The Dutch Naval Air Force Against Japan: The Defense of the Netherlands East Indies, 1941-1942 - Softcover

Womack, Tom

Softcover

ISBN 10: 078642365X ISBN 13: 9780786423651

Publisher: McFarland, 2006

Synopsis

December 7, 1941, opened up a new theater of war in the Pacific and a new threat for what was then the Netherlands East Indies. The Dutch, with their Naval Air Force or Marine Luchtvaart Dienst (MLD), made a significant--and often overlooked--contribution to the Allied effort. With their 175 aircraft, the MLD in Southeast Asia outnumbered American and British naval air reconnaissance forces combined. Three months of intense fighting left the Dutch bereft of thousands of naval personnel and over 80 percent of their aircraft.

This work details the actions of MLD during the Japanese invasion of the Netherlands East Indies. Beginning with a look at the origins of the MLD, it provides an overview of the force, including an analysis of its aircraft, equipment, personnel and training. Operations of the United States Navy and Royal Air Force seaplane units are included in order to provide a thorough history of the campaign. Final chapters cover the MLD's ill-fated attempts at evacuation of the island battleground and offer an overall review of the MLD's performance. Appendices contain such information as Allied and Japanese aircraft specifications, squadron tables of organization, and MLD bases and operational areas. The result is by far the most comprehensive English-language account of the Allied naval air war in the Netherlands East Indies.

About this title

About the Author

Tom Womack is the director of public relations for a leading global provider of community management services and has written more than 50 magazine articles. He lives in Dallas, Texas.

Edition details

• Publisher: McFarland
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 078642365X
• ISBN 13: 9780786423651
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 217