James Harper - Indonesia

Bandung, Java, Indonesia 1951 - 1954

"The climate could mildew a cylinder head" - Jim Harper 1955

"Those were our best years" - Sally Harper Ives 2007

By whatever connections the Harpers came to be at Bandung in 1951, Jim had signed a three year contract to fly for the Indonesian Air Force and this was to be home for awhile. It was a relatively stable and comfortable time for Jim, Sally and Joanne. Sally remembers this time as being the best years - and while they were there the family expanded. Jim flew in relative safety - their home was, by any standard, impressive - and they were surrounded by the good friends of the brethren of the air and their families. These were the flyboys from the United States that had an affinity for the Far East. It's called today - "going bamboo." Some of the names were - Parish, McGinty, Cutburth, Maupin, Powers, Moore and Hinkle.

While the environment could "mildew a cylinder head" Indonesia was also a beautiful land newly released (through some struggle) from the post-war Dutch colonial grip. And unlike Burma of the year before, no one on the ground seemed to be too concerned with trying to shoot Jim out of the sky as he went about his pilot's duties. These were the times of the political rise of Sukarno but before a time when the US became overly dissatisfied with the communist leanings of his government.

Jim started flying duties out of Bandung on March 13th and Sally & Joanne arrived to their new home from Bangkok on March 30th.

The Bandung home at Rantjabentang 6 - across the street from Radio Republik Indonesia

Jim, Joanne & Sally - 1952

Jim used the phrase "Indonesian Air Force" in his flight logs to describe the organization he was flying with. He was one of a number of Americans that came to this fledgling nation to assist in the push to build Indonesian civil and military aviation [The civil airline was called Garuda Indonesian Airways, GIA for short - or as Jim liked to call it, "God It's Awful"] . Jim's boss was Lad Moore.

Besides being a master BBQer (the secret is in the sauce) Lad, like many of the other pilots, flew C-47s over the "Hump" during the war and in post-war times he continued his association with the China National Airways Corp. (CNAC) until 1947. It wasn't long before Lad found himself involved with the Indonesian independence struggle and designated as a technical advisor for Angkatan Udara Republik Indonesia (AURI) - otherwise known as the Indonesian Air Force. Lad was given some responsibility to procure the foreign national talent needed (instructors, pilots, maintenance personnel) to get Indonesian aviation capability off the ground (so to speak). It is possible that Jim may have been contracted by Lad Moore while the Harpers were in Bangkok. According to Jim's logs, he and Lad did fly together on October 1, 1949. It was aboard Cathay Pacific's DC-4, VR-HEU. About a three hour flight out & in from Bangkok. In any event, Jim reported to Lad.

Jim's flight logs indicate that he almost exclusively flew C-47's of prior Dutch registry. That being the case he was most likely attached to Skadron DAUM (air transport) activities as opposed to flight school instructor duties.

In 1953 Jim purchased a Revere 33 stereo camera and produced some
excellent color images of the times. This shot from the cockpit of a C-47 is of
the airbase at Kalawiran that carries a squadron D.A.U.M. designation.

This link is to more of Jim's images of other landing strips - some of them unknown - that he would have frequently used.

Jim's notations in the logs concerning the flights included "Check; Parachute Drop; Special; Damaged Tail Cone; Bad Engine; Hydraulic Trouble Bali; Ferry; Paratroops Graduation; Leaflet Drop; Parachute Troops" plus the usual weather problems and additional equipment failures.

A major item of importance was recorded in the telegram of July 19, 1953 to Jim's parents.