View source for Netherlands Naval Aviation Service

{{Short description|Aviation arm of the Royal Netherlands Navy}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=Naval Aviation Service
|native_name={{lang|nl|Marineluchtvaartdienst}}
|start_date= 1914
|country= [[Netherlands]]
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|allegiance=
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|type= [[Naval aviation]]
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|command_structure= [[Royal Netherlands Navy]]
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|battles=[[World War I|First World War]]<br />[[World War II|Second World War]]
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|website= 
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|identification_symbol= [[File:Roundel of the Netherlands.svg|85px]]
|identification_symbol_label= Roundel
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}}
The '''Netherlands Naval Aviation Service''' ({{langx|nl|Marineluchtvaartdienst}}, shortened to '''MLD''') is the [[naval aviation]] branch of the [[Royal Netherlands Navy]].

== History ==

=== World War I ===

Although the MLD was formed in 1914, with the building of a seaplane base at [[De Mok]], [[Texel]], it developed slowly in the inter-war years due to limited budget. After the graduation of the first pilot group in 1915, on August 18, 1917, the MLD was founded under official decree and De Mok became the main base. At this time, the emphasis was on seaplane operations in the [[Dutch East Indies]] where [[Dornier Do J|Dornier Wal]] aircraft enabled patrols of the large archipelago in 1926. The perceived threat from Nazi Germany in the 1930s accelerated the development of air capability and the purchase of new equipment.

=== World War II ===

The German [[Battle of the Netherlands|invasion of the Netherlands]] on May 10, 1940, rapidly overwhelmed Dutch resistance and the MLD aircraft were redeployed to France before the Dutch formally surrendered on 15 May. Shortly after, the MLD was ordered to Britain, where Dutch personnel formed [[No. 320 Squadron RAF]], [[RAF Coastal Command|Coastal Command]], in June 1940. A second squadron, [[No. 321 Squadron RAF|321 Squadron]], was also formed, but later merged with 320 Squadron. Other MLD personnel served on [[Merchant aircraft carrier|MAC ships]] in the [[Fleet Air Arm]]'s [[860 Naval Air Squadron|860]] and [[861 Naval Air Squadron]]s, flying the [[Fairey Swordfish]].

At this time efforts were made to strengthen the MLD in the [[Dutch East Indies]]. When the war started in December 1941, the MLD numbered 130 aircraft. The main types were 37 [[Dornier Do 24]] K-1 flying boats and 36 Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina flying boats.<ref>Womack, (2006), pp.164-165.</ref> The major base was at [[Morokrembangan Naval Air Base]] near [[Surabaya|Soerabaja]] in eastern [[Java]]. The MLD had secondary bases as well as [[seaplane tender]]s that enabled it to spread out and cover the entire Netherlands East Indies. It was organized into 18 squadrons (GVT, ''Groep Vliegtuigen'') of about three aircraft each to provide reconnaissance, anti-submarine patrols, convoy escort in support of Dutch forces. The MLD did not have radar. The MLD fought about 95 combat actions, sank one Japanese ship (the destroyer {{Ship|Japanese destroyer|Shinonome|1927|2}}), damaged some others, shot down a few Japanese aircraft and inflicted some casualties on Japanese personnel on the ground.<ref>Womack, (2006), pp.55–56 & 147.</ref> That was not enough to stop the Japanese, and eventually the MLD was forced to evacuate to Ceylon and Australia. They lost 95% of their aircraft and 50% of their personnel.<ref>Womack, (2006), pp.148 & 152.</ref>

On March 3, 1942, nine MLD Dornier and [[PBY Catalina|Catalina]] [[flying boat]]s were destroyed in the Japanese air [[attack on Broome]], in Australia. About 58 MLD personnel were killed, wounded, or missing.<ref>Womack, (2006), p.138.</ref> Later that year, on July 1 in [[Ceylon]], [[No. 321 Squadron RAF|321 Squadron]] was re-formed under the command of Willem van Prooijen, with MLD Catalinas. The PBYs in Australia were transferred to Ceylon, and the surviving Dorniers were sold to the Australian government. The flight school was relocated to the United States.

The [[Royal Netherlands Military Flying School]] (see [[:nl:Royal Netherlands Military Flying School]]) was established in the [[United States]], at [[Hawkins Field (airport)|Jackson Field]] (also known as Hawkins Field), [[Jackson, Mississippi]], operating lend-lease aircraft, training all military aircrew for the Netherlands. The intention was to return to the Netherlands and to participate in the war against Japan. After liberation, the main MLD base was established at [[Valkenburg Naval Air Base|Valkenburg]], with [[De Kooy Airfield|De Kooy]] as the overhaul and repair base.

