September 12, 2004 at 8:12 pm
Ok you guys..
I have seen the apetite for contests on this message board, and I challenge you all to a really hard one… here’s the story..
In feb 1941, 24 Hurricane IIb’s for the RAF were redirected and delivered to Java to be hurried into service with the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Airforce (KNIL).
No pictures have ever surfaced of these in KNIL markings. If you are able to find one you are the hero of all dutch historical aviation fans.
Since many Australians also search these pages i have a faint hope someone will make a real scoop..
skybert
By: ruud.deurenberg - 20th February 2016 at 19:50
Nice to see pictures of the ML-KNIL Hurricanes!
Does somebody have a new link to the photo below?
And at Wardbirdforum there is an image of an ex KNIL Hurricane captured by Japanes and in service with 64th Sentai Palembang 1942.
http://www.warbirdforum.com/werewolf.htm
Thanks!
Ruud
By: Skybert - 9th July 2015 at 22:25
and, it took another three years for me to find your answer Dave 🙂
Thanks very much for the picture, these I had seen before, but thank you for the effort nevertheless 😉
much appreciated
Bert
By: Bert van Dalen - 12th September 2004 at 21:00
Additional info:
In 1941, the Dutch East Indies Air Force ordered twelve Hurricanes, but they were not delivered because there was a shortage of powerplants. In late 1941, a total of 24 Hurricane Mk Is on route to Singapore for the Royal Air Force (RAF) were delivered in crates to Tjililitan at Jave for use by tbe Dutch East Indies Air Force. They had no radio equipment and no oxygen equipment. On 16 February 1942, they were flown to Kalidjati, where they were probably serialed (1 to 24?) and a red – white – blue flag was painted on the tail at Ngoro. Of the two squadrons of the Java Air Force, one squadron defended Batavia.
Operational Use
Two Hurricanes were destroyed during training. The Hurricane flown by pilot Hamming touched the ground with the propellor and the other, flown by sergeant Hermans, crashed during landing. On 21 February 1942, eight Hurricanes were surprised during their landing at Kalidjati by Japanese Nakajima Ki.43 Hayabusa (Oscar) fighters. Sergeant Jacobs turned up in a bombcrater, but two of the Hurricanes escaped to Tjikampek. On 26 February 1942, the last seven Hurricanes flew to Ngoro and on 1 March 1942 the Hurricanes attacked the invading Japanese landingcraft at Bantam Bay and Kretan. One Hurricane, flown by lieutenant Bruinler, touched a boat with the propellor, but reached Ngoro safe. Lieutenant Marinus escaped to Soerakarta, but his Hurricane crashed the following morning, whereby the pilot escaped safely. Vaandrig (pilot) Vink flew to Banjoermas. On 9 March 1942, the six remaining Hurricanes were set on fire by their crews at Ngoro.
Combat Record
The fighting at the beginning of the war in the Pacific had created a surplus of RAF pilots in the Far East, because many aircraft were lost without their pilots, and there was resentment at the handing over of the Hurricanes to the Dutch, whose pilots were less combat skilled. But, in two weeks, the Dutch Hurricanes destroyed or damaged thirty Japanese aircraft, for the loss of 18 to 20 Hurricanes.
There are no photographs of the Hurricane in Dutch service.
Source:
Ruud Deurenberg, 16 September 2000