Dutch Courage (ATOM Study Guide)

Synopsis:

Dutch Courage (Gerald Lawson and Stuart Scowcroft, 2019) is a 48-minute documentary film that explores an aspect of Australia’s experience of World War 2.

In 1942, as the Japanese swept across the Pacific, they invaded the Netherlands East Indies, now Indonesia. When defeat became inevitable, many Dutch pilots escaped to Australia. They became the foundation of a unique air force squadron that played a significant role in harassing the Japanese for the rest of the war. This is their story.

Many of the Dutch pilots and civilians who escaped the Japanese made it to Broome, the largest city on the north-west Western Australian coast. Broome, being some 800 kilometres from Timor, which was now occupied by the Japanese, seemed to be a safe harbour. It was not to be. The Japanese spotted the large collection of aircraft and fitted nine Zeroes with long-range fuel tanks, enabling them to make the 1,600 kilometre round trip. They arrived at Broome at 9.30 a.m. on 3rd March 1942, and promptly inflicted a wave of destruction. A hundred Dutch and
Australians were killed. Many more were injured.

Curriculum Links:

Dutch Courage is a resource that can be used in senior history classes (10-12) to explore these aspects of History:

• Australia and World War 2
• Colonialism
• Post-war independence movements
• Commemoration in history