NC25675 was not built as a DC-3A. It was built for KLM with R-1820s. It was due to arrive in Holland July 1939, but delivery was postponed due to issues with the DC-5s that were in the same shipment. Then WW2 broken out in September 1939, and the airline suffered major reduction of routes and suffered financially and operationally. The DC-3, which was officially reserved in December 1939, was officially handed back to Douglas early 1940 and converted to DC-3A for United by April 1940.

Re 101: most KLM aircraft had 12 pax seats indeed. However, aircraft evacuating from Naples (on regular services) were known to carry extra (loose) foldable seats, initially six on May 21st 1940, then zeven (May21st), then 10 (May 25th) taking the total to 22 pax on the eastbound Indies service from Naples.

The DC-2 that made it to Shoreham was not fitted with seats at all, it was a freighter. Some of the 5 DC-3s certainly initially were still fitted with the 12-seat configuration (Reiger I am certain of). Although they probably carried more people if need be. Additionally it was fitted with a 13th seat for a purser, which was not carried on the Lisbon flights. I don’t know if the configuration was maintained during the war, but it is probably somewhere in Ad van Ommen’s book. Certainly by the time Ibis was shot down there was a different cabin layout.

Evening, All,

Rather last minute, I know, but are there any of the above worth visiting?

I leave in the morning (Tues) but it has only just occurred to me to ask the question of this Forum. I’m there for a week.

TIA, Anon.

Stichting Museum 40-45, Aalsmeerderbrug. Small museum on ww2, great place. Dob’t know if open Tuesday.

Atlantikwall museum Den Haag. Ww2 German bunkers. Think it’s closed tomorrow.

If you are into art: the brandnew Louwman Museum or the atmospheric Panorama Mesdag.

If its aircraft you are after, drive on to the NMM in Soesterberg for a serious collection.

If flying in to Schiphol, try the aviation shop at Aalsmeerderbrug which has complete aircraft too…

D-ARPF is the former “Valk” of KLM (PH-ALV). That was lightly damaged at Schiphol on May 10th, 1940 in a German bombardment. After repairs, it was handed over to the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM) on 1 June 1940, who later actually compensated KLM for it with 260.798 guilders in late 1942. The RLM assigned the aircraft to Lufthansa, who initially operated it in a natural finish c/s, later in camo. The aircraft was found abandoned at Barcelona in late 1944 and seized for KLM who had a difficult job proving ownership since it had formally been sold. The warweary aircraft was finally returned to Schiphol early 1946 and promptly sold to the UK where it was broken up for spare parts two years later.

Interesting forum link in that link too… ?

AHO5031 is amongst other I believe Master, Martinet, Hurricane. Also used on a wide range of post-war Slingsby and EoN gliders. Would have fitted a 4.00×3 1/2 tyre I think.

Re #2: yes a fair few still are being recovered every year, some including remains of crew members. Not enough IMHO: there are a fair number of known locations that are war graves that really should be excavated in order to give crewmembers the final resting place they deserve. There have been some threads on the subject in the past. 1085 crew members remain to be recovered, see http://nos.nl/artikel/2102513-1085-vermiste-oorlogsvliegers-mogelijk-nog-in-nederlandse-bodem.html