Shadows in the Jungle: The Dutch Air War in Sarawak

By Terry Justin Dit

In the depths of the Baram region’s jungles lie the remains of two Dutch aircraft, downed by Japanese navy fighters during World War II. The role of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force (Militaire Luchtvaart van het Koninklijk Nederlands-Indisch Leger, ML-KNIL) and the Royal Netherlands Navy Air Service’s naval aviation branch (Marine Luchtvaart Dienst, MLD) in defending Sarawak during this conflict is largely forgotten, or perhaps unknown to many.

This is the story of these two military forces’ desperate, albeit ultimately futile, efforts to repel the Japanese invasion. It is a tale marked by courage, tragedy, and the remarkable survival of one man who escaped Japanese captivity after the downing of his aircraft, the ‘Baram Bomber,’ serial number M-551.

The Japanese invasion of Sarawak began at dawn on December 16, 1941, with troops landing at Miri, Lutong, and Seria. In response, Dornier Do-24 seaplanes X-32, X-33, and X-34 from GVT.7, launched from Tarakan on December 17 with orders to bomb oil wells that had not been destroyed prior to the Japanese landings.

A Dutch Dornier Do-24K-1 maritime patrol and search and rescue (SAR) flying boat similar to the ones from GVT.7 based in Tarakan

The Dornier Do-24, a German-designed three-engine flying boat from the 1930s, was built by Dornier Flugzeugwerke for maritime patrol and search-and-rescue missions. The MLD organised these flying boats into groups of three identical planes, referred to as GVTs (Groep VliegTuigen).

Nine miles north of Miri, the Do-24s spotted a small flotilla of three ships off Lutong. While X-34 targeted the oil fields, X-32 and X-33 attacked the ships at five-minute intervals. X-32 struck first, focusing on what appeared to be a cruiser but was actually the destroyer Shinonome of the 12th Destroyer Division. Two direct hits were recorded, with one setting off a catastrophic explosion in the ship’s aft turrets, which sank within five minutes, taking all 221 officers and men on board.

X-33 followed five minutes later, aiming at the Hiyoshi Maru, but its bombs missed by around 65 yards. After regrouping, X-32 and X-33 returned to Tarakan, but X-34 failed to respond to repeated radio calls and was presumed lost.

It took weeks for the Dutch to learn X-34’s fate. During its return from the Miri attack, X-34 was shot down by a Japanese F1M2 ‘Pete’ seaplane. Three crewmen survived the crash; two others lost their lives.

Glenn Martin B-10 Model 166 WH3 serial number M-541 similar to the M-551

Meanwhile, Glen Martin B-10 bombers from 2-VGLI, based at the covert Singkawang II airfield, had launched an earlier attack on the Japanese fleet but missed their targets.

On December 18, ML-KNIL launched another strike at Miri, deploying three Glen Martin B-10s from Singkawang II. Due to poor weather, the attack did not produce any significant damage. During this mission, a B-10 with serial number M-571 was downed by a Japanese F1M2 ‘Pete’ seaplane. The pilot of M-571 survived and, with the help of local villagers, later joined the three surviving crewmen from X-34.

The Dutch attacks intensified Japanese efforts to locate the source of these raids. On December 22, Japanese planes, launched from Miri airfield, discovered and bombed Singkawang II. A follow-up attack on December 23 forced Dutch forces to abandon Singkawang II by December 27, which was soon captured by the Japanese.

The fall of Singkawang II did not halt Dutch attempts to disrupt Japanese forces in Miri. On December 28, three B-10s from Samarinda II, another secret airfield, struck Miri again, successfully sinking a Japanese transport ship, though they were quickly intercepted by Japanese fighters.

One of the B-10s, serial number M-551, was shot down, but Corporal Zadrach Rambing, the telegrapher-air gunner, managed to parachute to safety. By January 1942, the remaining Dutch squadrons had retreated to Sumatra, and Borneo fell entirely under Japanese control.

What became of the Dutch aircrews mentioned in this account? The story of Corporal Zadrach Rambing is particularly remarkable, as he managed to parachute to safety. Found by local Dayak villagers, he embarked on an arduous journey by foot and boat to Java, where he debriefed Dutch authorities on the fate of his crewmates. In his report, he mistakenly cited his B-10’s serial number as ‘M-5115.’ Perhaps there are still elders in the Baram region who remember aiding a downed parachutist during the war.

For others, a tragic fate awaited. The sole survivor of B-10 M-571, Pilot Observer Lt. J.H. Groeneveld, and the surviving crew members of X-34-A – Baarschers, K.A. Reen, and J.M. Halm – were among 41 individuals, both civilians and military, brutally executed by Japanese Marines at Long Nawang on August 26 and September 23, 1942. The perpetrators of these atrocities were never brought to justice.

My interest in the story of M-551 began in the mid-1980s, sparked by news reports of a ‘Japanese’ aircraft discovered by timber workers in Marudi’s jungles. As an aviation enthusiast, this discovery captured my attention, but with no Internet in those days, updates were scarce. It was not until around 15 years ago, during research, that I encountered an article about M-551 in a World War II magazine. Following correspondence with the Dutch Ministry of Defence, I learned more about M-551, Zadrach’s escape, and the recovery of parts of the aircraft by George Sutherland between 1985 and 1987.

Parts of the wreckage were eventually taken to the Netherlands, where they were displayed as part of the Dutch Air Force’s 75th anniversary at the Military Air Force Museum in Soesterberg in 1988. I continue to believe that an appreciation for history is essential; it contextualises current events and deepens our understanding of contemporary issues. Studying the past allows us to understand societal evolution, past mistakes, and valuable lessons that can shape a better future.

As we reflect on the events of World War II, it is vital to honour the sacrifices of those who fought for freedom. The stories of the Dutch aircrews who served in Borneo, and the tragic fate many of them faced, must be remembered. By keeping their memories alive, we honour their contributions and ensure that their legacy endures.

Terry Justin Dit is a lecturer in the Department of Media and Communications, Faculty of Humanities and Health Sciences at Curtin Malaysia, where he teaches Borneo Studies and Media. He can be reached via email at terry.j@curtin.edu.my.