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.

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