In January 1942, based on this document from the Australian National Archives, Dutch cargo from the Norwegian M/S Høegh Silverstar, destined for the Netherlands East Indies (NEI), was confiscated on orders from the American Government in Sydney. According to the ship’s logbook, it departed from San Francisco on November 24, Read more
Booya was built in Waterhuizen, the Netherlands in 1917 by Gebroeders van Diepen, under her original name, De Lauwers. She was a three-masted auxiliary schooner with a steel hull and a 130 bhp engine. In 1920, she became known as the Argosy Lemal after she was purchased and registered by Read more
The Marine Luchtvaartdienst in the Netherlands East Indies Before the Pacific War, the Marine Luchtvaartdienst—the Royal Netherlands Navy Air Service, generally abbreviated as MLD—maintained its principal operational strength in the Netherlands East Indies. Flying boats were particularly well suited to the enormous Indonesian archipelago, where conventional airfields were limited but Read more
Unlike the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) Army and its Air Force, the Koninklijke Marine (KM – Royal Netherlands Navy) that operated in NEI, was part of the Dutch Navy. They resorted under the Minister for the Navy at the Dutch Government-in-Exile in London. By mid February, the Governor the Netherlands Read more
Lieutenant Colonel B.J. Fiedeldij commanded No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF during the difficult period in which it was transformed from a collection of evacuated personnel and newly delivered aircraft into an operational medium-bomber squadron. Fiedeldij assumed command at Canberra on 1 May 1942. He remained commanding officer during Read more
In late 1942, No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF began moving from Canberra to McDonald Airfield in the Northern Territory. This complex transfer brought the Dutch–Australian B-25 Mitchell squadron closer to Japanese-occupied territory and marked its transition from training and coastal patrols to offensive operations. The move involved hundreds Read more
During October and November 1942, aircrews of No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF undertook an intensive period of bombing and air-gunnery training at Nowra in New South Wales. The training formed part of the squadron’s preparation for its transfer from Canberra to the Northern Territory, where it would begin Read more
On 7 September 1944, a Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force transport aircraft disappeared while flying from Merauke in Dutch New Guinea to Cairns. The aircraft was Douglas C-47 Dakota DT9-41, which also carried the civil registration VH-RDK. Its wreckage remained undiscovered in the densely forested mountains west of Mossman Read more
Prelude Following hastily established diplomatic relationships in January 1942, the Australian Labor Government offered the Dutch, after the fall of NEI, shear unlimited support in relation to facilities and training, while at the same time providing them with a remarkable high level of independence for their operations in Australia. What Read more
Amateur movies made by Mr. Arie Berger. Source Netherlands Ministry of Defence Movie #3 – 1943 Beeldbank – Department of Defence – Netherlands Movie #4 1943 -1944 Beeldbank – Department of Defence – Netherlands Movie #5 1945 -1946 Beeldbank – Department of Defence – Netherlands See also: The Dutch at Read more