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| NEIAF No. 18 Squadron |
Pilot Sgt Engels (injured) Crew Sgt Hofland (survived) Crew Lt Zijdeveldt (survived) Crew Sgt Kerdijk (survived) Mechanic SgM Cornelius Antonius Hendrikus Keesmaat (KIA, BR) Almelo, Netherlands Crashed October 21, 1943 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA) in Kansas City, Kansas. Constructors Number 82-8752. At the factory painted with olive drab upper surfaces and gray lower surfaces and U.S. markings. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-20 Mitchell serial number 41-30587. Purchased by the Netherlands for the Militaire Luchtvaart (ML-KNIL) Army Aviation Corps of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army for use in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) as B-25C Mitchell serial number N5-156. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History In Australia, repainted in NEIAF markings with serial number N5-156 and the Dutch flag on the rear fuselage and retained the original U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) serial number on both sides of the tails. Assigned to No. 18 Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On October 21, 1943 took off piloted by Sergeant Cornelis Antonius Hendrikus Keesmaat on a night training mission when a flare aboard exploded and caught fire. Aboard, the entire crew with the exception of the pilot bailed out successfully. Pilot Keesmaat did not bail out, possibly because he did not have a parachute or was attempting to crash land and died in the crash to the east of Hughes Field (30 Mile). Recovery of Remains After the crash, the remains of Keesmaat were recovered. He was likely buried at site and buried at Adelaide River War Cemetery in the Northern Territory. Postwar, his remains were exhumed and transported to the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) for permanent burial. Memorials Keesmaat was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is buried at Jakarta War Cemetery (Makam Perang Jakarta) at Cil. 88. Wreckage The crash site remains on the private property of the Noonamah Ridge Estate and consists of pieces of wreckage and smaller artifacts. A commemorative plaque was attached to the largest piece of wreckage that reads: "Heritage Site (HC 2268) Please Do Not Disturb Dedicated to the memory of Sgt C.A.H. Keesmaat of No 18 NEI-RAAF Squadron, who died here, in the crash of the B25 Bomber No. N5-156, during a trial flight, on 21 October 1943. Erected by 'Those who care'." On December 16, 2018 the crash site was nominated for the Northern Territory Heritage Register. On March 8, 2019 accepted with file number HE2019/0005. On April 28, 2021 provisional declaration of Heritage places and Heritage Object status was granted to B-25 Mitchell N5-156 as a heritage place in the NT Government Gazette G17 . On May 15, 2021 NT News announced the provisional declaration of Heritage places and Heritage Object status to the public. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D Mitchell 41-30587 "30587 to NEIAF as N5-156 - w/o 9/43." Oorlogs Graven Stichting - Cornelis Antonius Hendrikus Keesmaat (grave photo) FindAGrave - SGM Cornelis Antonius Hendrikus Keesmaat Oz@War - Aircraft Crash Sites in the Northern Territory in WW2 B-25 N5-156 photos October 30, 1996 Noonamah Ridge Estate - Archaeological Survey Report by Dr. Silvano Jung, December 2014 [PDF] pages cover, ii, iii, iv, 6-7, 10-11 (GPS coordinates [location suppressed]), 36-39 (photos), 40-42 (recommendations, 43 (references) NT Government Gazette 28 April 2021 - Heritage Act 2011 Northern Territory Government Gazette No. G17, 28 April 2021 Northern Territory of Australia page 3 [PDF] "Provisional Declaration of Heritage Places and Heritage Object, Part A, 2 Wreck Site of B25 Mitchell N5-156" Northern Territory Government - Heritage Register - WWII N5-156 B25 Mitchell Plane Wreck "The site comprises a large quantity of aircraft wreckage spread over an area of approximately 200 metres in diameter and smaller artefacts, including machine gun shells. This site is the most intact of all such aircraft wrecks. The aircraft was built by North American Aviation as part of No. 18 (NEI) Squadron, RAAF unit." Thanks to Bob Alford, Silvano Jung and Daniel Leahy for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated October 20, 2022 |
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