Naval Aviation Service
Aircraft of the Dutch Naval Aviation Service (painted from 1992 until now)
dated 1992 until 2024
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Lockheed Hudson (Ordernr. MLD-160)
2023A "Lockheed Hudson" of No.320 SQN. The Hudsons were in service from 1940 to 1943 by Royal Dutch Naval Air Service RAF Coastal Command. These aircraft were used for convoy protection and for strikes on German shipping in the Dutch coastal waters.
Brequet Atlantic and Beechcraft TC 45 (Order number MLD-150)
2021A Brequet Atlantic and a Beechcraft TC45 in formation The nine Brequet Atlantics were stationed at Valkenburg airfield SQN 321 in the years 1969 to 1985.They were used as a patrol aircraft, for search, rescue flights and for anti-submarine warfare. The six Beechcraft TC-45j Navigators were also stationed at Valkenburg airfield SQN 5 for the training of pilots, observers and telegraphists.
Martin PBM5-a Mariner (Ordernr. MLD-62)
2024Two Martin PBM5-a Mariners over Dutch New Guinea. . In the 1950s-1960s, the Martin PBM-5A Mariner was purchased by the Royal Netherlands Navy to serve in Dutch New Guinea. Specifically aimed at the threat of Indonesian infiltrations.
Martin PBM-5a Mariner (Order number:MLD-60)
2015This amphibious aircraft was in service with VSQ 8 and VSQ 321 (MLD), between 1955 and 1959. It was stationed at Valkenburg Airbase and Boroekoe Airbase on the island of Biak. The Mariner was not successful like its predecessor the Catalina. Of the 17 Mariners in service, 6 crashed, most of them with fatalities, thus earning the nickname “the Crew Killer”.
Martin Mariner PBM-5A (Order number: MLD-61)
2019The Martin Mariner PBM-5A of SQN 321, seen here on a Kampong reconnaissance flight in Dutch New Guinea (1957). The aircraft passes the ship the Hr.Ms. Evertsen F803. This Mariner P303 crashed during the ferry flight from Biak (DNG) to the Netherlands, in the vicinity of Abadan, Iran (formerly Persia) on 10-9-1958. This Mariner P303 was crashed during a ferry flight from Biak (DNG) to the Netherlands near Abadan (Iran, formerly Persia) dated 10-9-1958
Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina (Order number: MLD-31)
2018Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina
PBY-5A Consolidated Catalina (Order number: MLD-30)
2014The PBY-5A Catalina flying boat (amphibious aircraft) was used from the Sorido water base at Biak 1953-1957, an island in Dutch New Guinea. It was used as a patrol aircraft and for transport and rescue flights.
Hawker Seahawk FGA 50 (Order number: MLD-140)
2018This painting shows a rendezvous between the Seahawk 6-61 and the cruiser "Hr. Ms. De Zeven Provinciën" of the Royal Navy. The Naval Aviation Service used 22 Seahawks of the FGA50 type from 1956 to 1964. The aircraft were assigned to the Squadrons 3 and 860, under numbers 6-50 to 6-71, later renumbered to 111 to 131. Both squadrons rotated between Valkenburg airbase and aircraft carrier “Hr. Ms. Karel Doorman”. It was the only operational jet fighter in operation with the Royal Navy. The “Hr. Ms. De Zeven Provinciën” was a Dutch light cruiser of the Zeven Provinciën class. Together with its sister ship “Hr. Ms. De Ruyter”, the ships were planned before the Second World War started. It was not until December 17, 1953 that “Hr. Ms. De Zeven Provinciën” was taken into service. It was the last cruiser to serve in the Dutch navy and she was retired in 1975.
Hawker Seafury (Order number: MLD-11)
2017Hawker Seafury F. mk60
Hawker Seafury 6-8 (Order number: MLD-10)
2014The Hawker Seafury, a deck landing fighter, was used on the aircraft carrier “Hr. Ms. Karel Doorman” and stationed at Valkenburg Airbase in the 1950s. The on this painting depicted aircraft crashed after a fatal accident on October 24, 1955 at Valkenburg Airbase.
B 25 Mitchell (Order number: MLD-130)
2016North American B25-C Mitchell This North American B25 Mitchell (2-5) was in service with the Naval Aviation Service from 1947. In the year 1953, the B25 was retired and the submarine “Hr. Ms. Zeeleeuw” S803 entered service. A rendezvous between old and new.
