| 19e Transport Squadron, a.k.a. No. 19 (NEI) Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1945–1950 |
| Country | Netherlands East Indies/Australia |
| Branch |
ML-KNIL (1944–45) RAAF) (1945–47) ML-KNIL (1947–50) |
| Engagements |
World War II Indonesian National Revolution |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Willem Versteegh |
19e Transport Squadron, also known as No. 19 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron was a transport and communications unit of the Militaire Luchtvaart van het Koninklijk Nederlands-Indisch Leger ("Military Aviation of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army"; ML-KNIL) , formed in Australia during World War II. During 1945–47, it was officially a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) unit, before it returned to Dutch control.[1]
The squadron emerged from two separate transport flights formed in September 1944, by the ML-KNIL in Australia:[2][1]
- NEI Transport Section, Brisbane (NEI-TSB), at RAAF Archerfield, near Brisbane equipped with three Lockheed Lodestars and five North American B-25 Mitchells and;
- NEI Transport Section, Melbourne (NEI-TSM) nine Lockheed Lodestars and several Mitchells, at Melbourne
These units transported personnel and material to No. 18 (NEI) Squadron at RAAF Batchelor and No. 120 (NEI) Squadron a fighter unit in Merauke (later in Biak), West Papua.[2]
In November 1944, these units were merged at Archerfield as No. 1 Netherlands East Indies Transport Squadron. The existing aircraft were augmented with four Douglas Dakotas (C-47s) and five Lockheed Model 12a (Electra Junior) light transport aircraft.[2]
On 15 August 1945, the squadron was officially absorbed by the RAAF and renamed No. 19 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron. It also took control of 13 Dakotas that had previously been operated by the Dutch East Indies airline KNILM.[3] [2]
Following the end of World War II, the Dutch government requested that its squadrons formed within the RAAF to participate in the re-occupation of the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). No. 19 Squadron remained at Archerfield and continued using Australian callsigns as it undertook operations against Indonesian nationalists during the Indonesian National Revolution. It ceased to be part of the RAAF on 1 January 1947.[1]
Footnotes[]
Bibliography[]
- Dunn, Peter. "Netherlands East Indies Air Force at Archerfield". Oz at War. http://www.ozatwar.com/nei-afbne.htm. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
- Dunn, Peter. "01 Jan 1947 Dutch squadron left the RAAF". RAAF Air Power Development Centre. http://airpower.airforce.gov.au/HistoryRecord/HistoryRecordDetail.aspx?rid=645. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
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The original article can be found at No. 19 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF and the edit history here.