Today's History, July 29, 1947: Indonesian Dakota Aircraft Shot Down By The Dutch In Military Aggression I

The wreckage of the Dakota VT-CLA transport plane, which was chartered by Indonesia to transport medicines, after being shot down by the Dutch military in Yogyakarta, has become today's history, July 29, 1947. (Dispen TNI AU)

JAKARTA – Today's history, 75 years ago, on 29 July 1947, a C-47 Dakota VT-CLA transport plane was shot down by a 'Kittyhawk' plane in Yogyakarta. The incident killed the majority of the passengers. Among others, Air Captain Adisumarmo Wiryokusumo, Air Commodore Abdulrachman Saleh, and Air Commodore Agustinus Adisucipto.

Previously, the plane was carrying drugs on its way home from Singapore. The shooting was also believed to be a form of Dutch atrocities in Military Aggression I.

The Dutch were never willing to let Indonesia go. The defeat of Japan by the allies was actually used by the Dutch to re-colonize Indonesia. The narrative was shown by the Dutch by trying to re-enter Indonesia. They are scheming. Spreading terror is the ultimate method.

The Dutch also used the flag of the Dutch East Indies civil government NICA to launch a plan. Moreover, the Netherlands piggybacked on the allies for that agenda. Slowly the Dutch military came to surround Jakarta. The goal is clear. The Dutch want to make the courage of the freedom fighters shrink.

A replica of the Dakota VT-CLA transport aircraft. (Wikimedia Commons)

In fact, the arrival of the Dutch again did not make the courage of the freedom fighters to shrink. Despite being outnumbered by weapons, the freedom fighters continued to fight. This courage forms a narrative that Indonesia will never give up on defending its independence.

The Netherlands was furious. Large-scale military operations were carried out. The First Military Aggression was carried out on July 21, 1947, until August 5, 1947. Therefore, the Dutch troops attacked the freedom fighters indiscriminately in various areas. The Dutch action also provoked criticism in various countries of the world.

"In general, the Dutch rationalized their decision to use military force on the grounds that the Republican government did not adequately control the extremist elements scattered within the territory of the Republic and thus hindered the implementation of the Linggarjati Agreement that had been made."

“Although the Republic has not been able to thoroughly oversee all areas of non-permanent armed organizations, surveillance has been increased. When the Netherlands launched its aggression, the scope and effectiveness of the Republic's control over its own territory were much greater than before," said George McTurnan Kahin in the book Nasionalisme & Revolusi Indonesia (2013).

Military Aggression I brought deep sorrow. Many of the freedom fighters died. All because of blind Dutch brutality. One of the brutalities that is recorded in memory is that Dutch troops on a 'Kittyhawk' plane shot down a Dakota VT-CLA transport plane in Yogyakarta on July 29, 1947.

Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk, a type of fighter aircraft used by the Dutch military to shoot down the Indonesian Dakota VT-CLA in Military Aggression I on July 29, 1947. (Royal Australian Air Force Museum)

In fact, the purpose of the plane was to bring medical aid from the Malay Red Cross. As a result, all the passengers died. Among others, Air Captain Adisumarmo Wiryokusumo, Air Commodore Abdulrachman Saleh, and Air Commodore Agustinus Adisucipto.

“Finally, on July 29, 1948, the Dakota transport plane belonging to Kalinga Airlines which broke through the blockade, was shot down by Dutch hunting planes, just moments before reaching Maguwo. The Dakota plane which was chartered by the Republican government was actually on a humanitarian mission, bringing medical aid from the Malayan Red Cross to the Republican Red Cross.”

“However, the pilots and the Dutch government never felt guilty. That they shot down a civilian airplane which prominently had the Red Cross emblem on it,” said Julius Pour in his book Doorstoot Naar Djokja (2009).

The shooting of the Republic of Indonesia aircraft for a humanitarian mission, Dakota VT-CLA, by the Dutch became a note in today's histoy, July 29, 1947.