Flying Fortress crew recounts a fatal battleground day
Lieut Col Frank Kurtz recalls the Philippines raid that decimated eight of ten crew as Old 99 was destroyed before takeoff. Survivors reach Australis then Java for complex missions over the Philippines and Macassar Strait where Major Robinson’s plane crashes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Frank Kurtz
Philippines
Australis
Java
Macassar Strait
Major Robinson
U. S
Java Skies Echo With Dutch and American Airmen War Stories
In Surabaya, an air field raid and Japanese bombardment test resolve as Lt. Colonel and Bud Sprague guide Dutch pilots and American P-40s through near misses. Ten newly arrived fighters from Australia join a tense sky battle against Zeros and a looming carrier threat.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Frank Kurtz
Australia
Kupang
Timor
Gnoro
Bud Sprague
Philippines
Buzz Wagner
Buzz
Java
Bud
Hooey
Gnoro Field
Sumatra
Malaya
Andir
Kendari
Samarinda
Java Sea
Borneo
Celebes
KNILM
Surabaya
Navy
PBY
Patrol Wing 10
Phy’s
Bali
Will Connolly
Timor Field
Connolly
Brisbane
Also Mentioned on This Page
Ueens Die Oy
UD W.N.U
Beardshear
Batavia
Singapore
Koninklijke Nedarlandsch-Indische Luchtvaart Maatschappij
Royal Dutch Indies Airplane Company
Malang
Baalerts
Moro Kambangem
Cavite
Old Baalerts
America
Major Straubel
Brett
Surabaya Hospital
Straubel
Halson