By: Prabowo Subianto [taken from the Book: Military Leadership Notes from Experience Chapter I]
The history of how the predecessors formed a military unit is very important for a military organisation. Members of the military need to know the achievements and experiences made by their organisations in the past.
The heroic story of Iswahjudi is another highlight in the history of the Indonesian Air Force. He was a pioneer of the Air Force alongside Adisoetjipto, Abdulrachman Saleh, and Husein Sastranegara.
The history of how the predecessors formed a military unit is crucial for a military organization. It is essential for members to be aware of the accomplishments and experiences of those who came before them.
Understanding the past of a military unit can inspire its members in their duties. Each military unit has its own distinct character, identity, and psychology.
A military unit is composed of individuals who constantly face danger and must be prepared for the possibility of sacrificing their lives in the line of duty. They undergo rigorous training to be deployed in battlefields and carry out challenging missions.
Born in Surabaya in 1918, First Marshall Posthumous Iswahjudi played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Indonesian Air Force alongside Adisoetjipto, Abdulrachman Saleh, and Husein Sastranegara.
Isawhjudi’s military career began at a young age, including his involvement in the Volunteer Aviator Corps (Vrij-Wilig Vliegers Corps), established to defend the Dutch government against Japanese aggression. He was selected as the only Indonesian volunteer agent for the Allies in a covert mission in Java.
He was also the first cadet of the Adisoetjipto Aviation School and had a successful aviation career. Following independence, he continued his aviation training at Maguwo and joined the People’s Security Air Force under Adisoetjipto’s leadership in Yogyakarta in December 1945.
In 1947, Iswahjudi was appointed as the Commander of the Maospati airbase in Madiun due to his unwavering dedication. Later that year, he was tasked with pioneering the development of the Bukittinggi airbase.
Tragically, Iswahjudi, along with Halim Perdanakusuma, lost their lives in the line of duty while attempting to retrieve an Avro Anson VH-BBY aircraft on December 14, 1947. Their plane crashed in Tanjung Hantu, Perak, Malaysia, during bad weather conditions in the Strait of Malacca.
