No.
18 Squadron
No.
18 Squadron
Formed: 04Apr42
Disbanded: 06Jul42*
Following the Japanese occupation of the Netherlands East Indies early in
1942, Dutch airmen who had survived the bitter fighting there and who had
managed to escape to Australia, were bought together to form Dutch
squadrons within the frame work of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
The first of these was No. 18 (NEI) Squadron, which was formed at Canberra
on the 4th of April, 1942.
The United States of America supplied ball of the squadrons stores and
equipment. Personnel from the Dutch detachment in Archerfield, Queensland,
formed the squadrons nucleus, complemented by the NEI Transport Group
and other Dutch personnel gathered in Melbourne.
The Commanding Officer was Lieutenant Colonel B.J. Fiedeldy and
while most of the aircrew and some of the ground staff were Dutch nationals,
including Indonesians, the RAAF provided many co-pilots, air gunners,
navigators, bombardiers, photographers and ground staff.
18 Squadron was due to receive 18 b-25 Mitchell bombers on its
formation but the aircraft were re-assigned for immediate use in New Guinea.
Only five B-25s were received in April, 1942, and these were primarily used for
training and anti-submarine patrols, operating out of Canberra and utilizing
Moruya and Jervis Bay.
On the 5th of June, 1942, the squadron scored its first success when it
claimed to sink a 300-ton Japanese submarine off Sydney. This resulted in a
more generous supply of aircraft. The original B-25s had by then been
exchanged for 10 Douglas A-20 Bostons, but these were replaced by 18 B-25s
between the 23rd 0f August and the 18th of September, 1942.
On the 5th of December, 1942, the squadron began its move to
MacDonald, Northern Territory, to operate in the North Western Area. A great
deal still had to be done to turn MacDonald into a proper base and 18
Squadron’s men had a hard time hacking dispersals out of the bush and
building taxiways to connect these to the short strip. Although the airstrip of
granite gravel was serviceable, it scoured easily and required continual
maintenance.
Water was also unavailable and mobile water tenders had to be used.
Pine Creek Aerodrome was considered as an alternative to MacDonald but
was not recommended for operations. It was half way through January, 1943,
before the squadron was ready to go, and it was primarily tasked with
reconnaissance flights over the sea and the islands of the NEI’s, and day and
night attacks on Japanese airfields and installations. This also included
mast-height attacks on shipping and dropping supplies to guerrillas in
Japanese-occupied territory, particularly Timor.
The squadrons first operational mission into enemy territory was flown
on the 18th of January, 1943, when a reconnaissance flight was carried out to
the Tanimbar Islands searching for reported enemy shipping. This operation
was uneventful, however on the following day, during an offensive
reconnaissance to Toeal in the Kai Islands, squadron aircraft received their
first enemy hits. On the 20th of January, 1943, in combat over Fuiloro, two
‘Zekes’ were probably destroyed and one float plane was probably destroyed
at Dobo.
On the 31st of January, 1943, following a dawn attack on Dili, two
B-25s made force landings upon their return due to a shortage of fuel,
fortunately without casualties. However, the unit suffered a tragic loss on the
5th of February, 1943, when aircraft number N5-132 crashed four miles
northwest of MacDonald with all crew members, including three RAAF
personnel, being killed.
The squadrons raids brought many intercepts from ‘Zekes’ and during a
raid on Dili on the 18th of February, 1943, a 45 minute running fight occurred.
One of the two ‘Zekes’ which intercepted was destroyed. A B-25 was shot
down into the sea. The accompanying aircraft, having barely enough fuel to
return to Darwin, were unable to remain in the area, but had seen the crashed
crew in their boat. Subsequently three RAAF Hudsons dropped supplies and
ultimately the survivors were rescued by HMAS Vendetta. It was later learned
that the pilot and the bombardier had been shot dead and the co-pilot
wounded. During the period in the boat the crew was attacked by a large
shark, which attempted to bite the wounded co-pilot in the back, and a large
sea bird which had to be beaten off.
The B-25 aircraft of the squadron were operating within the upper limits
of their capacity and range. This factor had caused a number of forced
landings some distance from base.
Between the 13th of April, and the 8th of May, 1943, the Squadron moved
from MacDonald to Batchelor, Northern Territory. Batchelor was closer to
Darwin and much better equipped than MacDonald and it was to remain 18
Squadrons home almost until the end of the war. The first missions from the
new base were flown on the 11th of May, 1943, when a reconnaissance of
Somniloquy-Tanimbar Island and Laha-Ambon was carried out, together with
operations over Penfoei, Koepang Harbour and Dili. The main task of the air
units in this area was the defence of the northern sector of Western Australia,
the Northern Territory and the Torres Strait sea passage.
During the following months, squadron losses were not light, particularly
during mast-height attacks when, sometimes due to faulty delay-action fuses,
bombs exploded before the aircraft were away. Poor visibility and lack of
aiming capability in bringing guns to bear on ships anti-aircraft crews also
made these attacks dangerous. The aircraft’s armament was improved
accordingly with increased forward firing capability and side guns on some
aircraft.
