Island at the southern end of Indonesia. On March 9, 1942 Java surrenders, completing their
conquest of Netherlands East Indies.
Battle
of Sunda Strait
February 28 - 1 March, 1942. This battle consisted
of several of the bigger warships that had survived the Dutch
East Indies Campaign and Battle of the Java Sea that were then
trying
to escape the Java area.
Battle of the Java Sea
February 27-28, 1942. Dutch, British,
Australians and several other ships of the American Navy were involved
in this Naval battle. The Japanese, were the unquestioned victor.
The Allies lost almost their entire fleet.
 Jakarta (Batavia, Djogkarta, Jacarta, Djakarta, Jogkarta)
Lat
6° 10' 28S Long 106° 49' 46E Located on the northern coast of western Java. Modern capital of Indoesia.
Surabaja (Surabaya)
Lat 7° 15' 0S Long 112° 45'
0E
Located
on the north coast of Java. On February 28, 1942, the remnants
of the Allied force in Java flee to Surabaya, sheltering briefly
there before trying to escape
to Australia. After August 1943,
German U-Boat satalite station located here, main base at Penang.
| Surabaja Drome
(Surabaya) |
Airfield occupied by the Japanese.
JAAF Units based at Surabaja
7th Sentai (Ki-49s) - April 1943
|
Batavia (Djakarta)
Japanese "western" landing
forces attacked here on March 1, 1942. Eastern force landed
100 miles west of Soerabaja. After August 1943,
German U-Boat satalite station located here, main base at Penang.
| Bandoeng Drome |
Used by B-17's in the early months of 1942
|
| Djogjakarta Drome |
Located on the southern coast of Java, Coral
airstrip built by Dutch and Javanese with the help of US Army
Air Force 9th BS mechanics.
Djogjakarta
I (Jogjakarta)
One of the two strips at this airfield
Djogjakarta
II (Majoewo)
Second of the strips at this airfield
|
Singosari (Singasari)
Located near the northern coast of Java.
| Singosari Drome |
Location
Located near the northern coast of Java.
Wartime History
This field
was used by B-17's in the early months of 1942, and had two
4,000' runways well camouflaged from the air.
|
| Madioen Drome |
Located in central Java, two runways. Used
briefly by USAAF B-17's in the early months of 1942, this
field was destroyed by Dutch, prior to capture by Japanese
|
Kalijati (Kalidjati)
Located in Subang, West Java
with airfield of Kalijati. Located 10 miles from Soebang.
| Kalidjati Airfield (Kalijati,
Karichagi) |
Allied Defense
Built prior to the war by the Dutch. This airfield
was defended by a mixed force of Royal Dutch Netherlands
East Indies Army, 49 Battery of the 48 Light Antiaircraft
Regiment R A, a detachment of RAF acting as ground troops,
and a company of light tanks of the 3rd Kings Own Hussars,
RAC. During the night prior to the Japanese attack, Dutch
forces were withdrawn without notice from the airfield.
Occpuation by Japanese
On March 1,
1942 the remaining defenders
unexpectedly discovered Japanese armoured vehicles advancing
onto the edge of the field. They hastily assembled and
flung up a remarkable defense, one in which almost all
the defenders laid down their lives, 49 Bty losing over
50 of their men. The survivors were taken prisoner by the
Japanese. When later that week the Allied commanders met
with the Japanese in connection with the capitulation negotiations,
the Japanese commanders congratulated the British on the
courageous stand their men had made during the defense
of the Kalijati airfield.
Japanese Use
To the Japanese, it was known
as Karichagi,
a phonetic pronunciation of Kalidjati. The JAAF began
using the strip as a forward airfield, and afterwards
for attacks on Darwin.
Thank to Dick
Kesseling for additional information.
JAAF Units Based at Kalijati
7th Sentai (Ki-49s)
 Today
Again used by the Dutch after the war, the airfield is
still in use to this day. Aerial photos from 1950.
|
Yogyakarta
Lat
7° 47' 60S Long 110° 22' 0E Located 100 miles inland
from Jakarta. Also known as Djokjakarta, Jokjakarta, Djogjakarta, Djokja, Jogjakarta, Jogyakarta, Jokyakarta.
Indonesian
Air Force Museum
Located behind the main Yogyakarta
airport. All aircraft are under cover and beautifully maintained
in static condition. Their collection includes the following
planes related to WWII also include a A6M Zero, Ki-43 Oscar,
PBY Catalina, Grumman flying boat, P-51, AT-6, Vultee Valiant,
C-47, B-25, B-26
Tjilatjap (Chilachap,Cilacap)
Lat
7° 43' 60S Long 109° 0' 0E Located on the southern coast of Java.
U.S. freighter Sea Witch delivered 27 crated
USAAF P-40s to Tjilatjap.
Gerrit Harlaar adds:
"The P-40s that arrived with the Seawitch were shipped by rail to Bandoeng, where the ML-KNIL worked desperately round the clock to assemble them. Three were test-flown on March 7th but did not see any action. At least some of these P-40s were captured by the Japanese after Java's surrender on March 8th."
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