Description
Book Synopsis Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Dutch Naval Air Force--or Marine Luchtvaart Dienst (MLD)--played a significant but largely overlooked role in the opening months of the Pacific War. With 175 aircraft, the MLD greatly outnumbered the combined forces of its American and British allies. In three months of intense combat, the MLD lost 50 percent of its personnel and 80 percent of its aircraft, as the Netherlands'' colonial empire was stripped away.
This book details MLD operations during the Japanese invasion of Dutch East Indies, giving a comprehensive overview of organization, personnel, aircraft, equipment and tactics. For the first time in English, the failed evacuation of Java is examined.
Trade ReviewReviews of the first edition: "recommended reading...excellent"—
Stone & Stone Second World War Books; "very well written...run, don't walk to your nearest mail box to post your check to the publisher. You won't be disappointed"—
Small Airforces Observer; "Womack gives now for the first time in the English language an extensive and detailed account of this battle...excellent"—
Let Let Let Warplanes.Table of Contents
- Table of Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Preface
- 1. The Marine Luchtvaart Dienst (MLD): Equipment and Doctrine
- 2. Cold War Clashes: The Build-Up to War
- 3. December, Part I: The MLD Goes to War
- 4. December, Part II: The USN Evacuates the Philippines
- 5. January, Part I: The Japanese Move South
- 6. January, Part II: The Dutch Go on the Defensive
- 7. February, Part I: The Air Assault on Java
- 8. February, Part II: The Dutch Crumble
- 9. March: "This Is the End of a Courageous Fight, Admiral"
- 10. The MLD: A New Hope
- Appendix 1: MLD Squadrons in the Netherlands East Indies
- Appendix 2: MLD Dornier Do 24K Flying Boats in the Netherlands East Indies
- Appendix 3: MLD PBY-5 Catalina Flying Boats in the Netherlands East Indies
- Appendix 4: MLD Reserve Seaplanes in the Netherlands East Indies
- Appendix 5: Specifications for MLD Planes in the Netherlands East Indies
- Appendix 6: Specifications for Japanese Planes Operating in the Netherlands East Indies
- Appendix 7: Gouvernementsmarine Seaplane Tenders
- Appendix 8: MLD Bases in the Netherlands East Indies
- Chart 1: Breakdown of MLD Losses by Month
- Chart 2: Breakdown of Do 24 and PBY Losses by Month
- Chart 3: MLD Losses by Cause
- Chapter Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
