History
Narrative Summary
Danish naval officers began training as pilots at private flying schools in late 1911. In 1912 an aircraft was donated to the Danish Navy, allowing the establishment of an aviation unit. Denmark was neutral in WW1 and so was unable to obtain aircraft from abroad. Instead, the Naval Shipyard was tasked with supplying the service with flying boats. After WW1 the aviation unit was able to expand and in 1923 became an independent branch of the navy.
With the growing risk of a European war, a re-equipment programme was belatedly launched in 1938, but came too late for any of the ordered aircraft to be delivered. When Nazi Germany invaded in April 1940 the naval air service did not resist. The German occupiers prohibited all military flying and so the naval aircraft were dismantled and stored in a hangar. In 1943 these aircraft were set on fire in an act of sabotage, to prevent the Germans from taking them into service.
After the liberation of Denmark in 1945 the naval air service was re-established, but did not have any aircraft until late 1946 when a number of aircraft from Britain were received. In 1950 the naval air service was merged with the army air arm to form the Royal Danish Air Force.
Key Dates
| 14 December 1911 | First naval officers begin pilot training | |
| 25 March 1912 | First aircraft received | |
| 20 April 1915 | First purpose-built naval air station opened | |
| 15 September 1923 | Independent naval air service created | |
| 9 April 1940 | German invasion of Denmark | |
| April 1940 | Naval air service disbanded by German occupiers | |
| 22 November 1943 | Stored naval aircraft destroyed by sabotage | |
| December 1946 | Naval air service re-established | |
| 1 November 1950 | Army and Navy air arms merged to form the Royal Danish Air Force |
Current Status
Not applicable.
Future Plans
Not applicable.
Markings
National Insignia
Aircraft Serial Numbers
1912-1918:
MF aircraft were assigned individual names.
1918-1950:
MF aircraft Wwere given two or three-digit numerical serial numbers ranging between 1 and 242, e.g. Hawker Dantorp 202. These numbers were allocated in a sequence based on the aircrsaft’s main role:
1-99 for seaplane reconnaissance aircraft
101-149 for landplane trainers
151-200 for fighters
201+ for torpedo-bombers
Unit/Base Codes
Coding system not used.
Aircraft
Aircraft Designations
Aircraft type codes were assigned from 1921 onwards. These consisted of two letters and a roman number, e.g. H.B.III for the Hawker Dantorp. The first letter indicated flying boat (F), floatplane (H) or landplane (L). The second letter indicated biplane (B) or monoplane (M). The roman number indicated the chronological order in the class, so the H.B.III was the third type of floatplane biplane acquired.
Current Aircraft Inventory
Not applicable.
All-Time Aircraft Used List
All-Time Table of Aircraft Used
Aircraft NOT Used
12 Fairey P.4/34 light bombers were ordered for manufacture under licence by the Orlogsvaerftet, and 12 Macchi MC.200 fighters were ordered. None were completed by the time of the German invasion in 9 April 1940.
Organisation
Main Headquarters
NAS Copenhagen, Margretheholm.
Organisational Structure
By 1940 the MF was organised into two Air Flotilla (squadrons), and the Naval Flying School.
Current Order of Battle
Not applicable.
Historical Orders of Battle
To be added.
All-Time Flying Units List
1. Luftflotille
2. Luftflotille
Flyveskolen
Air Bases
Current Air Bases
Not applicable.
All-Time Air Bases Used List
The main air bases were NAS Copenhagen, Margretheholm and NAS Avno, South Zealand. A further minor base was at NAS Slipshavn on Funen.
Aircraft-Carrying Ships
To be added.
More Information
Books
Danish Military Aviation Bibliography – to be added.
Magazines
To be added.
Websites
Danish Air Force, Danish Army Air Corps and Royal Danish Naval Aviation
Order of Battle – Royal Danish Navy 8 April 1940