=== Post-war ===
[[File:Fairey Firefly FR.4 16-52 RNNAS RWY 02.04.52 edited-3.jpg|thumb|[[Fairey Firefly]] FR.4 of the MLD in 1952]]
The British [[escort carrier]] {{HMS|Nairana|D05|6}} was obtained on a two-year loan from the Royal Navy and renamed HNLMS ''Karel Doorman''. In March 1948 a light fleet carrier, {{HMS|Venerable|R63|6}}, was purchased from the Royal Navy to replace the loaned one, and also renamed {{HNLMS|Karel Doorman|R81|6}}. Aircraft carried aboard included the fighter-reconnaissance and anti-submarine [[Fairey Firefly]].

The main roles of the MLD were maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue. From 1953, with the creation of NATO, the MLD received substantial aid from the US, including 12 [[Lockheed Ventura|Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon]], [[Lockheed P-2 Neptune|Lockheed P2V Neptune]], [[Grumman TBF Avenger]] and 43 [[Grumman S-2 Tracker]] (1955–1974) aircraft.

320 and 321 Squadrons were stationed at [[Valkenburg Naval Air Base|NAS Valkenburg]] and was known as the ''group aircraft''. Helicopters were stationed in De Kooy and on ships and were known as the ''group helicopters''. [[860 Naval Air Squadron|860 Squadron]] remained in service to operate the remaining [[NH90]] helicopters, but as part of the [[Royal Netherlands Air Force#Defence Helicopter Command|Defence Helicopter Command]].

In the late 1960s, the aircraft carrier was replaced in the [[anti-submarine]] role by a squadron of [[Westland Wasp]] [[helicopter]]s operated from anti-submarine frigates. These helicopters were replaced by [[Westland Lynx]]s, and these were replaced themselves by [[NH90]] helicopters.

320 and 321 Squadrons operated 19 Neptunes (1961–1982) and 9 [[Breguet Atlantic]] (1969–1984), which were later replaced by 13 [[Lockheed P-3 Orion]] CUP (1982–2005). In the 1980s a Lockheed P-3C-II.5 Orion of the MLD was stationed at [[Naval Air Station Keflavik]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Hopman-Calis |first=Karlijn |date=2021 |title=Militair-maritieme inlichtensamenwerking tussen Nederland en de Verenigde Staten |url=https://www.kvmo.nl/images/pdf/2021/MBs/Marineblad_aug_2021.pdf |magazine=Marineblad |publisher=KVMO |location=The Hague |issue=5 |language=Dutch |pages=21-26}}</ref>

In 2003, it was announced that [[Valkenburg Naval Air Base|NAS Valkenburg]] would close in 2006. All the Orions were sold to Germany (8) and Portugal (5). Naval squadrons 320 and 321 were disbanded.<ref>[http://www.marine.nl/nieuws/?article=/nieuws/persberichten/2006/060630pb_mvkv.html Press release by the Royal Dutch Navy (in Dutch)] {{dead link|date=August 2015|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

In 2008, the navy helicopters (Westland Lynx) and crews of naval squadrons 7 and 860 based at [[De Kooy Airfield|NAS de Kooy]] were transferred to the Defence Helicopter Command (DHC) as were the Dutch Air Force helicopters. All Dutch military helicopters are now under one single command which is neither navy nor air force. No. 7 Squadron is to become a small training squadron, while 860 Squadron will become much larger and is designated DHC's maritime squadron with a large navy component. NAS de Kooy was renamed Maritime Airstation de Kooy.<ref>[http://www.marine.nl/nlmarfor/helikopters/ Press release by the Royal Dutch Navy (in Dutch)]  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080419101352/http://www.marine.nl/nlmarfor/helikopters/ |date=April 19, 2008 }}</ref>

