Air War WW2 Portal 
On May 10th 1940 World War 2 started for the Dutch.
Included on these pages are:
Histories of the Squadrons that were active during WW2. In the first place these are the units of the LVA [=LuchtVaart Afdeling= Aviation Service (of the Royal Netherlands Army)] which fought during five days in May 1940 against the German Luftwaffe.
The war started at May 10th 1940 in the early morning and during five days the Dutch Army defended the country, but after the bombing of the city of Rotterdam on May 14th the Dutch had to surrender.
After capitulation a number of planes of the Naval Air Service escaped to France and from there to the United Kingdom. A number of pilots and engineers of the LVA escaped to the UK too. There the MLD restarted and two squadrons were formed: 320 and 321 under Coastal Command of the Royal Air Force. Later 321 moved to the Far East.
Later a fighter Squadron was formed with Dutch pilots: no. 322 Squadron.
In december 1941 the war started for the Dutch East Indies. The Japanese conquered the East Indies and the army (KNIL) and the air force (ML) were forced to escape to Australia. There new squadrons were formed with the personnel that reached Australia. One bomber squadron (no. 18 NEI) and one fighter Squadron (no. 120 NEI) were formed. Later a Transport Squadron was formed in Australia as well.
On these pages you'll find information on the squadrons that were active in the ETO.
