18SQ, 120SQ EN PEP
Coert Munlc
HERDENKINGSPLAQUETTE VOOR
Op 22 februari 2003 werd op de RAAF Memorial
Grove een herdenkingsplaquette onthuld
waarmee de NederlandsAustralische
luchtmachteenheden worden geëerd die tijdens
WWII op de Fairbairn Airbase bij Canberra
waren gestationeerd. De ceremonie was
onderdeel van een grotere plechtigheid waarbij
de RAAF Memorial Grove opnieuw werd
ingewijd. Circa 280 personen woonden de
plechtigheid bij, waaronder de Australische
Chief of Airforce, Air Marshall Angus Houston.
De Nederlandse ambassadeur Dr Hans Sondaal
was een van de twee sprekers bij de plechtigheid.
De Nederlandse inbreng in de RAAF wordt
daarmee nog eens onderstreept. De ambassade
bood de aanwezigen na afloop van de ceremonie
een hapje en een drankje aan, wat zeer werd
gewaardeerd. Onderstaand is de toespraak van
Dr Sondaal weergegeven.
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Recently I took my daughters to see the second film in the
Lord of the Rings trilogy. Those present here may not be avid
film goers, but they will be aware of Tolkien's brilliant book
on which these films are based. The story is the oldest story
in the world; the battle between the forces of good and the
forces of evil. Even though the third and final film of this
story has not come out yet, I am sure of its ending; the forces
of good will prevail, after a long and arduous struggle. It is
a very powerful film and perhaps the most impressive part
is the all-pervasive threat of the Evil Power we never get to
see, Sauron of Mordor.
Whenever I became aware of these oppressive feelings during
the show, my thoughts went back to the Second World War.
In those days also the world was under the grave threat of
malevolent forces intent on the destruction of freedom, the
NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES ARMY - RAAF FLYING UNITS
De herdenkingsplaquette op RAAF Memorial Grove.
obliteration of faith and hope, and the elimination of all
those considered unfit to live. Exactly like in Tolkien's book
the world was aware of unseen sinister forces intent on the
domination of the world. The fight against those powers was
a clear struggle between the forces of good and the forces of
evil. Tolkien wrote the book in the nineteen thirties, clearly
drawing on his experiences in the First World War. Today,
however, it is the force of its prediction of events to come that
impresses us most, rather than its reflection of the horrors of
trench warfare in Flanders.
The Second World War still has a hold over us, even those of
us born after the war. This hold, I believe, can be attributed
to the clear and unambiguous nature of that confict. Those
at the forefront of that struggle - the soldiers, sailors and air
men, and statesmen like Churchill, Roosevelt and Curtin, are
true and undisputed heroes. Truly, the Second World War
was the pivotal event of the last century.
Today we have come together to honour a particular group
of men who took part in that struggle - those who served in
9
During WWII Dutch servicemen from Indonesia (then the Netherlands East Indies) form
three flying units in Canberra - No. 18 Squadron with B25 Mitchell bombers, No. 12
Squadron with P40 Kittyhawk fighters, and a support unit (the Personnel and Equipme
Pool) which flew both aircraft types at Fairbairn until war's end. Operating as Dutch unl
within the RAAF, they flew Dutch owned aircraft, were commanded by Dutch officers, we
part-manned by RAAF personnel, and under RAAF operational command.
During 1943 - 45, 18 Squadron Mitchells flew from Batchelor and other northern airflel
on reconnaissance, bombing and anti-shipping missions in and around the Timor ar
Arafura Seas. No. 120 Squadron operated mostly from Merauke in West New Guinea, flyii
air defence, anti-shipping and ground attack missions. Their efforts helped establish vit
allied air and maritime superiority in the region, but the cost was high, with combim
losses of 118 men, both Dutch and Australian, by war's end.
LEST WE FORGET
ROYAL NETHERLANDS EMBASSY
FEBRUARI 3003
NEW
UINEA
Arafura Sea
Timor Sea
CAIRNS
This plaque commemorates the Dutch flying
units established In Canberra during WWII.
No. 18 (N.E.I.) Squadron, RAAF,
formed on 4 April 1942
No. 120 (N.E.I.) Squadron, RAAF,
formed on 1 September 1943
Personnel and Equipment Pool (PEP),
Formed on 1 September 1943
It recognises the commitment of all Dutch and Australian personnel who served in thl
units and honours those among them who died in the Pacific War.
