Dutch East Indies
When a formation of 35 Japanese aircraft attacked Semplak on 19 February, eight Buffaloes (including Deibel) engaged them. Deibel managed to fire twice at an A6M Zero, but was wounded by a 20 mm shell ten minutes later, forcing him to land. 11 Japanese planes were shot down, with the Dutch losing four Buffaloes and two pilots. The raid destroyed three RAF Lockheed Hudsons and two KNILM Sikorskys.
On 7 March, Japanese troops had reached the plateau of Lembang. Deibel, along with Lieutenant Gerard Bruggink and Officer Cadet Jan Scheffer, volunteered to join Captain Jacob van Helsdingen on his mission using the last three working Buffalo aircraft. The four pilots took off from Andir airfield and proceeded to Lembang to provide air support for ground troops fighting in the city.
Helsdingen's squadron travelled 200 metres when they encountered a Japanese aircraft, which Deibel attacked before it escaped. Some time later, three Japanese A6M Zeros appeared. Deibel fired at two of them which turned away, but was hit in the oil tank by the third Zero and had to break off from combat. His wingman, Scheffer, escorted him back to Andir airfield under a tropical rainstorm, shooting down a Nakajima Ki-43 fighter. One of Deibel's landing gears, damaged during the fight, broke off from his aircraft, causing it to crash in a ground loop. He survived without sustaining any injuries. Helsdingen and Bruggink remained above Lembang, but were now dogfighting six Zeroes. Helsdingen was soon shot down, but Bruggink managed to escape into the clouds before returning to Andir airfield. Dutch forces in Lembang surrendered the next day. All four Dutch pilots were awarded the Military William Order on July 14, 1948.
Read more about this topic: August Deibel, World War II
Other articles related to "dutch east, dutch, dutch east indies, indies":
... Since 1619 Dutch East India Company has firmly established their base in Batavia, and since 18th century the inland mountainous region of Priangan has ... After Dutch intervention in 1807, Dutch East Indies government has exercised further into the internal affairs of Cirebon states ... four keratons finally held no real political power, held as protectorate under Dutch East Indies colonial government ...
... He was born in Probolinggo, Dutch East Indies and died in Surabaya, Dutch East Indies ... The Dutch national team visited Switzerland a year later, and Adam was invited to play for his native Netherlands ... between football clubs Thor and Anasher in Surabaya in the Dutch East Indies ...
... semi-sovereign fief Zuid-polsbroek, lord of the manor of Sloten and Amstelveen, President of the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) illustrious Patron and Art collector ... semi-sovereign fiefs of Zuid-polsbroek, Purmerland and Ilpendam, President or Chairman of the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC), friend, advicor to his cousin Johan de Witt ... and Ilpendam, one of the Chairmans of the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) and the Dutch West Indies Company (WIC) ...
30 May 1945 Tarakan, Dutch East Indies Tommy Corrigan 107 Fitzroy Sergeant, 1 Recruit Centre Melbourne, R.A.A.F. 20 February 1942 Ambon, Dutch East Indies Clyde Helmer 73 Geelong Melbourne Warrant Officer Class II, Bomb Disposal Mobile Unit, Royal Australian Engineers 24 April 1945. 6 June 1945 Ambon Dutch East Indies Gordon Sawley 7 South Melbourne Flying Officer R.A.A.F ...
... In The Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century, the Netherlands urbanised considerably, mostly financed by corporate revenue from the Asian trade monopolies ... on merchants' income, which reduced feudalism and considerably changed the dynamics of Dutch society ... When the Dutch Royal Family was established in 1815, much of its wealth came from Colonial trade ...
Famous quotes containing the words indies, dutch and/or east:
“It is my duty to prevent, through the independence of Cuba, the U.S.A. from spreading over the West Indies and falling with added weight upon other lands of Our America. All I have done up to now and shall do hereafter is to that end.... I know the Monster, because I have lived in its lair—and my weapon is only the slingshot of David.”
—José Martí (1853–1895)
“Too nice is neighbor’s fool.”
—Common Dutch saying, trans by Johanna C. Prins.
“Once did She hold the gorgeous East in fee;
And was the safeguard of the West:”
—William Wordsworth (1770–1850)