, 2024 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

17 Aug
Anti shipping mission towards Tior. Twelve B-25's are assigned. A number of coasters are attacked and sunk aswell as alternative targets being bombed.

[Heliopause]

19 Aug
Bombing mission by twelve B-25's on Langgoer airfield (Kai islands). Eleven B-25's succeed in bombing the target with most bombs seen to fall on the western part
of the runway and dump area. During the attack B-25 N5-210 under command of Off. Pilot (Navy) Spoel is hit by AA fire and is seen to go down burning and crashing.
The lost crew includes Sgt/airgunner Webley, RAAF.

[Heliopause]

22nd Aug
Supply mission by Sqn 18 NEI. B-25 under command of Capt. Staal performs this special mission. Guerrilla's on the island of Nila are to be supplied. It is succesfully carried out.

[Heliopause]

24th Aug
Recon. flight by two B-25's. At the island of Jamdena the formation splits up, one plane (under command of Capt. De la Port) reconnetoire's the east-coast while the other plane (under command of Van Burgst) flies around the west side of the island. If anything developes the crews can use radio contact to inform eachother. After making the recon along the west side Van Burgst does not see the B-25 flown by De la Port at the rendez vous point. Circling for a while it becomes clear that something went wrong with the other machine. B-25 N5-167 with Van Burgst returns to Batchelor alone. It is presumed that AA shot down the other B-25 at Larat. The missing crew includes Sgt/gunner Trimwell, RAAF.

 

Sqn 31 RAAF carries out two strikes on SW Timor (a total of seven Beaufighters, an eighth machine has to abord due to damaging the starboard wing during taxiing). Another four Beaufighters carry out a mission towards NE Timor. The squadron also makes time for the accasional sport events. On the 20th it recorded:
Rugby League against 9 R.S.U. Lost 35 - nil.
Soccer against 18 Squadron.   Lost  4 - nil.

 

Intercept excercise for Sqn 120 NEI at Merauke, Dutch New Guinea. Lt. Czismazia is warned at some point that his engine is on fire. He quickly takes to his parachute ending up five miles NE from Merauke with a sprained anckle.

 

Maintenance of a P-40 in the open at Merauke.

[Heliopause]

25th Aug
Two B-25's (Sqn 18 NEI) set out on a recon flight. Two enemy vessels (300-500T) are discovered at some point. These are attacked resulting in one destroyed and sunk while the other is seen to be beached. Another patrol of four B-25's is then send out to search the same area for enemy shipping. A camouflaged vessel is found and destroyed. The two ships previously attacked are also observed but it is decided to not attack these any further.

 

79 Wing also orders a strike mission for Sqn 31 RAAF. Three Beaufighters carry out strike along Su - Dilli roads. A fourth Beaufighter crashes on take-off with the
crew uninjured.
For the month of August it was noted: "the squadron inflicted damage on Japanese M/T generally and added to this was the destruction of two armoured motor cycle units. A large power driven boat off Dilli was also destroyed, bridges strafed and many buildings damaged. A new camp area was also discovered in the Haliloeloek area, as well as the important discovery that pack horses and mule trains were being used as a means of transport. Night fighter standby could not be carried out this month due to a lack of proper equipment which is six monthts overdue for installation in this squadron. Equipment for rocket projectile has been arriving in such a state that atleast 80% of such material is unserviceable for use without much work being effected before it can be used".

Edited August 25, 2024 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

29th Aug
Recon mission for two B-25's Sqn 18 NEI. An enemy tanker (150T) is observed, attacked and left sinking. A smaller vessel nearby is left damaged.
Another two B-25's are then sent out to the same area. The smaller vessel is found and attacked. It is left in a burning state. Enemy fire (20mm) from the ship had greeted the two planes. 
 

[Heliopause]

30th Aug
Bombing mission for twelve B-25's Sqn 18 NEI to Larat (Tanimbar islands). Two planes have technical difficulty's and land back at Batchelor shortly after take-off.
The attack is carried out without further mishap with only light AA (inaccurate) present. The target area is succesfully bombed with many fires seen as a result. A huge explosions is observed near the pier and felt by a number of planes at the alttitude of 10,000feet (for the bomber crews this mission felt as a revenge on the loss of Capt. De la Port and crew on Aug 24th).

