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(Sydney to Lae, New Guinea 23 August to 1 September 1945)
 
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An example of the ship's work was that on 12 Apr 1945 ''SS Bontekoe'' arrived at Merauke in Dutch New Guinea where it loaded the 120th (NEI) Squadron RAAF. On the 17th the squadron arrived at its interim destination, Darwin. Following a short stay, on the 21st the squadron personnel again departed on the ''Bontekoe'', this time with company in the form of 79 Wing HQ, 28 RSU, 83 OBU, 27 MCS and No. 18(NEI) sqn RAAF. After roughly two weeks at sea, with several stops along the way, 120 Squadron arrived at Jaquinot Bay on the south coast of New Britain. Here they received orders for a further move, this time to the Island of Biak located off the North coast of New Guinea. 120 Squadron again embarked on the ''Bontekoe'' and after a short voyage arrived at Biak int eh early moring of 17 May 1945.  
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An example of the ship's work was that on 12 Apr 1945 ''SS Bontekoe'' arrived at Merauke in Dutch New Guinea where it loaded the 120th (NEI) Squadron RAAF. On the 17th the squadron arrived at its interim destination, Darwin. Following a short stay, on the 21st the squadron personnel again departed on the ''Bontekoe'', this time with company in the form of 79 Wing HQ, 28 Repair & Salvage Unit, 83 Operational Base Unit, 27 Medical Clearing Station and No. 18 (NEI) Sqn RAAF. After roughly two weeks at sea, with several stops along the way, No. 120 Squadron arrived at Jaquinot Bay on the south coast of New Britain. Here they received orders for a further move, this time to the Island of Biak located off the North coast of New Guinea. 120 Squadron again embarked on the ''Bontekoe'' and after a short voyage arrived at Biak in the early moring of 17 May 1945.  
  
  

Latest revision as of 21:42, 8 October 2023

SS Bontekoe
SS Bontekoe 1.jpg
Postcard
SS Bontekoe.jpg
SS Bontekoe in Port Moresby Harbour
History
Name SS Bontekoe
Owner Koninklijke Paketvaart Maatschappij. (KPM)
Launched 1922
Completed 1922
In service 1922
General characteristics
Type Passenger / cargo
Tonnage 5,033 tons
Speed 11.5 knots



Remarks

SS Bontekoe was one of a fleet of Dutch ships owned by KPM carrying trade from the Dutch East Indies to Holland. When the Japanese began advancing on Singapore, and what are now the islands of Indonesia, SS Bontekoe was one of 21 Dutch ships carrying refugees that limped to Australia in early 1942. Here under a complex agreement involving the Dutch Government in exile, Great Britain and the United States they were contracted to carry troops and stores between Australia and the South West Pacific Area of operations. Another group of 5 or 6 Dutch ships joined later in the year.


Bontekoe made a large number of voyages carying men and equipment between northern Australian and New Guine ports, including moving artillery from Port Moresby to Milne Bay to participate in the battle there.


An example of the ship's work was that on 12 Apr 1945 SS Bontekoe arrived at Merauke in Dutch New Guinea where it loaded the 120th (NEI) Squadron RAAF. On the 17th the squadron arrived at its interim destination, Darwin. Following a short stay, on the 21st the squadron personnel again departed on the Bontekoe, this time with company in the form of 79 Wing HQ, 28 Repair & Salvage Unit, 83 Operational Base Unit, 27 Medical Clearing Station and No. 18 (NEI) Sqn RAAF. After roughly two weeks at sea, with several stops along the way, No. 120 Squadron arrived at Jaquinot Bay on the south coast of New Britain. Here they received orders for a further move, this time to the Island of Biak located off the North coast of New Guinea. 120 Squadron again embarked on the Bontekoe and after a short voyage arrived at Biak in the early moring of 17 May 1945.


Soldiers carried

Sydney to Lae, New Guinea 23 August to 1 September 1945

The ship sailed from Sydney at 5:28am on 24 August, and arrived at Lae at 10:35pm on 31 Aug 1945.