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RAAF NEI Squadron Pilot List info?
Hi All,
I was wondering if their are any lists of the Pilots/Aircrews of the RAAF NEI Squadrons from WW2? I'm trying find out what unit my Mum's Uncle was in. His name was Jan Dekeling and he was fighter pilot in the ML-KNIL (1-VLG-V) flying Brewster Buffalo's during the NEI campaign and from what my Mum says he escaped to Australia with the ML-KNIL and was still in Oz at the end of the war. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers!! |
Re: RAAF NEI Squadron Pilot List info?
Dekeling is mentioned here,
http://www.reocities.com/dutcheastindies/Dutch_OOB.html "Note Air Force Lieutenant Van Rest was credited with 2 confirmed victories during the Japanese assault on the Netherlands East Indies. This should be 3 confirmed victories, or at least 2 confirmed and 1 shared. On the December 19th 1941 Van Rest, together with his wingmen Kuijper and Dekeling, intercepted a formation of nine Mitsubishi G3M Navy 96 bombers. These bombers had just attacked the city of Pontianak. Van Rest and the other two pilots made a pass against the last bomber in this formation. When they tried to make a second attack they lost the Japanese formation in the clouds. No claims were made by the Dutch pilots. According to Japanese sources however, one of the bombers (from the Mihoro Kokutai) was lost during this engagement. It had to ditch 40 KM south of Saigon. It's very difficult to obtain reliable information on this subject. According to a Dutch source for example, the Japanese themselves credited the Dutch and American pilots with the destruction of 22 (!!!) of their aircraft during the air-battles over Eastern Java on February 3rd 1942. When you read "Bloody Shambles" however, they only lost a few. There is a lot of contradiction --- Bert Kossen, late 2000." and here, http://www.gahetna.nl/collectie/arch...l/open/c01%3A0. |
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