 

Sgt. Haye of Sqn 120 NEI performs a training flight. Due to engine trouble he has to belly land his P-40 ending up some 32 KM SE of Merauke. He is rescued cuickly.
Around this time a report is received ascribing the low durability of the Allison engines in the Squadron aircraft operating under too much power and insufficient use of the carburettor air filter. The P-40 engines indeed are good for only 140 hours on average.

[Heliopause]

1st Sept

Bombing mission in the evening for Sqn 18 NEI and Sqn 2 RAAF. The B-25's attack Langgoer airfield and although clouds partly obscure the target area a number of crews see bombs hitting the western part of the airfield. Medium and heavy AA present (accurate). Near Kattanimbai-island and Letfoer three crews observe nightfighters. During the attack N5-214 is hit and goes down burning, exploding at 5000feet. Weither hit by AA or a nightfighter can not be determined. The lost crew incl. Sgt. Barclay, RAAF.

Detachment of Sqn 321 (Dutch) RAF is again activated at Socotra with three machines arriving out of South Africa (on April 28th three PBY Catalina's had arrived at Fasantekraal, South Africa to fly patrols due to a rise in activities of enemy submarines). Around this time other (small) detachments operate (shortly) from Masirah, Madras, Cochin and the Maladives.

 

Catalina of Sqn 321 at Socotra.

Edited September 1, 2024 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

Sept 4th
Dutch submarine O 19 operates on the west coast of Sumatra. It observes a local fishing vessel used by the enemy for transport and coastal activities. It is attacked and sunk by means of the deckgun. O 19 started her patrol out of Trincomalee, Ceylon. Her destination is Fremantle, Australia.
(O 19 had arrived in the Dutch East Indies in September 1939. Her first war patrols were carried out in the South China Sea and Gulf of Siam shortly after the start of hostillities. A succesfull attack had been carried out on January 10th 1942 on two enemy freighters (Akita Maru and Tariyum Maru) under the Command of Bach Kolling).
 

O 19 seen here departing Holland for the Dutch East Indies in the summer of 1939.

[Heliopause]

5th Sept
Sqn 321 (Dutch) RAF from the Masirah detachment is assigned to Task Force protection dutie. The lumbering Catalinas are used for this task in the hours of darkness. Catalina Y 74 flies out to Task Force 66. Around 8pm red streaks are observed in the sky. The crew moving towards the area at sealevel hoping to (possibly) catch an enemy submarine. A number of flares are fired to check the area. It turns out to be five sloops tied together. Two floating lights are then dropped to illuminate further. Y 74 keeps circling the area, the crew succeeds in keeping the sloops in sight, aided by moonlight. Task Force 66 meanwhile sends two ships, HMS Taff and HMS Nadder (River-class frigates) to the resque.  Y 74 illuminates the area again as the ships arrive at the scene. A total of 95 survivors are taken aboard (the sailors are from SS Troilus. Torpedoed on August 30th as she was homeward bound from Colombo, Ceylon).
 

Edited September 5, 2024 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

6th Sept
Dutch submarine O 19 under command of Lt/sea Van Karnebeek observes an enemy coastal ship (200T). It is attacked and sunk by means of the deckgun.

 

Recon mission by Sqn 18 NEI carried out by two B-25's. One machine is flown by Sqn. Commander Lt-Col Asjes who is joint for this flight by Lt-Col Zomer.

 

Sqn 120 NEI: at Merauke a C-47 takes personell to Australia for R&R. The plane goes missing however. Presumably bad weather is the cause of this. A groundstation near Cairns receives the last position given (not until 1988 the planewreck is discovered). Apart from seven Dutch fighter pilots also a number of RAAF personell is on board incl. Sqn.ldr. Dawson. He had commanded the RAAF personell at Sqn 18 NEI since the squadron was established in 1942.

 

P-40 with Dutch Pilot and Australian Flight Mechanic at Merauke.

[Heliopause]

7th Sept
Dutch submarine "Swordfish" arrives at Fremantle, Australia. It had started the war patrol out of Trincomalee, Ceylon on August 6th. On August 18th, 19th and 21st a total of four junks had been sunk by means of the deckgun whilst patroling Mallacca Strait (followed by a recon towards Christmas island).

