On the 16th of Febuary 1942 the Japanese launched an airborne attack on the city of Palembang on the island of Sumatra.

On the 20th Febuary 1942 the Japanese launched another airborne attack on the town of Kupang on the island of Timor.

I'm very intrested in these two Parachute landings that the Japanese made and I thought I would ask if anyone knew what Divisions took part in the Drops and if any veterans are alive today.

Any help would be great

__________________
And when he gets to heaven
To Saint Peter he will tell
One more soldier reporting sir
I have served my time in hell

Now this is interesting since I did not know the Japanese had any airborne troops.

__________________

American by birth, TEXAN by the grace of GOD!

Jet,

some sites for your info request:

http://www.cofepow.org.uk/pages/asia_java2.htm

http://www.usaaftroopcarrier.com/Air...Chronology.htm

1942, 11 January-23 February: The first airborne assault missions by the Japanese. A reinforced battalion, the Yokosuka Special Naval Landing Force, seized an airfield from Dutch forces near Manado in the Celebes on 11 January as an amphibious force landed nearby. Troop carrier aircraft used were the Mitsubishi Ki-57, an airplane that resembled the DC-3, though smaller, and a few of the similarly-sized Kawasaki Ki-56s (Japanese-built Lockheed Lodestars). The field was used by Japanese aircraft to extend the range of protection provided to their navy as the Emperor’s forces pushed through Indonesia. On 14 February, after establishing air superiority, Japan’s 1st Parachute Brigade staged two drops on Palembang, Sumatra: one at the airfield and another at the oil refinery. Though the airfield was taken quickly, fierce fighting continued near the refinery for over a day until Japanese airborne forces again prevailed. On 22 February about half of the Yokosuka Force was used to capture the Dutch-held airport at Penfoei, about 20 miles east of Kupang on the island of Timor. The following day the balance of this reinforced battalion jumped into the same location, subsequently moved toward Kupang and captured many Dutch and Australian prisoners. In all three instances a smaller force of airborne troopers surprised and defeated a much larger force of defenders—a hallmark of successful airborne operations. The Japanese military, however, did not realize the potential of airborne warfare until it was too late in the war for the required training and buildup to occur.

http://www.info-indo.com/history/eastindies12.htm

http://www.j-aircraft.com/faq/japane...rations_in.htm



http://www.geocities.com/dutcheastin...mor_dutch.html



( Maps always make things more interesting, I think!)

http://www.geocities.com/dutcheastindies/java.html

__________________

Thanks Kai!

I never even knew that there were Japanese Airborne troops nor that they were actually used.

__________________

I read an RAF pilot personal account of the Japanese parachute landings many years ago.

Im currently trying to find the title again.

In the book he gives an amazing account of RAF ground crew and defence forces rushing out to meet some of the landing Japanese forces...Hand to hand stuff..Hope I can find it and post title..

__________________
Prepare to repel borders.
William L. McGonagle, MOH, U. S. Navy, Commanding Officer, USS LIBERTY 1967.

Also Kai, one of the other links on Dutch East Indies site I had bookmarked for a while now:

http://www.geocities.com/dutcheastin...paratroop.html

__________________
Prepare to repel borders.
William L. McGonagle, MOH, U. S. Navy, Commanding Officer, USS LIBERTY 1967.

Near the end of the war the Japanese were actually going to attempt a suicide parachute attack on B-29 bases in the Pacific. The plan was found out via codebreaking and about 200-300 transports were knocked out in Northern Japan.

I can't recall the exact details but it is in Frank's book "Downfall".

Greg

__________________
"There are times when a Corps Commander's life does not count"
-General Winfield Scott Hancock at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863

The information that you guys have given is great. Thanks Fellas.

__________________
And when he gets to heaven
To Saint Peter he will tell
One more soldier reporting sir
I have served my time in hell