Claringbould, Michael J. Pacific Profiles. Volume 17 Allied Air Power: Netherlands East Indies 1940-1942

The Pacific Profiles series presents the most accurate profiles of aircraft from the Second World War that were deployed in the Pacific War. This 17th volume covers Allied aircraft types that saw action in the short but intense Dutch East Indies (NEI) campaign from December 1941 to March 1942. Due to some additional background information on Dutch types, this volume covers the entire period from 1940 to 1942. A diverse and eclectic fleet of Allied aircraft gathered in the Dutch East Indies. Many of these were Dutch aircraft serving with the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force (ML-KNIL) and the Dutch Naval Aviation Service (MLD). These included Glenn Martin Model 139 and Hawk 75 bombers, CW-21 and Brewster Buffalo aircraft, and seaplanes from Fokker and Dornier. Several squadrons of RAF and RAAF fighter aircraft and bombers withdrew from Singapore to continue the fight from Sumatra and later Java. These were supplemented by direct air reinforcements. These aircraft consisted mainly of Hudsons, Blenheims and Hurricanes, but there were also lesser-known types such as Albacores and Vildebeests. In addition, American B-17C/D bombers and PBY flying boats withdrew from the Philippines to the NEI. These were reinforced by modern B-17E, LB-30 and PBY aircraft from the United States, which were flown in via long African and Pacific routes. Finally, a small number of A-24 dive bombers and P-40E fighters from Australia also joined the fighting on Java. The author is known worldwide for his expertise on the air war in the Pacific. Never before have so many different types been presented in such detail, complete with a brief history of their use.