Narrative History:

Dutch naval aviation began in 1914 with the start of construction of the first seaplane base at De Mok. Four naval officers were also sent for training as pilots and observers at the Army Aviation School at Soesterberg in 1914. This group graduated on 30 October 1915. In 1915 work commenced on a second seaplane base at Schellingwoude, near Amsterdam. On August 18, 1917 the MLD was finally created by official decree. De Mok became the main base for operations.

Only very slow expansion was allowed due to the limited defence budgets of the interwar period. The emphasis for naval aviation was put on operations in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI), with home based units mainly for training. The first naval two aircraft despatched to East Indies arrived on the island of Java in 1919. Additional floatplane aircraft were subsequently sent to the NEI, but operations were confined to Java due to lack of range and seaworthiness. The arrival of the Dornier Wal flying boats in 1926 allowed patrol missions throughout the East Indies.

Modest expansion was pursued from 1937, due to the increasing threat from Germany, and more modern equipment was ordered. The MLD was fully mobilised at the start of World War 2, with aircraft dispersed to several bases in the Netherlands. Neutrality patrols were conducted along the borders, but not without casualties. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded the Low Countries. The limited Dutch forces inflicted significant casualties on the attackers but were soon overwhelmed, and the country surrendered on 14 May. Previously, on the morning of 12 May, all remaining MLD aircraft had been flown to France, where they patrolled the French coast for several days before being ordered to England.

Dutch personnel formed No.320 squadron, RAF Coastal Command, in June 1940. A second unit, No.321 squadron shortly followed, which later amalgamated with 320 squadron and disbanded. Other MLD personnel served in the Fleet Air Arm with 860 and 861 squadrons, operating Swordfish torpedo bombers off 'MAC ships', merchant aircraft carriers. In the meanwhile, the MLD in the East Indies re-organised and expanded. Numerous orders for new equipment were placed in the USA. The Netherlands declared war on Japan on 8 December 1941, after Pearl Harbor. The Japanese launched an attack on the NEI on 1 March 1942 but the defenders were spread too thinly to halt the advance. The survivors fled to Australia and Ceylon. 321 squadron RAF was reformed in Ceylon with ex-NEI Catalinas.

A Dutch Army/Navy flying school (the Royal Netherlands Military Flying School) was established at Jackson Field, Mississippi, operating lend-lease aircraft. It was finally closed down on 15 February 1944. A Dutch Air Forces Directorate (including the Naval Air Service) was set up in London in the middle of 1944, to prepare for the revival of military aviation in the Netherlands and the final stages of the war against Japan. The Netherlands were liberated during October 1944. The Directorate later transferred to the Netherlands, but aircrews were still sent to England for flying training. A Directorate of Flying Training was created in 1947 to supervise the training of both Army and Navy pilots. Valkenburg was established as the main MLD base, with De Kooij as the overhaul and repair base. The light carrier 'Karel Doorman' was obtained on a two year loan from the Royal Navy.

From 1945 the MLD supported military operations in the NEI against Indonesian nationalists, during the War of Independence. Sovereignty of the NEI was transferred to Indonesia on 27 December 1949, followed on 21 June 1950 by withdrawal of Dutch forces. Western New Guinea was not included in this transfer.

In March 1948 a light fleet carrier was obtained from the Royal Navy to replace the loaned one, and also renamed 'Karel Doorman'. The main roles of the MLD were seen to be maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue. From 1953, with the creation of NATO, the MLD received substantial MDAP aid from the USA, including PV-2 Harpoon, P2V Neptune and TBM Avenger aircraft.

During the 'sixties, primary pilot training was conducted on the Fokker S,11 at the Air Force base at Gilze-Rijen, with advanced training on the Fouga Magisters of the Belgian AF at Brustem, then special maritime training at Valkenburg and Hato. This sequence continued until 1971. In the late sixties the single aircraft carrier was replaced by a squadron of Wasp helicopters operated from a fleet of new anti-submarine frigates. Since 1971 MLD pilots have been trained initially at the Government flying school (Rijks Luchtvaartschool) at Eelde Airport, Groningen, then to the KLU (Air Force) for military and helicopter training, followed by maritime training with 2 squadron MOTU (for fixed wing pilots) or at De Kooij (for helicopter pilots).

Economic conditions during the 1970's forced defence cuts reducing the MLD to just four squadrons and the postponing of a replacement for the Neptunes. The Lynx UH-14A replaced the AB.204B after joint training with Royal Navy's 700L squadron in the winter of 1976-77. On 5 October 1978 the Marine Luchtvaart School (Marine Aviation Training School) was formally opened. This organisation performs technical training for ground and air crews. In 1990 a re-organisation led to the pooling of squadron aircraft into centrally serviced MARPAT and HELIGRP groups. With the withdrawal of the Neptune, two Air Force owned F-27MPAs fly from the Netherlands Antilles with MLD systems operators and under naval tactical control.

During 1991 one Orion was deployed to Sicily to cover for US Navy aircraft employed in the Gulf War. Also HrMS Philips van Almonde deployed to the Persian Gulf with Lynx helicopters for patrol and mine sweeping missions. By 1992 one Orion was detached to Curacao, West Indies, for anti-drug smuggling and SAR operations in co-operation with the American DEA.