2. Fokker C.VIII‑W seaplane at Willemsdorp before the outbreak of the Second World War.

A Dutch Navy Air Service (Marine Luchtvaart Dienst-MLD) aircraft on the water near the Moerdijk bridges at Willemsdorp. Aviolanda in Papendrecht regularly tested seaplanes here for the MLD. After the May days of 1940, production simply continued, although the aircraft were of course delivered to the Germans. The aircraft in this photograph is a Fokker C.VIII‑W seaplane. These aircraft, delivered in 1930, served as maritime reconnaissance planes and were mainly stationed at the air bases “De Mok” on Texel and “Veere” in Zeeland. Shown here is the Fokker C.VIII‑W with registration number G‑1. Both civilians and Dutch soldiers are standing on the pier near the aircraft. The Dutch soldiers were very likely part of the guard detachment assigned to protect the Moerdijk bridges. The presence of civilians is less obvious. On the right side of the photograph, the characteristic Dutch river casemate can still be seen.

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