Lucky escapes define pilot

The last survivor of the Dutch DC3 Dakota aircraft shot down at Carnot Bay near Broome during World War II was due to turn 100 last week.

Dutch fighter pilot Lieutenent Pieter Cramerus was one of 11 people on board the Diamond Dakota plane bound for Broome on March 3, 1942, after evacuating from Java.

Before this, Lt Cramerus had been captured by the Japanese after his plane was shot down, but he managed to escape days later, and proceeded to the airfield where the Diamond Dakota was about to depart with other Dutch pilots.

After fleeing Java, Lt Cramerus and the other passengers were approaching the WA coastline when they were attacked by Japanese Zeros.

With the aircraft ablaze, pilot Ivan Smirnoff was able to crash-land on the beach at Carnot Bay, 80km north of Broome.

However, the relentless attack by the Japanese left some of the passengers wounded.

During the five days they were stranded on the beach, four people died of their wounds, including a mother and her 18-month-old baby.

Lt Cramerus and three others went out on foot to try and get help.

He and his comrade were nearing total exhaustion when they were eventually found by an Aboriginal man who gave them food and water before taking them back to the mission in Beagle Bay for medical treatment.

After recovering in hospital, Lt Cramerus travelled to the east coast before heading over to the United States to continue his training. Later on, he joined the 322 Dutch Squadron, commanded by the British Royal Air Force.

Former Broome resident and amateur historian Dion Marinis, who has spent years researching the air raid on Broome and searching for WWII plane wrecks, said Lt Cramerus went on to have a long-established flying career including operating Spitfire fighter planes.

Mr Marinis said Lt Cramerus was a remarkable and well-respected man who had cheated death three times during service, nicknaming him “Mr Lucky”.

“He was shot down three times, the first time in Java, the second time at Carnot Bay and the third time over in Europe,” he said.

“He’s the only living sole survivor of the Diamond plane to this day and is a bit of a living legend.”

Mr Marinis had the honour of meeting Lt Cramerus and his family last year during a research trip to the United States.

“He’s a very interesting person to talk with,” he said.

“His recollections of Carnot Bay were fairly clear and he was very thankful that that Aboriginal man came along ... it was a big event in his life.”

Next year, Broome will mark the 75th anniversary of the air raid.

Mr Marinis said he planned to attend the milestone.