Flying Boat D-42

[Tommy Wo!]

I'm searching for information on the Dornier Do 15 "Wal" flying boat D-42. I have a report that says it was damaged beyond repair in a landing accident in September 1941 while attached to the MLD flight training school at Morokrembangan, Java. After which, it was withdrawn from service and cannibalized for spare parts. But, I have also seen conflicting reports that state D-42 was flying operationally as late as February 24, 1942. Does anyone have information on the landing accident in September 1941 and / or the eventual fate of D-42?

[ruudvanom]

Hello Tommy.

IPMS Nederland gives:
Dornier Do-15 Wal F; Only served in the Dutch East Indies. Written off in mid 1940 Marine Air Station Morokrembangan.

file:///Users/r.h.b.vanommeren/Desktop/IPMS%20registraties:KLu%20nazorg,%20etc./IPMS%20Nederland%20-%20Dornier%20Wal.webarchive

Greetings from Amsterdam.

[Dutchplanes]

As Ruud said, written off, is not correct. It was wfu (withdrawn from use) as on sept. 11 1940 was it flown by OVl.1 Burgerhout and went to the Vliegschool (Flying school) Morokrembangan. Latest known date in the books was febr. 24 1942.
From the book 'Dornier Wal' by Nico Geldhof (the best informed MLD-historian)

[Tommy Wo!]

Thanks for the info on D-42. I'm currently working on the manuscript for my latest book. It delves into a program in which the MLD hired 12 American flight instructors to train Dutch pilots on the island of Java in 1941. Most of these instructors were deemed unqualified and the Dutch were largely dissatisfied with the outcome of the program.

Per a declassified secret KM / MLD document dated September 16, 1941, D-42 was under the command of Roy Brister, an ex-US Navy pilot hired as one of these instructors. The commander of the MLD flight school, Commander P.J. Hendrikse directly blamed Brister for both accident and the flying boat's damage. This brief snippet from my upcoming manuscript...

In mid-September, D-42 – one of the elderly Do 15 flying boats used for advanced training – was heavily damaged. Roy Brister was instructing a student pilot as he landed following a training flight. While providing no details of the incident itself, Commander Hendrikse laid the blame squarely on Brister. He wrote, “…the D-42…was damaged beyond repair and the cause was due to the instructor, who did not recognize the danger in time and failed to intervene.” Hendrikse also noted that the accident was unique and had never before happened with the MLD on that type of aircraft.

I have Nico Geldhof's book on the Dornier Wal, which is where I got the date of February 24, 1942 for it's last (recorded) flight. This is why I'm somewhat confused about D-42. Hendrikse says she was damaged beyond repair in September 1941, but Nico's book clearly states different and provides a reliable source.

Is it possible that the Wal was indeed heavily damaged, but later repaired? Do you or any other folks have any additional on the accident itself or the damage to D-42?

Regards...
Tom Womack
San Antonio, Texas
USA

[Bofors]

An American flight instructor and a Dutch (speaking) student pilot. Perhaps this played a part in (not) achieving succesfull communication during the flight? Could be a factor too I imagine. Just a thought from me.

[Tommy Wo!]

An American flight instructor and a Dutch (speaking) student pilot. Perhaps this played a part in (not) achieving succesfull communication during the flight? Could be a factor too I imagine. Just a thought from me.

Hello! Apologies for the late response; I just saw your note. Yes, communication could very well have been part of the problem. One thing the MLD flight school leadership complained about was the American instructors' inability to speak Dutch. Nor does it appear that they made much effort to learn more than a few words. One of the Americans states in his diary that he had no need to learn English, as all the Dutch officers he worked with spoke English fairly.

For those prewar KM officers / cadets evacuated from Holland in May 1940 the language barrier usually wasn't much of a problem. For the most part, they came from wealthy, upper-class families that spoke multiple languages. But after the outbreak of war and invasion of the Netherlands, MLD pilot recruiting standards had to be lowered due to the small number of available candidates.

In the East Indies, in particular, few recruits were from wealthy elite families and their English-language skills were often less developed. The problem for many Eurasian / Indonesian / Chinese students was acute. They were typically ordinary volunteers who originated through their local VVC club. They spoke Dutch and / or Malay, but their English-language skills were often non-existent.

Another complaint against the Americans was that they very poorly communicated with students before, during and after training flights. There was often little / no in-depth discussion about student mistakes and how to correct them. On one occasion, miscommunication between an American instructor and Dutch recruit resulted in an engine of a T-IVa seaplane being burnt out and completely lost. So yes, the loss of D-42 certainly could also have been the result of poor communication.