Warbirds in Indonesia

Versatile · **Joined:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 1:35 pm **Posts:** 636

I doubt i will ever get there so maybe someone else can.

About three hrs away from Jakarta is a town (by train). I don't know the name. My sister was there in the middle 80's. They built a new airport right next to the old one. Sister told me that there were a lot of old airplanes with stuff just growing up around them. She tried to send someone back to get photos but could never get anyone savvy enough to go do it. Are they Warbirds? I don't know. Good luck

george · **Joined:** Wed Dec 15, 2004 10:20 pm **Posts:** 435

These could be the planes spotted by a pilot several years ago at a jungle airbase in the same vicinity, which he identified as looking like B-25s. They may be twin-engined Japanese aircraft, though, due to the location.

Versatile · **Joined:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 1:35 pm **Posts:** 636

I think the Dutch had quite a few B-25s down that way.

george · **Joined:** Wed Dec 15, 2004 10:20 pm **Posts:** 435

In 2001, yet another graveyard was seen from the air in Indonesia. This link is from the archives, by one of our greatest WIX posters, Tony.

http://archive.warbirdinformationexchan ... t3906.html

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 7:30 pm

Wow. Any speculation about what might be in these locations? Has anyone actually been to them in the last several years?

kevin

george · **Joined:** Wed Dec 15, 2004 10:20 pm **Posts:** 435

Kevin - Unfortunately, I haven't read anything about anyone finding these places from the ground. I'm not aware of any WIXers posting from Java. Two pilots, one a commercial and the other a private, have each reported seeing WWII aircraft graveyards in Indonesian , but not specific locations. If my memory serves me correctly, I think the commercial pilot spotted rows of Mitchells on a jungle airfield in the '80s.

Randy Haskin · **Posted:** Wed Mar 21, 2007 1:27 am

WIX used to have two regular contributors from over in that part of the world, but I haven't heard from either of them in a year or so.

mennie · **Posted:** Wed Mar 21, 2007 1:35 am

I have this very tiny map of the operational area of the Indonesia Mitchells 1943-1950, I took a quick photo of it:

It is from the book "De Nederlandse Mitchells" by G.J. Tornij ISBN 90-9013058-6
There are also more detailed maps of Tjililitan and Talang Betoetoe in the book.
Can you read dutch Versatile? I'll look for some more info.

Versatile · **Joined:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 1:35 pm **Posts:** 636

We went Dutch once at a Holiday Inn Expess but i cannot read Dutch.
I do have an old book from the early 1900's that has maps of islands with the names before they were renamed after WWII. Anyone needing help can contact me. I will be glad to help.

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 3236

I am told that the field is probably in Bandung, where some Australian built Sabres were stored some 10-15 years ago.

My friend, who lives in Djakarta (sp?) tells me that he would not risk going to the military side of that airport.

Saludos,

Tulio

Randy Haskin · **Posted:** Thu Mar 22, 2007 3:20 am

Bandung was the AURI Air Materiel Command Headquarters in the late 60s/early 70s. This is where the Peace Pony I modifications to the AURI Mustang fleet were performed in 1971, and supposedly there was a Mustang boneyard there (there's a photo of it in my Warbird Digest article on the subject from last year).

Versatile · **Joined:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 1:35 pm **Posts:** 636

Randy. How do we access the article?

Randy Haskin · **Posted:** Thu Mar 22, 2007 8:39 pm

It is in Warbird Digest #9 -- the article is titled "Peace Ponies", and is (predictably) about the Peace Pony I and Peace Pony II US Military Assistance Programs in the early 1970s.

Marc · **Joined:** Fri Mar 23, 2007 2:22 am **Posts:** 28

Hi all,

Here are my best bets on both locations:

The first one could be Bandung, as it is around three hours by train from Jakarta. It's at the same time the civilian airport, a military base/depot and it houses the former IPTN (PT DI) aircraft manufacturing company.
As Tulio already mentioned, the wrecks of Avon sabres were stored there years ago (some might still be there...), possibly with some Migs. I think some of the Mustang airframes were purchased by S. Johnson in 1978 or 1979.

The second location, which is supposed to be between Jakarta and Bali, could be Malang AFB in East Java, an hour or so away from Surabaya, because the last Indonesian Mitchells and some Albatrosses were based there. However, it's not "in the jungle", Malang is a medium-size city.

Hope this helps,
Cheers!
Marc

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 3236

Good to see you here, Marc!

Now I can say that it was you who provided me with the information.

Saludos,

Tulio

PS: Check your PM's here.

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