No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF brought together personnel from different national, cultural and professional backgrounds. Dutch, Indonesian, Indo-European and Australian personnel served as pilots, observers, bombardiers, navigators, wireless operators, air gunners, engineers and ground staff.
The DACC has separate articles about several prominent members of the squadron. This collective article preserves shorter biographical records of other identified personnel whose service should also be remembered.
No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF brought together personnel of different nationalities and backgrounds. Dutch, Indonesian and Australian airmen served as pilots, observers, navigators, wireless operators, air gunners and ground personnel.
This is therefore not a complete nominal roll. Further names and personal histories can be found through the DACC Air Force Research Portal.
Sidney Rudi de Kadt
Sidney Rudi de Kadt was born at Heemstede in the Netherlands on 8 April 1920. After the German occupation of the Netherlands, he escaped through Portugal and reached the United States, where he joined the Dutch armed forces.
Following further aviation training, including training at Fort Leavenworth, he joined No. 18 Squadron as a militia sergeant pilot-observer. He completed 37 operational sorties with the squadron.
De Kadt was honourably discharged in 1946. His decorations included the Cross of Merit, Airman’s Cross, Decoration for Order and Peace, Resistance Commemorative Cross and War Commemorative Cross.
He died at Vogelenzang in the Netherlands on 5 January 2013.
Dirk Lucas Asjes
Dirk Lucas Asjes was already an experienced aviator before the Second World War. In 1934 he participated in the MacRobertson London–Melbourne Air Race as a member of the crew of the Dutch aircraft Panderjager.
Following the fall of the Netherlands East Indies, Asjes became involved in establishing the Royal Netherlands Military Flying School at Jackson, Mississippi. The school trained Dutch aircrew required by the reorganised military aviation forces operating from Australia.
Asjes later returned to Australia with Dutch-trained B-25 Mitchell crews and served with No. 18 Squadron. Between 27 February and 22 September 1944, he took part in numerous operational flights over Japanese-occupied territory, including the southern Moluccas, Timor, Flores, the Banda and Arafura seas and parts of New Guinea.
His decorations recognised his courage, leadership and perseverance during these operations.
Everhardus Johannes Gerhard “Eddy” te Roller
Everhardus Johannes Gerhard te Roller was born at Doesburg in the Netherlands on 1 February 1902.
Before joining No. 18 Squadron, he headed the aviation department of the Netherlands Purchasing Commission in the United States. This organisation was involved in obtaining aircraft, equipment and other military supplies for the Dutch forces overseas.
In April 1944, Lieutenant Colonel Te Roller succeeded J.J. Zomer as commanding officer of No. 18 Squadron. His period of command coincided with the squadron’s continuing operations from northern Australia against Japanese targets across the eastern Netherlands East Indies.
Te Roller was posthumously awarded the Bronze Cross and received the American Legion of Merit.
Pieter Gerard Tideman
Captain pilot-observer Pieter Gerard Tideman served with No. 18 Squadron during its operations from Australia.
He was awarded the Vliegerkruis, or Airman’s Cross, for displaying initiative, courage and perseverance during operations against the enemy.
Tan Sien Ien
Tan Sien Ien was born on 22 August 1917. He served as a Chinese militia sergeant first class and air gunner with the Military Aviation Service of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army and No. 18 Squadron.
His service is an important reminder of the Indonesian and Chinese-Indonesian personnel who served within the Netherlands East Indies aviation forces.
Tan Sien Ien continued serving after the end of the Second World War. He was killed on 4 August 1946 when B-25 Mitchell N5-230 crashed near Kalibanteng, Semarang. He was 28 years old.
He was posthumously awarded the Airman’s Cross in 1949..
Pieter Johan Wallin
Pieter Johan Wallin was born at Oud-Beijerland on 9 November 1923. He served as a reserve first lieutenant pilot-observer with No. 18 Squadron.
Wallin was killed on 4 September 1945 when B-25 Mitchell N5-255 crashed at Muntjoa, near Makassar. Although Japan had announced its surrender the previous month, flying and transport operations across the Netherlands East Indies remained dangerous.
Wallin was awarded the Airman’s Cross. His name is also recorded on the Indies Memorial in Oud-Beijerland..