Lieutenant Colonel J.J. Zomer became the new Commanding Officer on
the 11th of June, 1943, but it was not until September that replacement crews
arrived in any numbers. These were among the first to be trained at a joint
Dutch Army-Navy flying school set up in the United States at Jackson,
Mississippi. The new crews brought with them their own B-25s, which were of
a later type with heavier nose armament and better equipment. In order to
recapture the northeast part of Papua and New Guinea by preventing
Japanese reinforcements reaching the area, 18 Squadron became involved
neutralizing Japanese bases on Timor, Ambon and the Kai and Aroe Islands,
and in stopping seaborne traffic.
In less than three months (17th of November, 1943, and the 4th of
January, 1944), the squadron sank or left burning six Japanese ships totaling
25, 545 tons, plus numerous smaller vessels. This led to the creation of the
unofficial Squadron Badge, ‘The Dutch Cleanser’- a Dutch farm wife sweeping
out dust with a large broom.
On the 10th of March, 1944, 18 Squadron was moved to ‘Potshot’ (now
Learmonth) on the Exmouth Gulf in the Western Area, to assist in countering a
possible Japanese attack on the west coast of Australia. The squadron
traveled in sixteen B-25s and eight C-47s, prepared for a possible fortnight of
operations. As the threat did not eventuate, the air echelon returned to
Batchelor on the 23rd of March, 1944, with maintenance personnel returning
three days later. Operations were resumed from Batchelor on the 30th of
March, 1944, with night bombing of Penfoei by eight B-25s.
Shortly after the return from ‘Potshot’, 18 Squadron received newer
B-25s with tail armament, which was rather paradoxical as by then Japanese
fighter interceptions were becoming rarer. A change of Commanding Officer
occurred in April, 1944, Lieutenant Colonel E.J.G. teRoller taking over, but he
was killed while flying as second pilot in a raid on shipping in the vicinity of
Tioor Island on the 23rd of June, 1944. The aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire
and hit the sea in a tremendous explosion. During the raid, three vessels
were damaged or destroyed. Lieutenant Colonel D.L. Asjes took over as
Commanding Officer on the 1st of July, 1944. In that month, 18 Squadron flew
the highest number of sorties, 107, compared with 89 for the rest of the other
bomber squadrons.
By then the battle front was moving farther away and a request was put in for
18 Squadron to be re-equipped with B-24 Liberators, but this came to nothing
and the squadron continued to harass Japanese bases, mainly in the Kai
Islands, with its B-25s. Although Japanese fighters were disappearing, their
place was taken by efficient radar-controlled anti-aircraft guns, which took a
heavy toll.
It was during this time, too, that daylight leaflet raids were made over
internment camps in Java. These trips often involved 14 hours flying and
called for accurate navigation, but the camps were found and the Dutch flag
under the wings of the B-25s provided encouragement for the prisoners below.
Lieutenant Colonel M. Van Haselen became Commanding Officer on
the 7th of October, 1944, and it was while under his command that the
squadron achieved a notable success. On the 6th of April, 1945, a Japanese
convoy, whose escort included the light cruiser Isuzu, was discovered in the
Flores Sea, apparently evacuating troops from Timor. Immediately, 11 B-25s
of 18 Squadron and 10 B-24s from 21 Squadron were ordered to attack. On
this occasion the Japanese had provided air cover for their ships and two
B-24s were shot down. 18 Squadron, by good formation flying and
concentration of fire, came through unharmed after scoring two direct hits on
the Isuzu. The ship was seriously damaged and its speed cut down, making it
easy prey the next day for the submarines Char and Gabilan.
On the 25th of February, 1945, the squadron began its move to
Jacquinot Bay in New Britain. Supplies were sent off by ship, but while
awaiting the move the squadron was taken off operations. The Dutch,
however, wanted to go to the East Indies and after a personal approach to
General MacArthur their destination was changed to Morotai in the
Halmaheras. On the 15th of July, 1945, 18 Squadron bade Batchelor
good-bye, bound now for Balikpapan instead of Morotai, arriving two days
later.
At Balikpapan their main task was to carry out leaflet drops and locate
and drop food and supplies to prison camps in Java, Borneo and the Celebes.
On the 8th of September, 1945, the B-25s of 2 and 18 Squadrons
provided air cover to the surrender by Japanese commanders being accepted
aboard HMAS Burdekin. Squadron aircraft also provided cover for the landing
of the 7th Australian Division on Makassar on the 21st of September, 1945.
The RAAF component of 18 Squadron was disbanded on the 25th of
November, 1945. On the 15th of January, 1946, 18 Squadron passed from
RAAF to Dutch control and in March it relocated to Tjililitan near Bandoeng in
Java, flying in support of Dutch troops against the Indonesian uprising.
The fighting against the Indonesians went on until July, 1949, when a
cease-fire was arranged. During all that time 18 Squadron had been hard at
work, flying bombing, reconnaissance and close support missions. With the
establishment of the independent Republic of Indonesia in December, 1949,
18 Squadron was no longer needed.
The squadron was the last Dutch squadron to be handed over to the
Indonesians and finally disbanded on the 26th of July, 1950.
We would welcome any additions to be added to this section.
Apr42-Jan43 Fairbairn, Australia
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