Militaire Luchtvaart van het Koninklijk Nederlands-Indisch Leger
The Dutch East-Indies Airforce
Brewster Buffalo B-339C
Fighter Plane
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WWII-KNIL-FP01
The KNIL received 71 B-339C’s, a land version of the US Naval F2A. The B-339 used by the ML-KNIL was lighter than the British and US version and was thus able to successfully engage the Japanese Oscars and Zeros. Reducing ammo and fuel by half also helped in dogfighting to an appreciable degree.
Curtiss Hawk 75
Fighter Plane
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WWII-KNIL-FP02
The Dutch received 24 Hawk 75A-7’s, mostly assigned to 1-VIG IV. Once weapons were standardised to 4x .303 MG’s they were used extensively to intercept bombers, attack railroads and participating in the extensive dogfights over Soerabaja until the wear and tear on the engines started to take its toll.
Curtiss-Wright CW-21B Demon
Fighter Plane
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WWII-KNIL-FP03
In 1940 the ML-KNIL ordered 24 Demons. They were assembled at Andir airfield, Java equipping 2-VLG IV. The lightweight construction gave rise to structural problems but in spite of these the Dutch pilots were able to chalk up a number of victories before being completely overwhelmed by the Japs.
Curtiss-Wright CW-22B Falcon
Reconnaissance Plane
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WWII-KNIL-RP01
The ML-KNIL operated more of these reconnaissance aircraft that anybody else with 36 on establishment. Armed with only two MG’s, one fixed forward and the other in the rear cockpit they were found performing reconnaissance duties when the Japanese invaded the Dutch East Indies.
Glenn-Martin 139WH-2
Medium Bomber
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WWII-KNIL-MB01
On top of 13 WH-1’s, the Dutch ordered a further 26 with more powerful engines and designated as WH-2 (Wright Holland v.2) were ordered for the ML-KNIL who conceived an all-bomber force. Nicknamed the Flying Whale because of its airframe it was a giant leap forwards in bomber design.
Glenn-Martin 166WH-3
Medium Bomber
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WWII-KNIL-MB02
A much-improved WH-3 was completed by Glenn Martin with a long canopy, improved engines again and underwing bomb racks increasing the payload from 1200lb’s to 2000lb’s over short missions. A further 39 were ordered seeing much use throughout the East Indies campaign.
Dornier Do-24K
Sea Plane
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WWII-KNIL-SP01
Due to German rearmaments the Do-24’s ordered by the ML-KNIL were manufactured and assembled in a Dornier subsidiary in Switzerland before purchasing a license agreement for a total production of 37 planes. The first flying boat dogfight occurred in Dec. 1941 with a victorious Do-24k.
Fokker T-IVa
Sea Plane
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WWII-KNIL-SP02
A total of 30 T.IV’s served with the Dutch air force during WWII. Serving from 1927 and designed for reconnaissance and torpedo bomber duties they proved to be solid and reliable, they flew from their base at Soerabaja on Java until they were all destroyed during the Japanese invasion of Java in 1942.
