The registration leads one to believe that this was the first Dutch DC-3, but PH-ALI had a lower construction number and was delivered almost six months earlier. PH-ALH captured by the Germans. Used by Lufthansa as D-ABUG and by KG 200 of the Luftwaffe into 1944. Photo from: Amsterdam City Archives

Neutrality markings applied on PH-ALO and PH-ARE Emoe. The third DC-3 is probably PH-ALR Reiger. These three were ferried to Naples, the new European terminus of KLM's East Indies route, on 31 October 1939, getting there via Copenhagen and eastern Germany. They joined six other DC-3s on the Indies route which never returned to Amsterdam after the outbreak of WWII on 3 September. These aircraft were put on the NEI register in June 1940. PH-ALO to PK-ALO, destroyed at Broome by Japanese aircraft on 3 March 1942. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

Uil (owl) was destroyed here by German bombing on 10 May 1940. Photo from: Amsterdam City Archives

PH-ALR undertook two route proving flights to South Africa, the first in December 1938 and the second in January 1940 despite the outbreak of WWII. Crew and passengers departed Amsterdam by train and boarded the aircraft in Naples which had become the European terminus of KLM's East Indies route. Note neutrality markings. Photo from: DRISA