Running The Dutch Blockade
(In which Betsy engages in some not altogether official business.)
Cathay Pacific lent its aid to another conflict in the south by accepting a charter with Dr. Sukarno’s Indonesian Republic. This administration, established by the Japanese, had proclaimed Indonesian Independence at war’s end. Unfortunately, the Dutch would not recognise its aspirations and blockades were in force around the Republic’s centres of power.
Although BETSY was scheduled to handle the initial work of some three weeks, she would subsequently be replaced by Cathay’s C47 VR-HDJ. This latter plane was to be sold to the Indonesians and become the corner-stone of its anticipated International Airline. The Republican’s loosely referred to BETSY, VR-HDJ and another fateful C47 as Indonesian Republic One or IR-1.
Captain Vic Leslie
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Cathay’s C47 VR-HDJ that became a centre of confusion over ownership.
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Captain Vic Leslie, Captain Dick Hunt and “sparks” Mum Louttit and K.K. Wong would rotate as crew. A Cathay Pacific junior pilot, Roy Hazelhurst, volunteered as first officer for the whole of this dangerous venture.
Running the Dutch Blockade
* Dr. Ahmed Sukarno
R/O K.K. Wong tells these vivid memories of the operation.
`The charter was to run the Dutch air blockade mounted against Dr Ahmed Sukarno’s new Republic of Indonesia. Capt. Vic Leslie, F/O Roy Hazelhurst and I arrived at Singapore ready to go as soon as a few minor details were clarified. That evening we dined at Raffles Hotel without the slightest idea of what we were required to do. Cathay Pacific was being canny! The dining room was a bedlam of suspicion and I kept intercepting glowering stares that were quickly averted as I made eye contact. The room was a motley collection of shady characters - the dregs of several nations.
`Suddenly two evil-looking Indonesians oiled their way to our table and raised our worst fears by croaking that the room was full of spies. They told us where we were going the next day. Apparently everyone knew our objective but us! A little later the information imparted by these seedy characters was confirmed by an official Company memo.
`The charter was to run the Dutch air blockade mounted against Dr Ahmed Sukarno’s new Republic of Indonesia. Capt. Vic Leslie, F/O Roy Hazelhurst and I arrived at Singapore ready to go as soon as a few minor details were clarified. That evening we dined at Raffles Hotel without the slightest idea of what we were required to do. Cathay Pacific was being canny! The dining room was a bedlam of suspicion and I kept intercepting glowering stares that were quickly averted as I made eye contact. The room was a motley collection of shady characters - the dregs of several nations.
`Suddenly two evil-looking Indonesians oiled their way to our table and raised our worst fears by croaking that the room was full of spies. They told us where we were going the next day. Apparently everyone knew our objective but us! A little later the information imparted by these seedy characters was confirmed by an official Company memo.
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Left: The daily track from Djokjakarta to Bukittinghi. For hours nerves were at breaking point for the Dutch strongholds of Bandung and Batavia was just out of view. |
Batavia (now Djakarta)
Batavia (now Djakarta)
`First light found us winging our way towards the island of Java and Sukarno’s headquarters of Djokjakarta. From there we would fly to the island of Sumatra, and land at Bukittinghi, a summer hill resort on its western side.
`I didn’t know much about Djokjakarta yet recalled a few details about Bukittinghi. In this fateful city the revolutionary Sukarno collaborated with the Japanese occupation force through Colonel Fujiyama. The Colonel, Commandant of Sumatra, occupied the mansion of a wealthy Dutchman that perched atop Lembah Ngarai with a ribbon of river that meandering far below that emphasised those heights. The scenery was awesome!
`The three-week tour was strenuous for we made the return trip every day. With the oppressive heat and the nervous strain of routing close to the Dutch strongholds of Bandung and Batavia (now Djakarta), each trip left me thoroughly wrung out.
`I didn’t know much about Djokjakarta yet recalled a few details about Bukittinghi. In this fateful city the revolutionary Sukarno collaborated with the Japanese occupation force through Colonel Fujiyama. The Colonel, Commandant of Sumatra, occupied the mansion of a wealthy Dutchman that perched atop Lembah Ngarai with a ribbon of river that meandering far below that emphasised those heights. The scenery was awesome!
`The three-week tour was strenuous for we made the return trip every day. With the oppressive heat and the nervous strain of routing close to the Dutch strongholds of Bandung and Batavia (now Djakarta), each trip left me thoroughly wrung out.
