What is Royal Netherlands Air Force?
The '''Royal Netherlands Air Force''' (RNLAF) is the air force of [[Netherlands|the Netherlands]]. The Air Force was founded in the year 1913. The aerobatic display team was active from 1979 to 2019, named the [[Solo Display Team]]. [[File:Embleem Koninklijke Luchtmacht.svg|thumb|Badge of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.]] == History == === Origin in 1913 === The Dutch Air Force started on 1 July 1913 at Soesterberg airfield with 4 pilots. When it started it only had 1 aircraft, the ''brik.'' Only a few months later 3 French [[Farman HF.20]]. But these airplanes where fast to old and was replaced with the [[Nieuport]] and [[Caudron]]. === World War I (1914-1918) === The Netherlands stayed neutral during [[World War I]]. New airfields where build at [[Gilze-Rijen air base]], [[Arnhem]], [[Venlo]] and [[Vlissingen]]. === Between the wars === The Dutch goverment cut the defence budget for the army and the army was almost gone. As political tensions in Europe increased in the late 1930s the goverment tried to rebuild the army in 1938. === World War II and the late 1940s === In August of 1939 the army was ready. But because of low budget the air force only operated 176 combat aircraft of the types: * 16 [[Fokker T.V]] * 36 [[Fokker D.XXI]] * 35 [[Fokker G.I]] * 7 [[Fokker D.XVII]] * 17 [[Douglas DB-8A-3N]] * 20 [[Fokker C.X]] * 33 [[Fokker C.V]] * 20 [[Koolhoven FK-51]] In May of 1940 German troops invade the Netherlands. Within five days the Dutch Army was defeated by the [[luftwaffe]]. All of the Brigade's bombers, along with 30 Fokker D.XXI and 17 Fokker G.I fighters where shot down; 2 D.XXI and 8 G.I where destroyed on the ground. 2 G.I where captured by the German forces. === 1950s and 1960s === * The [[Supermarine Spitfire|Spitfire Mk.IX]] was used by 322 Squadron RNLAF until 1954, but was replaced as new squadrons were established. * The [[Gloster meteor|Gloster Meteor F Mk.IV]] was used by 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327 and 328 Squadrons from 1948–1957. Bases included Soesterberg and Leeuwarden