Gloster Meteor T7 (Order number: MLD- 120)
2016Gloster Meteor T. Mk7 The Naval Aviation Service used 6 Gloster Meteor T. Mk7 trainers between 1957 and 1961 at Valkenburg Airbase for the training of the then Sea Hawk pilots, these Meteors were taken over from the Royal Netherlands Air Force at the time.
Grumman-Avenger TBM-3W2 en TBM-3E2 (Order number: MLD-110)
2016Grumman Avenger The Grumman Avenger TBM-3W2 could be recognized by the large radar bump under the hull and the radar was intended for detecting submarines at low altitude. This Avenger, also called the "Hunter" had a 4-man crew. When contact was made with a target by this "Hunter", the other Avenger, the TBM-3E2, came into action to destroy the object, and this version was nicknamed "Killer". The Avenger was in service with the MLD from 1954 to 1961.
Beechcraft TC45j Navigator (Order number: MLD-40)
2015Beechcraft TC-45j Navigator. These aircraft served in the Naval Aviation Service from 1953 to 1974. They were used on VSQ5 for training of pilots, observers and telegraph operators.
Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon (Order number: MLD-100)
2015Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon The MLD hoped to obtain the Lockheed P2V-5 Neptunes around 1950. At the time, this type was the most modern aircraft in the field of anti-submarine warfare. However, this aircraft was not available at the short term, so that 18 PV-2 Harpoons were made available to the MLD by the US as an interim solution. Between September and November 1951 the 18 Harpoons arrived at Valkenburg airfield. Due to the lack of various electronic equipment, the Harpoon was not really suitable for anti-submarine operations and was therefore replaced by the Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune in early 1954. The Harpoon was used on VSQ8 until 1955 for OSRD (search and rescue) flights. In the period 1955 - 1956 the Harpoons were handed over to Portugal after a complete overhaul.
Grumman S2F Tracker (Order number: MLD-71)
2014The Grumman S-2 Tracker, in service from 1960 until 1971 was a long-range patrol aircraft. It was intended for submarine search and destroy missions. The aircraft operated from the aircraft carrier Karel Doorman, Valkenburg Airbase and Hato Airport on Curaçao.
Grumman S2F Tracker (Order number: MLD-70)
2014The Grumman S-2 Tracker, in service from 1960 until 1971 was a long-range patrol aircraft. It was intended for submarine search and destroy missions. The aircraft operated from the aircraft carrier Karel Doorman, Valkenburg Airbase and Hato Airport on Curaçao.
Lockheed P2V5 Neptune (Order number: MLD-50)
2014The Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune was a long-range bomber and was stationed at Valkenburg airfield. It was used in the years 1954 to 1960 as a patrol aircraft, for search and rescue flights and for anti-submarine warfare. (This aircraft was flown by my father during this period)
Lockheed SP2H Neptune (Order number MLD-91)
2021Lockheed Neptune 218 of the Dutch naval air service ready fot a patrol flight.
Lockheed P2V7B Neptune (Order number: MLD-81)
2020The Lockheed P2V-7B with the registration 208 of the Naval Aviation Service in Dutch New Guinea, shown here performing a Kampong reconnaissance flight. The “kampong signal” of the kampong on the water, consisted of two white-painted tree trunks. Here it is marked as safe; no hostile activity.
Lockheed P2V7B Neptune (Order number: MLD-80)
2014Lockheed P2V7B Neptune operated from Boroekoe airfield on the island of Biak in Dutch New Guinea. It was used as a patrol aircraft and as a fighter aircraft. This. This aircraft was specially equipped with a combat nose for Dutch New Guinea.
Lockheed SP2H Neptune (Order number: MLD-90)
1992The Lockheed SP2H Neptune was stationed at Valkenburg airfield from 1962 until 1982. It was used as a patrol aircraft, for search, rescue and anti-submarine warfare. After their service in the Netherlands New Guinea the type was updated from P2V-7B to SP-2H. (This aircraft was flown by my father during this period)
Fairey Firefly NF .Mk.V (Order number: MLD-20)
2013In 1955 squadron 7 was established to serve in Dutch New Guinea and stationed at Boroekoe Biak airfield. Its main task was to perform patrol flights and actions against Indonesian infiltrating aircraft. These Fireflies were provided with the registrations 005 to 017 with the letter “B” of Biak on the tailplane. In December 1961 squadron 7 was decommissioned and written off. This specific aircraft with registration 016 was set on fire after the transfer of sovereignty with Indonesia so that it would not fall into the wrong hands.
Fairey Firefly Nose (Order number: MLD-21)
1996The nose of the Fairey Firefly 016. For the last operational flights, the nose of this plane was colorfully painted with a shark beak. After this, these aircraft were written off.