Page 209 - Airpower in 20th Century - Doctrines and Employment

a Century of military aviation in tHe netHerlands, 1911-2011 209

should have its own
military air service. In
its final report of April
1912, the committee
recommended the pur-
chase of aircraft, kite
balloons, observation
balloons and (provi-
sions for) a motorised
airship. The Minister
of War adopted the rec-
ommendations in their
entirety and requested
that the required fi-
nancial resources be
allocated in the 1913
Defence budget. Parlia-
ment, however, insisted
on earmarking the
funds exclusively for
aircraft, and a decision
was made accordingly.
The Luchtvaartafde-
eling (LVA or Army
Air Arm) was estab-
lished on 1 July 1913
and headquartered at September 1911, the military debut of the aircraft in the
Soesterberg Air Base. Netherlands. Six (civilian) aviators flew in the first large-
Walaardt Sacré was scale army-manoeuvre exercise.
appointed commander
and reported directly to the Chief of the General Staff, General Snijders, who would
prove an important pillar in promoting the development of the air arm, which was
still in its infancy. The LVA was to be equipped with a modest number of training and
reconnaissance aircraft, mainly Farman biplanes purchased in France.
The start of the First World War in August 1914 thwarted the development of the
LVA. Although the Netherlands was not involved in the fighting, it had to show its
readiness and resolve to defend its neutrality, by force if necessary. Surrounded by
countries at war, it was very difficult for the Dutch to purchase new aircraft abroad.
Moreover, at the time, the Netherlands did not have its own, fully-fledged aircraft in-
dustry. Despite a number of positive factors, Soesterberg Air Base was growing into
a well-equipped airfield, military auxiliary airfields in other places in the Nether-
lands were given limited infrastructure, and the LVA was also making good headway
in terms of personnel strength (the complement had grown from over 30 men in 1913