Following its single S-51 the Dutch navy received three HO4S (S-55) helicopters in September 1953. Delilah is seen during a fleet review on the IJ in Amsterdam, behind Central Station. Photo by: Wim van Rossem / Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

The Fokker T.VIIIw saw service as a maritime reconaissance aircraft both with the Luftwaffe and the Royal Air Force during WWII. It was designed as a torpedo bomber and this is the prototype, first flown in February 1939 and fitted here with an air data probe up its nose. During the German invasion of Holland in May 1940, eight aircraft delivered to the Dutch navy escaped to England and they were briefly used by No 320 (Dutch) Sqn at RAF Pembroke Dock, Wales, including R-1 as AV958. Nearly 30 T.VIIIws still in production were completed for the Luftwaffe and saw service in the Mediterranean. Photo from: San Diego Air & Space Museum

Taken on charge by the Royal Netherlands Navy as a P2V-7B on 8 Sep 1961, redesignated to P-2H in Sep 1962, and converted to SP-2H circa 1963. Struck off charge 13 Nov 1981 and transferred to the Militaire Luchtvaart Museum a week later.

With name "de Ouwe Lobbes" barely visible. On long-term loan from the Royal Air Force Museum. This aircraft is widely quoted as c/n 5294, but that is its fuselage number. It is in fact Dornier Werknummer 3387 which was delivered to Spain in Sep 1944, becoming '65-7', then HR.5-7, HR.5-1 and finally HD.5-1. It was one of two examples bought in August 1976 by Dolph Overton and it was registered to him as N99225 in Feb 1977. The aircraft was never delivered to him, remaining in storage at Pollensa, Spain. Mr. Overton donated it to the Royal Air Force Museum in 1982, which in turn loaned it to the Dutch museum in Nov 1991.

Painted as Royal Netherlands Navy 099, but in reality this Harvard is the former B-103 of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Used as an instructional airframe from 1972 to 1985, then to the museum. Restored to static display condition at Valkenburg, then stored at the museum until placed on display in Jan 2003 as seen here. The real Royal Netherlands Navy 099 is c/n 14-555, which has been on display at the Auto und Technik Museum in Sinsheim, Germany since 1983.

Taken on charge by the Royal Netherlands Navy on 18 Mat 1963, struck off charge 15 Aug 1978. Sold to the USA, but noted in a technical school at Skavsta, Stockholm in Sweden in 1993. Later stored at the Flygvapenmuseum at Malmen Airport, Malmslätt (near Linköping) in Sweden. To the Militaire Luchtvaart Museum in Dec 2001.

A very nice Grumman Tracker, taken on charge by the Royal Netherlands Navy on 18 Aug 1960 as an S-2A. Converted to S-2N, then US-2N and withdrawn from use on 1 Oct 1975. Officially struck off charge on 7 Jul 1976 and transferred to the Militaire Luchtvaart Museum.

On long-term loan from the Royal Air Force Museum. This aircraft is widely quoted as c/n 5294, but that is its fuselage number. It is in fact Dornier Werknummer 3387 which was delivered to Spain in Sep 1944, becoming '65-7', then HR.5-7, HR.5-1 and finally HD.5-1. It was one of two examples bought in August 1976 by Dolph Overton and it was registered to him as N99225 in Feb 1977. The aircraft was never delivered to him, remaining in storage at Pollensa, Spain. Mr. Overton donated it to the Royal Air Force Museum in 1982, which in turn loaned it to the Militaire Luchtvaart Museum in Nov 1991.

This Seabat was taken on charge by the Royal Netherlands Navy on 26 Jun 1963. It was withdrawn from use 28 Jun 1972 and became an instructional airframe in Aug 1973. Later transferred to the Militaire Luchtvaart Museum.

Taken on charge by the Royal Netherlands Navy as a P2V-7B on 8 Sep 1961, redesignated to P-2H in Sep 1962, and converted to SP-2H circa 1963. Struck off charge 13 Nov 1981 and transferred to the Militaire Luchtvaart Museum a week later.

Yellow rescue bird. Ex Royal Air Force JN141. Photo by: Daan Noske / Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

One of 48 STM trainers delivered to the Netherlands Navy in the East Indies. Some were fitted with floats. Contract date for this one was 15 August 1940, official delivery date 1 January 1941. Evacuated by ship from NEI to Australia in 1942 to become A50-8 in the RAAF. Photo from: San Diego Air & Space Museum

A squadron of nine W-As from De Mok naval air station, Texel Island, landed on the river Spaarne, reportedly because the engine of one of the aircraft was running hot. Photo from: Noord-Hollands Archief

Flying over East Java during the Dutch attempts to regain control. Following the Japanese conquest of the Netherlands East Indies, surviving and newly delivered Dutch Catalinas equipped No 321 (Dutch) Sqn, RAF, in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). This amphibious PBY-5A, original serial Y-75, entered service on 9 September 1942, but hit a rock on arrival at RAF China Bay and sank. It was salvaged and repaired as a transport aircraft. It served until 1952 when it was broken up at Biak, Netherlands New Guinea. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

One of the first Sea Furies for the Royal Netherlands Navy. A handover photograph of 10-1 (J-1; J is the tenth letter of the alphabet) shows the same location so this is assumed to be the factory airfield, Langley in Slough. Photo from: San Diego Air & Space Museum

Prime Minister Willem Drees departing to the disaster area of the catastrophic North Sea flood of 1 February 1953. The first helicopter in the Netherlands, Jezebel had rescued many victims from rooftops and treetops. The Aviodrome museum in Lelystad has a Westland-built WS-51 painted as this historic machine. Photo by: Harry Pot / Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

Developed in 1928, the C.VIIw was a two-seat reconnaissance and training seaplane of which 30 examples were built. Jaap de Moor, whose father served at Morokrembangan, noted the protective bow pudding attached to each float 'by the sailing navy' as Jaap, himself a former naval pilot, put it. Photo from: Jaap de Moor collection

Crossing the runway threshold to go to its parking spot on the south side. Compared with earlier photos, code "V" has been removed, the serial has been repositioned to the fin, and the Kon.Marine titles on the rear fuselage have been altered.