One of three Atlantic patrol aircraft that crashed while in service with the Netherlands Navy. This example was the first, when in August 1973 it ditched in the North Sea off Wassenaar, not far from its home base NAS Valkenburg. There were no fatalities among the 14 people on board. The Atlantic remained afloat and was towed to Den Helder, but it was eventually written off and scrapped.

One of three Atlantic patrol aircraft that crashed while in service with the Netherlands Navy. This example was the first, when in August 1973 it ditched in the North Sea off Wassenaar, not far from its home base NAS Valkenburg. There were no fatalities among the 14 people on board. The Atlantic remained afloat and was towed to Den Helder, but it was eventually written off and scrapped.

One of three Atlantic patrol aircraft that crashed while in service with the Netherlands Navy. This example was the first, when in August 1973 it ditched in the North Sea off Wassenaar, not far from its home base NAS Valkenburg. There were no fatalities among the 14 people on board. The Atlantic remained afloat and was towed to Den Helder, but it was eventually written off and scrapped.

A quartet of Hiller UH-12's of the Royal Navy making a fuel stop at Eelde. Later, this helicopter became G-BDYY and EI-BCA. It was cancelled April 7, 1987 and became SX-HCD. Besides XS705, you can also see XS160/48, XS166/41 and XS168/47. These Hillers were built as three-seat dual-control light utility and observation helicopters and were used in the Navy as training aircraft.

The Dutch navy crashed three of its nine Atlantic patrol aircraft. The first loss occured just off the Dutch coast near Valkenburg on a sunny day in August 1973. Thousands of sunbathers witnessed the events. The aircraft was towed to Den Helder afloat but written off. Photo from: Pabo collection