Warbird Information Exchange

I had one of the 37mm AT guns that were produced for the Dutch (National Forge & Ord in PA) - they were originally to be sent to the East Indies but were sent direct to Australia after the island fell. Originally they came with a limber for the ammo boxes

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Disclaimer: Photo discription, original photographer and/or original web source credit unknown unless otherwise noted.

No one has really answered the question, one that I found interesting.
For an aviation slant I dragged out "Bloody Shambles" Shores, Cull with Izawa and started at Chapter 6 pg 199 The Indies start to Tumble.
There were lots of tales of heroism and some successes by the Martin and Dornier Do 24 crews but surprisingly minimal mention of the Dutch fighter planes. Use of the F1M floatplanes as fighter by the Japanese gets more mentions.
Overall a depressing tale of failure that matched the name of the book, and the Dutch shared the experience with their allies.

http://jpgleize.perso.neuf.fr/aces/ww2hol.htm lists Dutch aces
Lt August G. DEIBEL and Kapt Jacob P. VAN HELSDINGEN are each credited with 3 kills in Malaysia, Dutch Indies in 1941-42 while Lt Gerardus M. BRUGGINK and Kapt Andrias A. M. VAN REST are each credited with 2, Sgt J. P. ADAM is credited with 1, all in in B-339 (Buffalo). No mention of successes for the Hawks (apparently highly unreliable due to the engine) or the Curtis Wright CW-21Bs.

Given the Dutch has something like 83 fighter planes at the start of the campaign a poor return if the above are the only accepted fighter victories.
Does anyone have any other information from other sources?

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Chris Mellor

When I used to peruse sites regarding the Brewster F2A there were repeated mentions of at least one Dutch ace who scored his victories on the Buffalo.

I haven't read much on the Netherlands East Indies but I gather that most of the natives were not sad to see the Dutch get their comeuppance from the Japanese. Then the Japanese proceeded to ride even more roughshod over the locals than the Dutch did even to the point of alienating tribesmen the
Dutch had left alone for hundreds of years.

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"I can't understand it, I cut it twice and it's still too short!" Robert F. Dupre' 1923-2010 Go With God.

Possibly the landings on 15 December 1941 & 19 January 1942 and the subsequent Japanese forces using Tarakan airfield as a forward airbase
negated any "formal" air war ?

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Disclaimer: Photo discription, original photographer and/or original web source credit unknown unless otherwise noted.