Netherlands Air Force

[de Salier]

Advertisement of the Koolhoven FK.58 I bought a while ago, I quite like it

Give me a shout if you want it translated

https://picasaweb.google.com/Eijsermans.EM/OldPhotographs#5469214337444545570

 

[gekho]

During the fall of 1945 two orders of fifteen aircraft each were signed. The first twenty aircraft were F.Mk.1 serialled F-1 till F-20; the remaining ten aircraft were FR.Mk.1 serialled F-21 till F-30. The first six examples were handed over to the Dutch Navy January 18, 1946. These aircraft were assigned to 860 squadron. March 20, 1946 the first aircraft carrier 'Karel Doorman' entered service. 860 squadron was based on this ship. The flight deck was just 150 meters long and caused problems with start and landing. August 26, 1946 the 'Doorman' left for the Dutch East Indies because of the situation there. Squadron 860 was embarked with Fireflies F-17 till F-30. The Fireflies were used for air to ground support. Several Fireflies were lost in action, such as F-22, F-24 and F-27.

During 1948 the aircraft were re-serialled, were code letter F was changed in code K. (on 25-08-1947 in the Netherlands and 26-01-1949 in Dutch East Indies). The letters were not applied as such on the aircraft, but the "6" and "11" ( F is the 6th and 11nd letter in the alfabet). The K-Serial was changed again in January 1950 in code letter P. March 1950 860 squadron was temporarily with drawn from service. The remaining Fireflies went for a complete overhaul to the Neterhlands. In September 1946 861 squadron was established and equipped with Fireflies. It was based on naval air station Valkenburg and was dismissed in April 1947. The Fireflies went to GVO (Groep Vlieg Opleiding = Group Flight Training) and to OGV (Opleiding Gevechts Vlieger = Training Fighter Pilots). In June 1948 the second (and larger) 'Karel Doorman' entered Dutch service and a start with training for deck landings was made with three Firefly T.1's (converted Mk.I's). After a display at the end of 1946 with a Fairey converted Firefly it was decided to modify the Mk.1's to T.1. The first one, F-1 was converted at the Fairey Factories, the other two, F.8 and F.12 were converted at AViolanda using parts delivered by Fairey. The T.1's were serialledL-11 (ex F-1); L-12 (ex-F-12) and L-13 (ex F-8). Later four T.2 were built by Aviolanda, to know F-4, (became U-14) andF-5 (became U-15), both delivered in 1949. In 1951 Fireflies F-23 and F-29 were modified and delivered in July1952 as U-16 and U-17. The two remaining T.1's, L-11 and L-12, were re-serialled U-11 and U-12. The L-13 crashed on November 8, 1948. (as noted above, the "L" serial was applied as "12" on the aircraft; "U" was applied as "21"). Early 1951 the "Doorman" departed with Squadron 1, with Fireflies P-6; P-17; P-25; P-26 P-30 and trainers U-11; U-12 and U-14 and P-7, P-11, P-28 an U-15 as spare The main task of squadron 1 was besides air defence also training with marines and ships. During 1954 the Mk.1's were replaced withFirefly Mk.4's Fireflies P-6 and P-30 were lost because of a collision on October 14, 1952. Trainers U-16 and U-17 stayed at Valkenburg for advanced carrier training and target tow duties. During 1959 U-12 and U-17 sere re-seialled as 003 and 004 respectively, in March 1960 both aircraft were scrapped.

During 1947 the RNlNAS received 40 Fireflies FR.4's, serialled K-31 till K-70 11-31 t/m 11-70). These aircraft were added to squadron 1, 2 and squadron 4. Early 1949 the RNlNAS received another fourteen Fireflies NF.5 seriallled K-71 till K-84 (11-71 till 11-84) and in November 1952 four ex Canadian Navy FR.4's were added serialled P-86 till P-89 (16-86 till 16-89). Squadron 2 and 4 participated frequently in NATO exercises, operating from the Dutch carrier of often also from British carries. During 1954 the Fireflies were replaced with Avenger at squadron 2 and 4. In 1955 squadron 7 was established to be based at Biak, Dutch New-Guinea. In 1959 the Fireflies were re-seialled, The remaining Firefies received serials 005 till 017 with letter "B" of Biak. When 322 squadron RNlNAF arrived with their Hawker Hunters, squadron 7 was withdrawn in December 1961 and the Fireflies were withdrawn from use.

Source: Fairey Firefly fairey firefly | 1946 | 0146 | Flight Archive

 

[vikingBerserker]

Very cool! No idea they used them.