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

KLM's DC-3 PH-ARB "Buizerd" escaped from Schiphol during the Nazi invasion of Holland in early May 1940. It was camouflaged and re-registered G-AGBD and flown by Dutch and BOAC crews on runs to neutral Lisbon and Shannon. Returned to KLM postwar as PH-TBD. To Skyways as G-AGBD in August 1946. From KLM 60 years ago.

This was to have been the first DC-5 for KLM, but PH-AXA "Alk" was not taken up. On 8 May 1940, shortly before the German invasion in Holland, this aircraft arrived at Curaçao on delivery to KLM's West Indies branch as PJ-AIW "Wakago". It was transferred to KNILM in the East Indies as PK-ADC in June 1941. Flown to Australia in early March 1942 and transferred to USAAF two months later. Damaged beyond repair in an emergency landing at the Lurnea Siding Airstrip near Charleville, QLD on 6 Nov 1942. Scrapped on site in May 1943. Photo from: San Diego Air & Space Museum

The 'Snip' is famous for operating the first transatlantic flight for KLM. Between 15-22 December 1934, it flew the routing Amsterdam - Marseille, Alicante, Casablanca, Porto Praia, Paramaribo, La Guaira, Curaçao. Covering 10488 km in 54h27. For support, the Dutch Navy submarine "K XVIII" and ships "Stuyvesant" and "Van Renelaer" were based in the Atlantic Ocean. The aircraft stayed at the Antilles and was reregistered PJ-AIS in February 1936 to KLM West-Indisch Bedrijf. Written off in April 1948 and used as fire trainer. At upload, the cockpit section still preserved at the Curacao museum. Location unknown, although likely to be Curacao.

Dutch crown princess Juliana on her way to Surinam (Dutch Guyana) in 1943, escorted by an American B-25 and a Dutch one, 42-65102. PJ-AIM was delivered to KLM's West Indies branch in July 1938. Retired in 1948 and dumped into sea in 1949. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

The first Amsterdam to Zürich service after WWII. The camouflaged aircraft has the KLM logo on the rudder. It was added to the KLM fleet in exile in Bristol, operated on behalf of BOAC, in 1944. Military serials 42-92378 and FZ617. To 'PH-AZT' and G-AGJT May 1944. To PH-TBA on 18 January 1946, three days before this picture was taken. Later OO-TBA, PH-TFB, N94530 and N3BA. Photo from: ETH-Bibliothek Zürich

Ex 42-72205. Bought by KLM for West Indies Branch. Reg not taken up and aircraft delivered as PJ-ALO. Named Oranjestad. To Cathay Pacific in 1949 as VR-HEU. Shot down by Chinese La-7 fighters off Hainan Island on 23 July 1954.

KLM acquired six new DC-4 airliners in 1946. Named Rotterdam after delivery, PH-TAR flew the very first Amsterdam - New York service on 21 May. It was also the first KLM aircraft to wear The Flying Dutchman titles. Therefore, though the reg under the wing is tricky to read, this cannot be PH-TAP. We are pretty sure the tail on the left belongs to Dutch C-54A NL-313 as seen in photo 408646. Photo from: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

Detail of photo 582623. PH-TBD is a 1937 DC-3, ex PH-ARB, which survived the war in England as G-AGBD. It was sold to Skyways as G-AGBD later in 1946. PH-TAT was the first DC-4-1009 delivered to KLM in March 1946. It is in a livery only worn by it and PH-TAP, with large orange Royal Dutch Airlines titles. Behind it are two C-54 Skymasters in Netherlands Government Air Transport markings. Photo by: Luuk Vrind / Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

KLM photo. PH-TAV sold in the US as N86532 in October 1950. Photo from: Civil Aviation Historical Society, Melbourne, Australia

One of the first true DC-4s for KLM, christened that day by the acting mayor of Schiedam with the locally distilled jenever booze. Note engine maintenance in tents in the background due to the destruction of Schiphol during the war. Photo from: Gemeentearchief Schiedam

Early postwar KLM airliner. 42-93081 transferred to Dutch in July 1945. Assigned paramilitary reg NL-208. To West Indies Branch as PJ-ALG. Used as cartographic aircraft. Withdrawn because of compass problems. According to KLM, sold straight to Avianca for spares in April 1949. According to Joe Baugher's website, to SAM from Medellín first as C-521 in July 1948. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

Ex 42-92884. Damaged by flak on D-Day. Towed a Waco CG-4A for operation Market Garden. To Netherlands government as NL-210. Operated by KLM as PH-TCC reportedly until January 1948 although registered to Fokker in November 1947. To Sobelair as OO-SBE. Later 9Q-CUK, not to be confused with c/n 33445/16697. Photo from: ETH-Bibliothek Zürich

KLM's inaugural post-war scheduled service from Amsterdam to Manchester, after the break caused by World War Two. The crew and officials stand by as passengers disembark from PH-TBP which flew for the airline from January 1946 until April 1952.

PH-TBZ about to leave on the Sunday evening service to Amsterdam. Sold in Cameroon as F-OAIU in January 1954. Photo by: Ronald D. H. Campbell via Colin Bookless

KLM served Leeuwarden, the capital of Friesland province, in 1938-39 and 1946-49. On 27 December 1947, captain Robinson and pilot Kroon aborted their landing here due to fog but hit the spire of a church which took off 3.5 metres (11 feet) of the left wing. An emergency landing was made near Boksum, then spelled Boxum. The aircraft, formerly 42-92501 and KG314, was written off. Photo by: Harry Sagers / Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

'500th [postwar] flight to Batavia [Jakarta]'. The airport is still in shambles in the background. Aircraft registered in August 1947. Not yet named Roermond here. The Connie crashed into sea off Bari during return flight from Jakarta on 23 June 1949. All 33 people on board lost their lives. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

Aircraft wears the crests of the city of Nijmegen and of the US 82nd Airborne Division which fought there during operation Market Garden in September 1944. Nijmegen crashed near Prestwick on 21 October 1948. All 40 people on board lost their lives, including KLM's chief pilot Koene Dirk Parmentier of Uiver fame. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

Right landing gear collapsed. Ex 42-107436, NL-350. Later PJ-ALW, PH-TLW, PH-DBW, HK-526, HK-526E. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)