Air Force celebrates memorial service day<\/p>\n
By Sonaji Wibowo<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In the wee hours of the morning exactly 50 years
\nago, three airplanes stood in a remote corner of Maguwo Airport
\n(now Adi Sucipto) in Yogyakarta. One was a Guntei piloted by
\nMuljono and two were Chureng flown by Sutardjo Sigit and
\nSuharnoko Harbani.<\/p>\n
The cadets were preparing for an important mission. Their
\ntarget was the Dutch occupied zone, and soon Semarang, Salatiga
\nand Ambarawa, all in Central Java, were under attack. The Dutch
\nwere surprised by the action, having believed the Indonesian air
\nforce was paralyzed. But it showed its force by wreaking havoc in
\nstrategic Dutch locations.<\/p>\n
That same afternoon, a Dakota VT-CLA cargo airplane left
\nSingapore Airport. Owned by India, it was hired by the Indonesian
\ngovernment for the humanitarian task of transporting medicines
\ndonated by the Malaysian Red Cross.<\/p>\n
When the Dakota was about to land in Yogyakarta, two Dutch
\nKitty Hawk planes emerged suddenly and swooped down in attack.
\nTragically, the unarmed Dakota was an easy target and crashed at
\nNgoto village south of Yogyakarta. Three pioneers of the
\nIndonesian Air Force, Air Force Vice Commodore Abdurrahman Saleh,
\nVice Commodore Adi Sucipto and Deputy Officer Adi Sumarmo, were
\nkilled.<\/p>\n
Those two heroic events are commemorated annually as memorial
\nservice day by the Air Force of the Republic of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
They were essentially not coincidences, but part of the chain
\nof happenings in the struggle for realization of the ideals of
\nthe August 17, 1945 independence proclamation. From the start,
\nthe national fighters, including Air Force pioneers, were
\nconscious of the heavy task of carrying out the nation's ideals.
\nIt was a matter of utmost gravity, requiring the sacrifice of
\nwealth, and even lives.<\/p>\n
The events reflect the importance of the Air Force in
\nsupporting the nation's struggle. If Indonesia had possessed a
\npowerful air force 50 years ago, the Dakota tragedy would not
\nhave happened. Psychologically, the event boosted the fighting
\nspirit of the nation, and politically it opened the eyes of the
\nworld to the fact the Indonesian Armed Forces could not be looked
\ndown upon. The nation's fighters did not want a recurrence of the
\nDakota slaughter.<\/p>\n
Development of the Air Force is one of the priorities of the
\ngovernment at present, especially in the frame of warding off
\nthreats, disturbances, obstacles and challenges from both inside
\nand outside the country.<\/p>\n
Geographically, the most likely threat to Indonesian territory
\nwould come from the sea and air. Armed Forces capable of covering
\nIndonesia's entire territory swiftly and effectively, in defense
\nof strategic areas, are essential. The Air Force, with its
\ncruising and maneuvering capabilities supported by a rapid
\ncommunications system, is one of the responses to this need.<\/p>\n
The Air Force currently has several fighter planes, such as
\nthe OV-10 Bronco, the A-4 Sky Hawk, the F-5 Tiger II, the F-16
\nFighting Falcon and the Hawk 100\/200.<\/p>\n
In keeping with rapid aircraft technology development,
\nespecially of fighter planes, Indonesia has continuously
\nendeavored to develop the strength of its Air Force through
\ntraining of its personnel.<\/p>\n
The Air Force has sent its officers for training in Europe and
\nAustralia. The choice of European countries is due to planned
\ndevelopment, which in the near future is expected to be
\ninfluenced by European aircraft technology. Britain is the
\nsupplier of Hawk 100\/200, France the Mirage-2000 and Russia the
\nSukhoi-27 and MiG-29, while Australia is the place for Indonesia
\nto send its officers for military education and training
\nprograms.<\/p>\n
The writer is an officer of the Air Force Information Service,
\nJakarta<\/p>",
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