 

November 1943:  "Zwaardvisch" (Swordfish) is officially taken into the Dutch submarine branch. A T-class submarine build by Vickers Armstrong it was initially to become HMS Talent. From February till May 1944 it had carried out her first war patrol (Atlantic Ocean and Norwegian coast) without having met enemy ships. She patrolled the Portugese coast in the last part of the month of May before arriving at Gibraltar. On July 12th Swordfish had arrived at Ceylon.

[Heliopause]

10th Sept
Dutch submarine O 19 observes and succesfully attacks an enemy cargo ship (Korei Maru) by means of the deckgun.

 

11th Sept
Mission for a single B-25, Sqn 18 NEI. N5-173 under command of Capt. Boot. Supply drop of food and medicine for the local population on Seroea, Damar, Te-oen and Nila islands.

[Heliopause]

12th Sept

Bombing mission at night by Sqn 18 NEI. Twelve planes are assigned with one returning shortly after take-off due to engine trouble. The target, Langgoer-strip is found with diffculty because of foggy conditions. Results can not be observed. Sqn/Comm. Asjes takes part in the mission.

[Heliopause]

15th Sept
Day-time attack on Langgoer strip (Kai islands) by eight B-25's Sqn 18 NEI. Five planes bomb Langgoer strip, one machine bombs the runway near Faan and another bombs Doelah strip. However B-25 N5-222 under command of Lt. Vogler gets hit by AA and is lost. Amongst the lost crew is Sgt. Bacon, RAAF.

 

B-25 N5-170 seen here with engines running participated in todays mission.

[cardboard_killer]

Note the position of the strafing guns. I'm not sure I've seen that elsewhere.

The nose mounted ones, not the side mounted ones, on a B-25.

[Heliopause]

I guess an early "strafer" configuration.

 

17th Sept
Attack by two B-25's on an enemy tanker previously discovered by a recon plane. The vessel is found near Hoh-bay (Kai islands), attacked and left damaged.
 

[Heliopause]

18th Sept
Dutch submarine O 19 under command of Lt/sea Van Karnebeek arrives at Fremantle, Australia. She had started her war patrol on August 21st out of Ceylon.

[Heliopause]

19th Sept
Scramble by Sqn 120 NEI at Merauke, Dutch New Guinea. Two P-40's collide at 17000feet. Pilot Heikoop survives managing to squize out through the window as the canopy is stuck. He ends up with his parachute in a tree near Merauke and is picked up later in the day.
Another pilot noted: "when I came on course 290 I looked to the left behind me and saw Red 2 in a sharp right turn, flying with his right wing against wing of
blue 3 which was flying in a shallow turn and both wings broke off near landing gear. When the planes collided Red 2's airscrew bored into the canopy of Blue 3 - both planes went into a spin and Blue 3 bailed out".

Another mishap happens with S/M Verdier. The engine of his P-40 starts to run rough at 25000feet. In the meantime he also notices the electrical system is out. Circling slowly to a lower altitude he can't make radio contact for homing. At some point white smoke is observed through the exhaust followed by black smoke and oil. Aiming for a small beach to land he overshoots due to overspeed and finally clips a coconut tree on landing and skids some 100 yards. He ends up some 40 KM West of Merauke.

 

P-40 "Wham Bam". It was lost flown by pilot Van Alphen when he collided with Heikoop. He apparently flew without his oxygen mask leading to the collision.

[Heliopause]

29th Sept
A recon B-25 observes an enemy ship (3000T) in Swan bay at Roma island. Three machines are then quickly sent out to attack. However an intense search of the area reveals no enemy ship.

 

28th Sept 
Recon mission for two B-25's, Sqn 18 NEI. At Trangan island trenches are strafed and near the village of Ngaibor landingcraft are bombed and strafed. Enemy fire wounds one of the crew in B-25 N5-218 (by pieces of an exploding fire extinguisher that was hit by a 0.50 cal), luckily not life threatening.

Also a shipping mission by four machines. A vessel previously observed by a recon plane is found and attacked from both low and higher altitude. The ship (800T) some 30 meters long can not be succesfully attacked however. Enemy fire is present from the ship aswell from the shore. It is left (probably) damaged.