== Historical Aircraft 1945–1990 ==

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+  Fixed-wing aircraft<ref name="Schoonoord320">Schoonoord (2012), p. 320.</ref>
|-
!Aircraft type
!Origin
!Number
!In service
!Notes
|-
! align="center" colspan=6 | Fighter aircraft
|-
| [[Hawker Sea Fury]] || {{UK}} || 48 || 1946–1956 ||
|-
| [[Hawker Sea Hawk]] || {{UK}} || 22 || 1956–1964 || Operated from the aircraft carrier [[HNLMS Karel Doorman (R81)]]
|-
! align="center" colspan=6 | Maritime patrol aircraft
|-
| [[Fairey Firefly]] || {{UK}} || 84 || 1946–1961|| Operated from the aircraft carrier [[HNLMS Karel Doorman (R81)]]. MLD had 30 Mk 1's in service between 1946–1954, 40 Mk 4's between 1947–1961 and 14 Mk 5's between 1954–1961.
|-
| [[North American B-25 Mitchell]] || {{USA}} || 9 || 1947–1952 ||
|-
| [[Lockheed Ventura|Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon]] || {{USA}} || 18 || 1951–1954 ||
|-
| [[Grumman TBF Avenger]] || {{USA}} || 78 || 1954–1960 ||
|-
| [[Lockheed P-2 Neptune]] || {{USA}} || 31 || 1954–1983 || Operated 12 P2V-5 between 1954–1961 and 19 P2V-7 between 1961–1983.
|-
| [[Grumman S-2 Tracker]] || {{USA}} || 43 || 1960–1974 || Operated from the aircraft carrier [[HNLMS Karel Doorman (R81)]]
|-
| [[Bréguet 1150 Atlantic|Bréguet Atlantic SP-13A]] || {{FR}} || 9 || 1969–1984 ||
|-
| [[Lockheed P-3 Orion]] || {{USA}} || 13 || 1983–2004 ||
|-
! align="center" colspan=6 | Amphibious aircraft
|-
| [[Consolidated PBY Catalina|Catalina PBY-5A]] || {{USA}} || 22 || 1946–1957 || 
|-
| [[Supermarine Sea Otter|Supermarine Sea Otter Mk 2]] || {{UK}} || 8 || 1949–1954 || Operated from the aircraft carrier [[HNLMS Karel Doorman (R81)]].
|-
| [[Martin PBM Mariner|Martin PBM-5A Mariner]] || {{USA}} || 15 || 1955–1959 || 
|-
! align="center" colspan=6 | Military transport aircraft
|-
| [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|Douglas Dakota C-47]] || {{USA}} || 15 || 1945–1961 || 
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+  Helicopters<ref name="Schoonoord320" />
|-
!Aircraft type
!Origin
!Number
!In service
!Notes
|-
| [[Sikorsky S-51]] || {{USA}} || 1 || 1951–1959 ||
|-
| [[Sikorsky H-19|Sikorsky S-55]] || {{USA}} || 3 || 1954–1963 ||
|-
| [[Sikorsky H-34|Sikorsky S-58]] || {{USA}} || 12 || 1959–1972 ||
|-
| [[Bell UH-1 Iroquois|Agusta Bell UH-I]] || {{USA}}<br>{{ITA}} || 8 || 1962–1977 ||
|-
| [[Westland Wasp|Westland Wasp AH-12A]] || {{UK}} || 12 || 1967–1983 || Operated from six [[Van Speijk-class frigate|Van Speijk]] class frigates.
|-
| [[Westland Lynx]] || {{UK}} || 24 || 1977–2013 || Operated from the Van Speijk-class frigates. Later from the [[Tromp-class frigate|Tromps]] and [[Kortenaer-class frigate|Kortenaer]] class frigates.

|}

== Historical weapons ==
* [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]] air-to-air missiles – The Sidewinders were carried by the Hawker Sea Hawk.

== Notes ==

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
* {{cite book|first=Tom |last=Womack |title=The Dutch Naval Air Force against Japan; The Defense of the Netherlands East Indies, 1941–1941 |publisher=McFarland & Company |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-7864-2365-1}}
*{{cite book |last=Schoonoord |first=D.C.L. |date=2012 |title=Pugno pro patria: de Koninklijke Marine tijdens de Koude Oorlog |language=Dutch|edition= |url= |location=Franeker |publisher=Van Wijnen |page= |isbn=978-90-5194-455-6}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite journal |last1=Kamphuis|first1=Geert H.|last2=Hazewinkel|first2=Harm J.|name-list-style=amp|title=60 ans d'aéronavale hollandaise|journal=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=February 1978 |issue=99 |pages=30–33 |issn=0757-4169 |language=fr|trans-title=60 Years of Dutch Naval Aviation}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Oever |first=Jan van den |title=MDL: l'Aéronautique naval des Pay-Bas |magazine=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=November 1989 |issue=240 |pages=6–13 |language=Fr|trans-title=MDL: Naval Aviation of the Netherlands}}

== External links ==
* {{cite web |url= http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/neth/mld/mldindex.htm |title=World Air Forces: Netherlands Naval Aviation Service |first=John |last=Hayles |work=Aeroflight |year=2008 }}
* {{cite web |url= http://members.casema.nl/falcons/MLD.html |title=Marineluchtvaartdienst |work=members.casema.nl |year=2009 }}

[[Category:Netherlands Naval Aviation Service]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1914]]
[[Category:1914 establishments in the Netherlands]]