There is an airport in East Jakarta, Indonesia that serves hundreds of domestic and state flights on daily basis: Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport. For many travelers in Southeast Asia, this airport could also be known simply as one in every of Indonesia’s air hubs.
However, the name on the airport entrance belongs to a Southeast Asian soldier whose profession was directly linked to the history of World War II in Europe.
His name is Abdul Halim Perdanakusuma and he’s an Air Force officer born on November 18, 1922 in Sampang, Madura. In military history, Halim is often known as the one Indonesian to take direct part within the bombings of Nazi Germany’s headquarters in Europe – a indisputable fact that places this Southeast Asian officer at the middle of one in every of the key global conflicts of the twentieth century.
Indonesian aviator within the air war in the course of the Nazi era
Halim’s military journey began when he joined the Royal Dutch Navy of the Netherlands East Indies. From there, he had the chance to undergo flight training with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and the Royal Air Force (RAF) within the United Kingdom. He was only 22 years old then.
In Western military institutions, Halim was trained as a navigator of heavy bombers, including: on Lancaster and B-24 Liberator aircraft – two forms of aircraft that played a key role in Allied air strategy.
His knowledge of air navigation led to him being assigned many strategic missions. He eventually rose to the rank of wing commander, an achievement rarely granted to soldiers from colonial territories on the time.
According to the book Indonesian Air Force Service 1946–2003Halim carried out roughly 42–44 bombings in territories controlled by Nazi Germany and France.
The report recorded: “Every time he and his squadron took part in raids on cities in Germany and France, your complete crew returned safely,” M. Sunjata wrote within the book.
This recording shaped his unique popularity in military circles. Whenever Halim took part in an air mission, your complete aircraft crew returned unscathed. For this reason, the Queen of England gave him the nickname “The Black Mascot”.
Return to Southeast Asia and die within the line of duty
After World War II, Halim decided to return to Indonesia, which at the moment was fighting to defend its newly declared independence. Although he served within the Dutch Army (MLD) for a short while, he decided to affix the military People’s Air Safety Agencythe forerunner of what later became the Indonesian Air Force.
In 1947, Indonesia was under a Dutch blockade and faced serious shortages of weapons and medical supplies. Halim was assigned to conduct a secret mission to Thailand (then Siam) to acquire military equipment and transport aircraft.
Together with officer Iswahyudi, he flew the Avro Anson RI-003. The mission was successful and the plane returned with needed supplies for Indonesia.
However, on the way in which back, the plane crashed within the Lumut area of Malaysia on December 14, 1947 on account of difficult weather conditions. Halim and Iswahyudi died within the line of duty. Halim’s stays were initially buried in Malaysia after which reburied in 1975 on the Kalibata Heroes’ Cemetery in Jakarta.
In recognition of his service and sacrifice, the federal government modified the name of Tjililitan Airport to Halim Perdanakusuma Airport. The name now survives as a part of an airport used each day by the general public, serving as an enduring reminder of the courage of an Indonesian air force officer whose historic legacy once stretched to the skies over Europe.