 

24th Sept
Two B-25's have flown a mission to West-Java. Normally the B-25's can not cover the distance but the planes have been adapted for the mission. The top turret has been removed, a wooden frame constructed to house an extra fuel tank near the tail compartment as well as placing 23 cans of fuel (each 4 gallons). All calculated to keep the centre of gravity for the planes in order. Each planes also has two bombbay tanks installed. The undersides of the planes are cleaned with special paint remover. On the fuselage and underside of the wings big Dutch flags are painted as it is hoped to boost the moral of people in camps on Java. Leaflets were also dropped to inform about the current war situation (e.g. New Guinea retaken).
The flight started out of Potshot around midnight. N5-180 took off first (under command of Van Breemen) followed 20 min. later by N5-185 under command of Lt. Hagers. After flying some six hours they reached the coast of Java. Van Breemen then flew from Tjilatjap to Batavia (Jakarta), at the jail at Tjipinang, airfield Kemajoran and harbor Tandiok Priok leaflets are dropped. Then towards Semplak (nowadays Bogor) were some twin engined enemy planes are strafed on the airfield afterwich the former palace of the Governor-General is "visited". It is fired upon, a big Japanese flag is almost taken down by the B-25 due to the low altitude it is operating. Time over Java is around 1,5 hour. Over the endless sea on the way back a tricky moment arose when fuel was not pumped from bombbay- to wingtanks. This was solved however and Van Breemen reached Potshot at 13:15 hours. They had been in the air for 13,5 hours.

Hagers flew in N5-185 towards Bandung, however nearing the city enemy planes were observed and quickly the B-25 was steered away. The areas at Tasikmalaja, Garoet and the lake Tjileuntja are covered. Hagers also returns safely at Potshot after a total flying time of 12 hours and fifteen minutes.

 

B-25 "Lienke" under command of Hagers. Like many a Dutch servicemen family members were in occupied territory. Hagers wife Lienke was in a camp on Java although almost nothing was known about it except for rumours.

[Heliopause]

30th Sept
At the end of the month Sqn 31 RAAF noted:
"Rocket projectiles were carried for the first time on the shipping sweap to the Banda Sea area on the 29th but no allowable targets were contacted" and "The first of the Australian built Beaufighters arrived during the month, the total now being ten".
Beaufighters also gave cover to a Dutch PBY Catalina on a number of special missions to Seroe and Nila islands between Sept 23rd and 26th. On the 24th two Beaufighters went missing during the hours of darkness. Only navigator Warner returned to the squadron having succesfully bailed out. The following days Beaufighters were sent out to seek the missing crewmembers however these flights proved unsuccesfull.

 

At Merauke:
S/Ldr Kinnimont DSO DFC (RAAF) a veteran of the Singapore days in 1941/1942 judges the quality of operational units. About Sqn 120 NEI he reports:
"Nr. 120 NEI is a very keen but inexperienced fighter squadron. The unit, as a whole, is working smoothly, but strongly feels that as it is based on its own territory, it should be operating against the enemy. Placed in operations nr. 120 would rapidly adapt itself to fighterwork and compare favourably with fighter squadrons now operating. It is suggested that 120 squadron NEI be placed under the command of a RAAF group to gain experience and operational efficiency. At the same time it is realized that some fighter units must be based in this area".

[Heliopause]

1st oct
Recon flight by two B-25's Sqn 18 NEI. To the west of Tioor island an enemy landingcraft is observed and attacked by strafing. It is left (probably) damaged. Also the town of Saumlaki is bombed.

 

2nd Oct
P-40 pilot Lt Soesman (Sqn 120 NEI) has an engine fire at 19000feet. He selects to stay in the plane, shuts down the engine and performs a dead stick landing at Merauke. During the descent he gives the tower details about the situation. Tomorrow the engine will be sent to Townsville for inspection. TO Bodemeier will accompany the engine to join the inspection and to see the results. The military camp at Merauke meanwhile is given quarantine as smallpoks has accured among local tribes people.

[Heliopause]

Oct 4th
Dutch submarine "Swordfish" is operating near Bali on her fourth war patrol. She had left Fremantle on September 26th. A small enemy tanker is observed (500T) and by means of the deckgun it is attacked and sunk.

