JAKARTA - Abdul Halim Perdanakusuma is a militant revolutionary fighter. The involvement of the hero from Sampang, Madura in World War II until the revolutionary war for independence made him a reckoned air fighter.
Halim is not only good at flying planes, but also great at repairing damaged planes. Thanks to his militancy, Halim was nicknamed by the British air force as The Black Mascot (The Black Amulet).
Halim Perdanakusuma who was born November 18, 1922 is one of the lucky ones. As a native, Halim was able to get an education at a Dutch colonial government school. Launching the Indonesian Air Force website, all of this is because Halim was born in a wealthy family.
His father, Haji Abdulgani Wongsotaruno, was the Patih of Sampang. Even his mother, Raden Ayu Aisah is the daughter of a Gresik Wedana. As a result, the last of five children was able to get an education in a Dutch school smoothly.
Halim graduated from Hollandsch-Inlandsche School (HIS) in Semarang in 1934, Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs (MULO) in Surabaya in 1938, and continued his education for prospective Dutch employees, Middelbare Opleiding School voor Inlandsche Ambtenaren (MOSVIA) in Magelang.
Because of this, Halim has become accustomed to various languages such as Dutch, Madurese, and Javanese. Halim became familiar with the military world when he was still in Mosvia's uniform. At that time, World War II broke out in Europe. The Dutch colonial government then issued a mandatory military regulation for the people of the Indies.
Halim, who is currently sitting in the second grade of MOSVIA, did not escape his mandatory military service. Because of this, Halim's education in Mosvia did not continue. Instead, Halim attended the training of prospective Dutch Navy (AU) officers in Surabaya. Halim also managed to pass.
Later, he was assigned to the Dutch Colonial Naval Information Department. However, it didn't last long. The Dutch who lost to Japan in early 1942 became the estuary. When the Japanese invaded, Halim followed the Dutch who fled to Australia.
Shortly after staying in Australia, Halim was immediately sent to India. There he joined the British Military. On the recommendation of the British military, Halim was then sent to England. However, Halim started his new adventure not in the Navy, but in the Air Force (AU).
Join World War II
England then brought Halim to study in Canada. In Canada, Halim focused on studying navigation exercises with the Canadian Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Halim is serious about that career. As a result, Halim graduated as a navigation officer.
He then became a bomber crew belonging to the British Air Force, the Royal Air Force (RAF). Halim served in the bomber squadron on Lancaster and Liberator aircraft. Its main mission is to fight the fascist Nazi army led by Adolf Hitler.
"As a bomber crew, he participated in the bombing of German (military occupied areas) many times, and experienced fierce air battles," wrote M. Sunjata in the book Bakti TNI Air Force, 1946-2003 (2003).
Halim's involvement as a bomber crew was welcomed by the British military. Halim is also recorded as having carried out 44 missions. During that time, every Halim involved in a mission in Germany and France, Halim became a marker of the good fortune of all operating aircraft.
Therefore, the British Air Force nicknamed him The Black Mascot or the black talisman. A nickname that is also a sign that the nation has been brave to fight in the skies of Europe.
Help IndonesiaLaunching Kompas.com, Halim returned to Indonesia when World War II ended. In the atmosphere of independence, Halim joined the military of the People's Security Army (TKR). Halim was promoted to Air Commodore. Since then, Halim has often been assigned, even with his own initiative in organizing the Air Force of the Republic of Indonesia (AURI).
Halim made every effort so that the Indonesian Air Force was formed. Because of the great love for the Air Force, Halim helped repair damaged aircraft used by Japan. The planes were then used by the Air Force to extend the breath of resistance against the Dutch in the First Dutch Military Aggression.
In addition, Halim also served in all fields. Among other things, breaking through the Dutch air blockade, arranging air attack tactics on opposing areas, deploying troops outside Java, and organizing flight operations in the context of regional development.
One of the most well-known attacks led by Halim was the attack on three Dutch-controlled cities: Semarang, Salatiga, and Ambarawa. The attack catapulted the name of the Air Force in 1947. Because all this time the Dutch had always looked down on the capabilities of Indonesian pilots, especially their combat equipment.
However, this attack came at a price. The Dutch who began to attack blindly made three pioneers and the pioneers of the Air Force fall. They were Air Commodore Adisucipto, Air Commodore Abdulrahman Saleh, and air officer radio interpreter Adioemarmo Wiryokusumo. The bad luck even spread to Halim.
The plane he was traveling on had an accident due to bad weather in Labuhan Bilik Besar, on Lumut Beach, Malaysia. Halim died young. At that time he was only 25 years old. For his services and fighting spirit, the young man from Madura was awarded the title of National Hero in 1975.
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