Key Dates:
28 July 1914		First aircraft acquired for pilot training
1 August 1914		First four Naval Officers attend Military Aviation School
1914		Construction of first seaplane base at De Mok started
18 August 1917		MLD established
1918		MLD takes over pilot training from Army
8 February 1919		First MLD aircraft deployed in Netherlands East Indies
September 1939		Neutrality patrols initiated
10 May 1940		Germany invades Netherlands
12 May 1940		Surviving MLD aircraft escape to France
14 May 1940		Netherlands surrenders
22 May 1940		Surviving MLD aircraft transfer to England
June 1940		Dutch squadrons formed within RAF (and later FAA) in England
8 December 1941		Netherlands declares war on Japan
10 January 1942		Japan invades Borneo and Celebes in the East Indies
1 March 1942		Japan invades main East Indies Island of Java
late March 1942		East Indies surrenders, aircrew escape to Australia and Ceylon
mid 1942		Joint Army-Navy flying school set up at Jackson, Mississippi, USA
October 1944		Netherlands liberated by Allies
August 1945		Indonesian Nationalists seize control of East Indies
1945-1949		Indonesian war of independence
1946		Aircraft Carrier HrMS Karel Doorman first commissioned
1947		MLD units in East Indies integrated with Netherlands home command
21 December 1949		East Indies gain independence as Republic of Indonesia
1962		Western New Guinea handed over to Indonesia via United Nations
8 October 1968		Aircraft carrier HrMS Karel Doorman retired
1974		Westland Lynx selected as future standard helicopter
21 July 1982		First P-3C Orion delivered