de Havilland Dragon Rapide destroyed Jan. 26th, 1942 Penfui, Koepang, Timor

[Mieszko]

Hello everyone,
I am trying to find further details on the following information which I recently ran across concerning the Japanese attack on Penfui airfield, Koepang, Timor on January 26th, 1942.
In short, on January 26th, 1942 six Japanese Zeros from 3rd Kokutai downed a KNILM Gruman Goose (killing all five on board) and strafed and destroyed a KNILM de Havilland Dragon Rapide, killing the female pilot and all five passengers on board the Dragon Rapide.
Can anyone confirm that the de Havilland Dragon Rapide was destroyed on January 26th, 1942. Was it a KNILM owed machine or perhaps one owned by the Portuguese from East Timor? Who was the “female pilot” of the Dragon Rapide?
Thank you for your help,
Mieszko

[RSwank]

There is a story (KNILM in TIMOR) here (see pages 6 & 7) about a Dragon PK-AKV.

https://issuu.com/viethoangyd207/doc..._issue_33_2020

Some details seem to match but not all of them.

[Leendert]

PK-AKV damaged by Japanese bombardment on same 26 Jan 1942 at Andir, Java, according known Dutch author on NEI matters, P.C. Boer, in online book "The Loss of Java: The Final Battles etc."

Regards,
Leendert

[Mieszko]

RSwank and Leendert,

Thank you both for your quick replies! The Letter to the Editor from TAH issue 33 (2020) clears up what happened to the Dragon Rapide on Jan. 26th. P.C. Boer’s book “The Loss of Java” has the Dragon Rapide being destroyed on Feb. 19th , 1942 at Andir, Java. This would all add up.

Thank you once again,
Mieszko

[Leendert]

Just to add that NEI newspapers of that time only report the shooting down of the KNILM Grumman (PK-AFS) as in your post.
The loss of an NEI Dragon Rapide on Timor not mentioned in well documented website https://www.hdekker.info/Nieuwe%20map/1940.htm

Regards,
Leendert

[Stig Jarlevik]

Mieszko

The strafing of Koepang is pretty well known as is also the downing of the unfortunate Goose

What is curious to me is your statement that the DH 89 had six casualties. From where does that origin?

I don't have the Boer book regarding the loss of Java, but the date stated by Peter is at odds with other data. I have a note it was finally abandoned at Andir on March the 3rd and still there on the 8th (Harm Hazewinkel)
It is possible it was broken up as per Dutch Army order even later.

B Rgds
Stig

[Mieszko]

Hello Stig,
The six casualties came from an article I ran across. Searching the internet, I came across the book “Every Day a Nightmare” which had a very similar if not identical entry. Footnotes from the book indicated that the six casualties came from someone’s diary entry, from yet another book.
I do not have Boer’s book, but a friend who does told me that Boer has the Dragon Rapide being strafed at Andir on Feb. 19th, 1942. I would guess that the Dragon Rapide was strafed and damaged on Feb 19th, and then being “officially” abandoned on March 3rd.
Mieszko

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks

Aha, strafed on 19 Feb. That is a bit different from destroyed.
Since the DH 89 (as per Casius) was more damaged than initially thought, it was probably considered useless while still at Andir after arrival (and re-checked).

Perhaps it was simply ousted onto the airfield as a bait?

Cheers
Stig

[Leendert]

Finally found a passing reference in an NEI newspaper, the Soerabaiasch-Handelsblad of 23 Feb 1942, that a "small airliner was only slightly damaged" in the 26 Jan 1942 attack on the airfield.
Dragon Rapide was then ferried to Andir by (Dutch) pilot Uros de Giaxa-Salvi to Andir, Java, for repairs.

Regards,
Leendert