Hawker Hurricane in Netherlands Service

Hawker Hurricane in Netherlands Service

With tensions rising, the Dutch East Indies Air Force (KNIL) ordered twelve Hawker Hurricanes in 1941, but these were not delivered due to an engine shortage. In late 1941, a total of 24 Hurricane Mk Is on route to Singapore for the Royal Air Force were delivered in crates to Tjililitan on Java for use by the Dutch East Indies Air Force. Two of these Hurricanes were lost during training.

With the Japanese invasion of Java, most were lost in aerial combat or to ground attack. On 9 March 1942, the six remaining Hurricanes were set on fire by their crews at Ngoro.

The only known photograph of KNIL Hurricanes on Java
The only known photograph of KNIL Hurricanes on Java