Operation Nunusaku

Operation Nunusaku
Part of Permesta Rebellion
Date 15 May – 9 June 1958 Location Manado and Morotai Result Indonesian government victory Taiwan mercenaries' aircraft were destroyed Successful airstrike on Mapanget Airfield Many Permesta aircraft were disabled or shot down by government forces
Belligerents
Indonesia	Permesta Mercenaries from:   Taiwan
Commanders and leaders
Leo Wattimena	Unknown
Units involved
Indonesian Air Force	AUREV
Strength
5 P-51 Mustang 4 B-25 Mitchell 1 PBY Catalina	Unknown
Casualties and losses
2 P-51 Mustang destroyed	Most of permesta aircraft were disabled 2 Taiwan C-45 were destroyed

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The Operation Nunusaku (Indonesian: Operasi Nunusaku) was an aerial operation aimed to strike Permesta airfields in Mapanget airfield and Morotai airfield; this operation was also known as the largest aerial operation conducted by the Indonesian Air Force. The operation resulted in a successful air strike by the government forces and lead to the destruction of the Permesta air forces also known as AUREV.

Background

A few days before Pope was shot down and the CIA withdrew its assets from Mapanget, an AURI operation called Operation Nunusaku was carried out to destroy AUREV aircraft. Five P-51 fighter planes, four B-25 bombers, and one PBY Catalina were assembled for this operation however this operation was led by Captain Leo Wattimena, this operation targeting Mapanget and Morotai airfield (Permesta largest airfield) to weaken Permesta airforces and disabled their aircraft. Before the attack was carried out, the planes flew to several airfields around Ambon in the late afternoon to avoid the AUREV attacks that were usually carried out earlier in the day. ^[1]

Operations

At 4:00 am on 15 May 1958, the planes set out for their target. Some went to Mapanget, while the others went to Kalawiran. In Mapanget, they carried out an attack under command of Leo Wattimena in which the B-25s bombarded the runway and P-51s fired and attacked the parked AUREV aircraft. ^[2]

A rocket hit a PBY Catalina on the ground and it immediately caught fire. After the attack, the remaining AUREV planes that were still functioning at Mapanget were only one B-26 bomber and one P-51 fighter. Meanwhile, the attack on the Kalawiran airfield destroyed the two C-45 transport planes originating from Taiwan. ^[3]

On 9 June 1958, AURI planes returned to attack Mapanget airfield. The P-51 fighter planes came from Morotai (which had fallen back into the hands of the TNI). However, this attack did not produce the same results like the previous attack. This time the Permesta strengthen their defense at Mapanget with anti-aircraft guns was better prepared. Two AURI P-51s were shot down in which one pilot was killed. ^[4]

Aftermath

After this operations the AUREV suffered heavy casualties and many their plane were disabled after this attack. Leo Wattimena was promoted after he conducted an successful airstrike on Mapanget.. ^[5]

References

1. Gusti Fikri Noor (November 2015), p. 31.
2. Martin, Sitompul (2020-10-27). "Leo Wattimena:Si Gila Kebanggaan AURI". historia.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-01-11.
3. Conboy dan Morrison (1999), pp. 135–137.
4. Conboy dan Morrison (1999), p. 159.
5. "Kisah Dibalik Nama Leo Wattimena, Jagoan di Udara Kebanggaan TNI AU". indonesiadefense.com. 2023-01-15. Retrieved 2025-01-21.

Citations

• Conboy, Kenneth; Morrison, James (1999). Feet to the Fire: CIA Covert Operations in Indonesia, 1957–1958. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN   1-55750-193-9.
• Gusti Fikri Noor (November 2015). "Leo Wattimena, Penerbang 'Ugal-Ugalan'" [Leo Wattimena, a Reckless Pilot]. AVIASI (in Indonesian). Tangerang: Trend Media Global.