The situation was precarious for the German invaders of Narvik in April and May 1940 and a squadron of large seaplanes was formed to fly in supplies and reinforcements. From 10 May the first three BV 138A-1 production aircraft were involved in an operation in the Ranfjord area, landing troops near Hemnesberget. Two of them were lost. This should be NG-UC as it was sunk here at Sundsbukta according to the German photographer. Photo by: Karl Marth / Arkiv i Nordland

Fokker C.V reconnaissance aircraft at Soesterberg, the Dutch army air force's principal airfield. 632 was delivered in 1926 as 313, that serial implying a two-seat fighter. It was refitted with a Rolls-Roye Kestrel engine in 1935. The second machine, 647, was newly delivered in July 1935. Photo from: Bodo Sandberg collection

The navy's training aircraft lined up. The occasion may have been a change of command at the naval airfield on 20 October 1938. The new S.IX elementary trainers, middle row, replaced the antiquated S.IIIs, on the right. On the left are Koolhoven FK.51 intermediate trainers. Photo from: Bodo Sandberg collection

Assigned to the so-called Strategic Aircraft Group, which held a summer camp on Texel in the summer of 1938. The island's airfield had opened in 1937. Aircraft crashed and was written off on 16 November 1939. Photo from: Bodo Sandberg collection

17 D.XVI fighters were delivered to the Dutch army. There were troubles with the Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar engines. This aircraft received a new Panther engine in 1935, and a three-blade prop. Apparently it was no longer armed. Photo from: Bodo Sandberg collection

Delivery of the first four D.XXI fighters for the Dutch army air force. They are not armed yet. A month later during the Munich Crisis the service could only form three small fighter flights, one with D.XXIs, one with D.XVIIs and one with C.X reconaissance biplanes. Photo from: Bodo Sandberg collection

The C.I served in the Dutch army air force from 1920 until 1939, lastly as a trainer. This airframe was written off after flipping on its back on 16 June 1936, and this may be assumed to be that crash. It still has the original BMW inline engine. Photo from: Bodo Sandberg collection

This AT-11 was ordered by the NEI air force and was to have been A-14, but delivered to the Royal Netherlands Military Flying School at Jackson with the serial 42-3070, based on the c/n. To the USAAF, 42-3070 was a B-17. The strange serial is clearly visible on the port side of the nose in another shot. In the background here are P-39 Airacobras in US markings, including 42-18885. Upon the closure of the school in February 1944, the Kansan went to the USAAF, becoming 44-72016. Later PP-CCF with Cruzeiro do Sul; crashed on 15 November 1957. Photo from: Bodo Sandberg collection

The C.X reconnaissance biplane saw combat in Dutch and Finnish service during WWII. 710 is flying in formation with 705 and 714 here. The city below is Assen (not Amersfoort). Photo from: Bodo Sandberg collection

Fokker's succesful C.V was the principal aircraft in the Dutch army air force from the late 1920s. Refitted with a Rolls-Royce Kestrel engine many C.Vs were still in service at the time of the German invasion. 639 flew bombing missions against German airborne troops near The Hague on 10 May 1940. Photo from: Bodo Sandberg collection

First flown in 1924, the S.IV was the standard elementary trainer in the Dutch army air force. This aircraft has been refitted with a 130-hp Armstrong-Siddeley Mongoose engine. It is seen with another S.IV, 116, and two Fokker C.1 advanced trainers, 500 and 539. Photo from: Bodo Sandberg collection

Rare glimpse of this KLM DC-3, a few months old at this time and destroyed by German bombs here on 10 May 1940. The airport sightseeing bus is on the left. Detail of photo 123841 with Fokker G.I fighters in the foreground. Photo from: Bodo Sandberg collection

One of the first batch of ten FK.51 intermediate trainers of the Dutch army air force. Photo from: Bodo Sandberg collection

Fokker's last biplane fighter was quite a stunner. Ten D.XVIIs were delivered to the Dutch army air force. By May 1940, seven remained in service with the advanced flying school on Texel Island, where 204 was destroyed by German strafing. Three others carried out one operational mission to the Grebbe Line front on 12 May, flown by rookie pilots. Photo from: Bodo Sandberg collection

Undelivered G.I 'fighter cruisers' at Schiphol, now Schiphol East. The Fokker factory was actually in North Amsterdam but aircraft were moved to Schiphol by barge. A KLM DC-3, PH-AST, and an L-14, PH-ASL, are also seen, as well as the Schiphol sightseeing bus behind the DC-3. Photo from: Bodo Sandberg collection