Abdul Rahman Saleh

Abdulrahman Saleh (1 July 1909 – 29 July 1947) was an Indonesian physician and aviator whose plane was shot down by the Dutch during the Indonesian National Revolution. He was also a co-founder of Radio Republik Indonesia. He was posthumously declared a National Hero of Indonesia in 1974.

Early life Abdulrahman was born in Ketapang village (West Kwitang), Batavia, Dutch East Indies (today Jakarta, Indonesia) on 1 July 1909. His parents were Mohammad Saleh, a well-known physician, and Emma Naimah Saleh (née Moehsin). He followed in his father's path and studied to become a doctor in a medical college for Indonesians, School Tot Opleiding van Inlandsche Artsen (STOVIA). As STOVIA was closed down before the completion of his study, he continued his studies at another medical college. Due to his curly hair, his friends began to call him "Karbol" taken from the Dutch word meaning "curly hair". He later returned to Batavia as a lecturer at his alma mater, GHS, and was promoted to full professor.

Recognition

On 17 August 1952, the Indonesian Air Force renamed the Abdulrahman Saleh Air Force Base in Malang, East Java after him. This Air Force Base also serves civil aviation for the city.

On 5 December 1958, The faculty of medicine of the University of Indonesia honored him as Indonesia's father of Physiology. The annual Medical and General Biology Competition is called the Abdulrahman Saleh Trophy.

Starting in August 1965, the Indonesian Air Force Academy officially adopted Saleh's nickname of Karbol to refer to all cadets of the Academy to honor his service.

On 9 November 1974, for his services to the country before and after the independence of Indonesia, Abdul Rahman Saleh was posthumously promoted to Air Vice-Marshal and named an Indonesia National Hero by the President on behalf of the nation.

In 2000, based on an Indonesian Air Force initiative and family approval, his grave was relocated from Kuncen cemetery to Ngoto, near the crash site. Many friends and supporters came to lay him to rest and thanked him for his service. The new grave is part of the Indonesian Air Force's Monument Perjuangan Ngoto, together with the graves of Mrs. Ismudiati Abdulrahman Saleh, Agustinus Adisucipto, and Mrs. Adisucipto.