Pieter Cornelis André de la Porte
Pieter Cornelis André de la Porte was born at Baarn on 13 December 1912. He served as a reserve captain pilot-observer with the Netherlands East Indies Military Aviation Service and subsequently with No. 18 Squadron.
During the Japanese offensive in Burma in May 1942, De la Porte repeatedly flew an unarmed and unfamiliar aircraft on high-altitude photographic-reconnaissance missions. Some penetrated as far as approximately 1,000 miles into Japanese-controlled territory. The resulting photographs assisted United States Army Air Forces bombing operations.
This reconnaissance service occurred before his later operations with No. 18 Squadron.
On 24 August 1944, De la Porte commanded B-25 Mitchell N5-169 on a reconnaissance mission over Larat in the Tanimbar Islands. The aircraft failed to return and its entire crew was lost.
He was awarded the Cross of Merit.
Reinier Emil Jessurun
Reinier Emil Jessurun was born at Haarlem in 1904 and served as a reserve observer with the Military Aviation Service of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army.
After escaping the Japanese advance, he reached Australia and participated in No. 18 Squadron operations. As an observer and operational leader, he completed numerous bombing missions and reconnaissance flights under difficult conditions.
Jessurun was appointed commander of No. 18 Squadron on 28 May 1945. He remained in command until February 1948 and then served briefly as acting commander of the ML-KNIL.
On 14 May 1949, Jessurun was killed when a B-25 Mitchell crashed near Kroja in Java. All eight occupants died. He was buried at the Dutch war cemetery Menteng Pulo in Jakarta.
Jessurun received numerous Dutch and American decorations. These included the Airman’s Cross, Air Medal and the Military William Order, the Netherlands’ highest military decoration. The Royal Netherlands Air Force later named the Jessurunkamp military complex at Soestduinen in his memory..
Benjamin Wetters
First Lieutenant short-service pilot Benjamin Wetters served with No. 18 Squadron.
On 18 February 1943, Wetters commanded a formation of three B-25 Mitchells during a bombing operation. When a Japanese fighter attacked, his direction of the formation’s defensive fire contributed to the fighter being shot down.
Three further Japanese fighters subsequently attacked. One aircraft in the Dutch formation was damaged and could no longer maintain its position. Wetters moved to protect the damaged bomber and helped drive the attackers away.
His conduct was recognised for its courage, leadership and concern for the other members of his formation.
Paul Leo Zeijdel
Paul Leo Zeijdel was born at Modjokerto, Java, on 10 August 1917. He served as a reserve second lieutenant observer with No. 18 Squadron.
On 8 October 1943, Zeijdel was the observer aboard B-25 Mitchell N5-136 during a reconnaissance mission near Waingapu on Sumba. The unescorted aircraft came under repeated attack from a superior number of Japanese fighters.
Although the Mitchell was badly damaged and Zeijdel was wounded, he continued returning fire. The aircraft was ultimately forced down near Manangafuru. Its pilot was killed, while Zeijdel and other survivors attempted to reach safety after coming ashore.
Zeijdel died during the subsequent ordeal. He was 26 years old and was later buried at the Dutch war cemetery Kembang Kuning in Surabaya.
He was posthumously awarded the Airman’s Cross for his initiative, courage and endurance.
Remembering the wider squadron
These profiles demonstrate the diversity of experience within No. 18 Squadron. Some members had escaped occupied Europe, while others had fought during the defence of the Netherlands East Indies or served elsewhere in the Asian theatre. Several trained in the United States before reaching Australia.
Their wartime service did not necessarily end with Japan’s surrender. Dangerous flying continued during the repatriation of prisoners and internees and the conflict surrounding Indonesian independence. Several squadron veterans were killed during these postwar operations.
Together, their stories contribute to a more complete record of the Dutch, Indonesian and Australian personnel who served within No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF.
The DACC welcomes further photographs, documents and family information relating to these and other Dutch, Indonesian and Australian members of No. 18 Squadron.
Related DACC articles
- No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF during World War II
- Research Portal—Dutch and Netherlands East Indies Air Forces in Australia during World War II
- Harry Burgers: decorated air gunner, wartime prisoner and Dutch migrant to Cowra
- The loss of B-25 Mitchell N5-140: a Dutch bomber tragedy off Darwin
- No. 18 Squadron moves to McDonald Airfield, 1942–1943