Edited October 6, 2024 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

Oct. 6th
Dutch submarine "Zwaardvisch" (Swordfish) is operating on Java's northcoast when it observes an enemy submarine at the surface. It is estimated to be moving at 14 kts on an eastern heading. Identity of the enemy sub can not be determined straight away, the persicope can only be up for a few seconds at a time. A German U boot is suspected. A swastika, later observed, is the confirmation. At the right angle six torpedos are fired. After 42 seconds a small explosion is heard. 17 seconds after being hit the U-boat disappears tail up under the waterline. Position is estimated as being some 20 miles north of Rembang (three torpedoes hit the U-boat, only one exploded). It turns out to be U-168. 27 men are rescued, most of them then put on local fishing boats except for five men including the captain who are taken aboard Swordfish.

[Heliopause]

Oct 7th
Sqn Commander Lt.Col. Asjes hands over command of squadron 18 NEI to Lt.Col. Van Haselen. Asjes has flown some 47 operational missions with the squadron during his tour.

 

Van Haselen seen here on the right during the ceremony. Asjes is on his left. For the next few weeks Asjes will stay with the squadron for a proper handover.

[Heliopause]

Oct 10th
Shipping mission for Sqn 18 NEI. Four B-25's are assigned to attack a small enemy freighter. However after finding the ship it is observed already burning. A nearby tug is then attacked and sunk.

 

Dutch submarine Swordfish observes an armed coaster (500T) between Surabaya and the small isle of Bawean, Java Sea. By means of the deckgun it is sunk.

[Heliopause]

Oct 11th
Recon flight by two B-25's, Sqn 18 NEI. Over Moloe isle leaflets are dropped. At the south-east of Larat enemy AA in the form of rockets is reported. (on a number of missions small vessels were seen to raise the Dutch flag during approuch).

 

Oct 13th
Strike carried out by two Beaufighters, Sqn 31 RAAF. Two Dinahs are destroyed at dispersal bays on Lautum strip "under a most intense barrage of ack ack, heavy - medium and light".

[Heliopause]

Oct. 15th
Dutch submarine Swordfish observes the enemy vessel Kaiyo Maru.  The initial attack is made at 18:55 hours. Three torpedoes are fired into the darkness. As these do not hit the target the gunalarm is sounded. In a short time the crewmembers are ready and at the moment of surfacing the hatches are opened on the commanders whisttle sound. The enemy ship has two deckguns already firing. After 15 grenades the enemy ship starts to burn. After 51 grenades the gun action is halted. The ship is like a torch in the tropical night. The gunners return in the submarine as it has to quickly move out of the area. Explosions are heard a little later as the depthcharges (seen) on the stern of the enemy ship blow up.

[Heliopause]

Oct. 17th
Dutch submarine Swordfish observes enemy naval ships between the isles of Bawean and Masalembo. As these get closer it turns out to be minelayers and escorts. After 70 minutes Swordfish is in an attack position after having passed some of the escorts undetected. Minelayer Wakataka manouvers in front of Swordfish at 800 meters distance. Commander Goossens can not resist and quickly decides to launch two torpedoes at this target then followed by the launching of three torpedoes towards the initial target; minelayer Itsukushima. Goossens then gives the order to dive to 50 meters, not much deeper are these waters. Two explosions are registered, both vessels being hit. Six minutes later the first depth charge attack follows. After six hours and a couple of more depth charge attacks Swordfish has crawled safely away from the enemy sub chasers.

[Heliopause]

Oct 23rd
A strike ordered for Sqn 31 RAAF. Six Beaufighters set out to central Timor. An enemy convoy of 8 motor transports travelling along the road near Cape Wateh are totally detroyed. "On making a second run to assess damage a ninth truck was seen and promptly blown apart". Earlier in the month operations had come to a stop due to a relocation of the squadron to Noemfoor, Dutch New Guinea but this has been postphoned.

[Heliopause]

Oct 27th
Bombing mission for eight B-25's Sqn 18 NEI. The target is Maoemere on Flores. In two flights the town and harbor are bombed from 8500 - 9000feet. Heavy AA is present at the correct altitude but always behind the bombers. In the harbor three small freighters, a number of landingcraft and sloops are observed.

 

Road sweep by six Beaufighters, Sqn 31 RAAF. "One of the machines is hit by AA on arrival at target. Escorted by another Beau (that has engine trouble) it returns early. The remaining four machines carry out the strike".

 

B-25's of Sqn 18 NEI. The machine at the lower end of the formation seems to be a later model with its top turret closer to the cockpit area.