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Oud Adjudand Onderofficier Vlieger Paul Kommer
Paul Kommer joined the R.NI.N. in August 1940 as Teerling Onderofficier Mieger. In December 1941 he was Korporaal Mieger, flying the Dornier 24 as co-pilot on the Chance Encounter operation, one of his 50 war time combat patrols. After the eventual capitulation of the Netherlands East ladies, he became a prisoner of war and was sent to work in the coal mines in Japan. When war was over he had somehow survived, but he weighed just 94lbs, nearly half of his normal body weight. After the war he flew PBYs with the R.NI.N. and later became an instructor.
| Oud Adjudand Onderofficier Vlieger Paul Kommer - Signed Aviation Art |
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| Text for the above items : |
Chance Encounter by Robert Taylor. December 7, 1941 was, said President Roosevelt a day of infamy. The surprise attack by Japanese aircraft on that fateful day, brought America into a war that was to become global. The Japanese airstrike was the first of many attacks that day against America and other Allied Forces in the Pacific. Within a few days the British capital ships Prince of Wales and Repulse were sunk, the Japanese had landed on the coast of Malaya, Guam was seized, Hong Kong taken, and landings were made in the American held Philippines. In those first grim days of the Pacific War one territory after another quickly fell to the Japanese onrush - resistance, though heroic, was almost futile as the unprepared Allies were simply overwhelmed. Retaliating as best they could, Allied Forces hit back wherever possible and one of the first successes was by Dutch Forces on 23 December, just 16 days after Pearl Harbor. A Japanese invasion fleet had been spotted steaming south towards British Borneo. Royal Netherlands Navy submarine K XIV, alerted to their position, was heading west in order to make an interception. But the Japanese changed course on to an easterly heading during the night and made for the beaches off Ktiching - the opposite direction to that of the submarine. However a patrolling Dornier 24 of the Royal Netherlands Navy sighted the fleet on its new course, and by a remarkable chance encounter also spotted the submarine on the surface, and immediately signalled the location, course and speed of the convoy. The submarine quickly engaged the Japanese in the shallow waters off the landing beach head, causing chaos amongst the fleet. Two ships were sunk and another two severely damaged. The Dornier, despite being heavily engaged by Pete floatplanes from a Japanese heavy cruiser, managed to return safely to base. |
| Oud Adjudand Onderofficier Vlieger Paul Kommer Aircraft details |
 Catalina Manufacturer : Consolidated Built : 3305 | Catalina Built by the Consolidated Aircraft Company and designed by Isaax M Ladden. the Catalina first flew on the 28th march 1935. and first flew with the US Navy in October 1936. In 1935 the cost of each Catalina was $90,000 and just over 4,000 were built. The Catalina was used in various maritime roles. but it was designed initially as a maritime patrol bomber. Its long range was intended to seek out enemy transport and supply ships. but was eventually used in many roles including Convoy escort,, anti submarine warfare and search and rescue. In its role as a search and rescue aircraft it probably is best remembered for many thousands of aircrews shot down in the Pacific and less extend in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. The Catalina was the most successful flying boat of the war and even served in a military role until the early 1980's some are still used today in aerial firefighting. |
 Do24 Manufacturer : Dornier / Aviolanda Built : 279 | Do24 The Dutch Navy required a replacement aircraft for their ageing Dornier Wals and Dornier Flugzeugwerke designed the Do24 flying boat. It was an all-metal monoplane with a broad-beamed hull and stabilising sponsons. The aircraft was powered by three wing-mounted radial engines. The first six Do24s were built in Germany with one other being built under licence in the Netherlands by Aviolanda. Aviolanda only completed 25 aircraft before the German occupation. The Luftwaffe were interested in the aircraft and the company produced a further 11 aircraft powered by Wright Cyclone engines, but later models used the BMW Bramo 323R-2. A further 159 Do24s were built in the Netherlands during the occupation, most under the designation Do24T-1. According to Dornier records, some 12,000 people were rescued by Do24s during its flying career. A total of 279 were built among several factories from 1937-1945. |
| Oud Adjudand Onderofficier Vlieger Paul Kommer Squadron details |
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