Raffles Hotel Singapore
The famous Raffles Hotel,
1 Beach Road, Singapore.
`My responsibility was communications. I had to maintain a continuous listening watch of all the signals crackling through the airwaves. Yet, for obvious reasons, I kept strict radio silence. The atmosphere was never free of static yet it was vital I copy every signal sent by Changi, Singapore. I never learned how the Company managed to get the co-operation of that RAF base especially as the Dutch were not our enemies. Anyway, we had no interceptions and had not a single fright during the two tours I did. Yet, I felt let down. For the whole period of my absence nobody had bothered to tell my family anything of my movements – hardly the way to engender esprit de corps.
‘Dick Hunt skippered my second tour (VR-HDJ) and on this occasion the family coordination improved, Yet again I returned to Kai Tak all dirty and tired and to another disappointment. I was instructed to proceed straight on to Australia. All the other key-bashers had cunningly blended into the alleys of Wan Chai. Naturally, I objected. Yet they overcame my objections and after buying me fresh laundry away I went.’
‘Dick Hunt skippered my second tour (VR-HDJ) and on this occasion the family coordination improved, Yet again I returned to Kai Tak all dirty and tired and to another disappointment. I was instructed to proceed straight on to Australia. All the other key-bashers had cunningly blended into the alleys of Wan Chai. Naturally, I objected. Yet they overcame my objections and after buying me fresh laundry away I went.’
K.K. Wong’s qualifications were not recognised by the Hong Kong licensing authority. With Cathay Pacific’s main charter base to and from Australia they had to let the unlicensed Wong go. This licensing confusion between aeronautical countries exists to this day. Paradoxically, the very authority that had refused to support his qualifications quickly hired him. K.K. joined the Department of Civil Aviation in July 1947, as an Air Traffic Controller, and retired in October 1972.
Transfer of the aircraft, as part of the charter arrangements, did not eventuate. The Indonesian Republic could not find the funds. The Singapore Government impounded both plane and crew.
On 3rd May 1947, a concerned general manager Harry de Leuil convinced Max Oxford of the Hong Kong DCA of his company’s innocence. Through his department Oxford advised the Singapore authorities that the plane remained an asset of Cathay. That satisfied Singapore, who immediately released the detainees.
Transfer of the aircraft, as part of the charter arrangements, did not eventuate. The Indonesian Republic could not find the funds. The Singapore Government impounded both plane and crew.
On 3rd May 1947, a concerned general manager Harry de Leuil convinced Max Oxford of the Hong Kong DCA of his company’s innocence. Through his department Oxford advised the Singapore authorities that the plane remained an asset of Cathay. That satisfied Singapore, who immediately released the detainees.
EPILOGUE
Behind the scenes at Djokjakarta, Roy Hazelhurst had curried favour with the aviation aspirants of Sukarno’s regime. When the Singapore authorities seized VR-HDJ these planners released the purse strings. They bought a C47 from another source and employed Roy as her commander.
In addition to flying he was to organise their flag-carrying airline ready for the moment the world recognised the new regime.
About the same time a pilot named Cunningham was appointed to organise their anticipated Air Force.
Meanwhile, they would fly the Djokjakarta/Bukittinghi milk run as co-captains.
One fateful morning two Dutch Mustang fighters based at Kemajoran, the airfield of Batavia, thundered into the air. Within minutes they had intercepted the lumbering cargo plane, and without a qualm blasted it and its compliment into oblivion.
Behind the scenes at Djokjakarta, Roy Hazelhurst had curried favour with the aviation aspirants of Sukarno’s regime. When the Singapore authorities seized VR-HDJ these planners released the purse strings. They bought a C47 from another source and employed Roy as her commander.
In addition to flying he was to organise their flag-carrying airline ready for the moment the world recognised the new regime.
About the same time a pilot named Cunningham was appointed to organise their anticipated Air Force.
Meanwhile, they would fly the Djokjakarta/Bukittinghi milk run as co-captains.
One fateful morning two Dutch Mustang fighters based at Kemajoran, the airfield of Batavia, thundered into the air. Within minutes they had intercepted the lumbering cargo plane, and without a qualm blasted it and its compliment into oblivion.
The North American P-51D Mustang in South Korean Air Force livery. Performance Cruising speed 362 m.p.h., landing speed 100 m.p.h., range with maximum fuel 489 gallons 2,300 miles. The odds were against a lumbering C47! (Source: Aircraft Profile Vol.1)
* Dr. Ahmed Sukarno (1901-1970) was president of Indonesia from 1945 to 1967. He formed the Partai Nasional Indonesia (P.N.I.) in 1927 seeking independence from The Netherlands.
