Soerjadi Soerjadarma

Air Chief Marshal (Ret.) Elang Soerjadi Soerjadarma (EYD: Suryadi Suryadarma) (6 December 1912 – 16 August 1975) was the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces from 1959 to 1962 and the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force from 1946 to 1962.

Born with the name Elang Soerjadi Soerjadarma, he was the son of Raden Suryaka Suryadarma who worked as a bank employee in Banyuwangi.

Elang is a nobility title in the Keraton Kanoman, Cirebon, which means Raden.

His name was later adjusted to the new spelling system to become Raden Suryadi Suryadarma.

He had a lineage from the Kanoman Palace, Cirebon.

His great-grandfather was Prince Jakaria alias Aryabrata from Kanoman Palace.

While his grandfather was Doctor Prince Boi Suryadarma who lived in Kuningan, West Java, he graduated from the Javanese Doctor's School (STOVIA).

Suryadarma had been an since child orphan, when he was left by his biological mother, and his father died when Suryadarma was about four years old.

After his parents died, Suryadarma joined his grandfather's family in Batavia.

In 1918, at the age of six, Soerjadi Soerjadarma entered the ELS (Europeesche Lagere School) a special elementary school for foreign children (European and Chinese), Indonesian children with aristocratic backgrounds or children of officials whose positions can be equated with Europeans.

The school was Paul Krugerschool which is now the PSKD (Djakarta Christian School Association), in Kwitang, Central Jakarta.

In 1926, he completed his education at the ELS, then continued to the Hoogere Burgerschool te Bandoeng (now SMA Negeri 3 Bandung and SMA Negeri 5 Bandung).

However, before completing his schooling in the city, he had to move to Batavia and continued his studies at the Koning Willem III School te Batavia, which was completed in 1931.

After graduating from KW III School, he was unable to immediately pursue pilot training, because the requirement to become a pilot was to be a military officer first.

To become a military officer, he took officer education at the KMA (Koninklijke Militaire Academie), Breda, the Netherlands.

In September 1931, he enrolled in officer education at KMA Breda.

His desire to become a member of the military was not approved by Dr.

Boi Suryadarma, his grandfather and adoptive father.

After receiving an explanation from Suryadarma, his grandfather accepted Suryadarma becoming a KMA cadet.

In September 1934, Soerjadi Soerjadarma graduated from the Breda Military Academy, with the rank of Second Lieutenant, he was assigned to the Dutch Army unit in Nijmegen.

One month later, in October, 1934, he was transferred to the 1st Infantry Battalion in Magelang until November 1936.

The Aviation School (Vliegschool) in Kalijati opened registration for the Netherlands East Indies Army.

He initially failed the selection process because he had malaria and was having a relapse.

The next year, he applied again, but was rejected because he had not recovered from his malaria.

Only on the third occasion, he passed the medical test and began pilot education at the Kalijati Aviation School, in December 1937.

He was accepted as a navigator but Suryadarma was said to be a talented aviator but was not able to, because he was a Pribumi.

In July 1938, he was enrolled in Observer School (Waarnemerschool), then in July 1939 he was assigned as a navigator at Glenn Martin 139 bomber group in Andir Airfield, Bandung.

Suryadarma was appointed as instructor at Pilot and Observer School (Vlieg en Waarnemerschool), Kalijati in January 1941.

In December 1941 he was reassigned to a bomber unit, 7e Vliegtuig Afdeling, Reserve Afdeling Bommenwerpers.

During the Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies that begun in December 1941, he served as Deputy Commander of the 7e Afdeling with the rank of Luitenant-Waarnemer.

Suryadarma was involved in air operations in the Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force during World War II.

After Dutch defeat in the Battle of Tarakan and subsequent capture of the island and its oil facilities by the Japanese, Dutch forces launched several airstrikes against enemy position in the area.

On 13 January 1942, Suryadarma led an unescorted bombing mission of three (other source mentions nine ) Glenn Martin to attack Tarakan from their base at Samarinda II Airfield.

He served as the navigator and bombardier in a Glenn Martin piloted by Luitenant S.H. Lukkien.

They managed to bomb two Japanese cruisers (other source mentioned only a destroyer ), but were later attacked by Japanese A6M Zero fighters.

The bullets struck the fuel tank on the left wing and wounding Lukkien in the head and thigh.

Although seriously injured, Lukkien managed to landed the bomber on the nearest airfield at Manggar, Balikpapan, being the only bomber that managed to return from the mission.

For his services, the Dutch Government awarded him The Bronze Cross.

Unlike many of his counterpart in the colonial air force who fled to Australia during the Japanese occupation, Suryadarma chose to stayed in the East Indies.

Through invitation of Police Commissioner Yusuf, he works as a police officer in the Japanese occupation authorities.