Between the devil and the deep blue sea - University of Canterbury

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four had arrived so far from France. 174 Their role in the first few weeks consisted of flights
close to the borders, mainly to check on the progress of the Gennan and Belgian annies
further away. To facilitate border flights, two aeroplanes moved from the Air Branch's
headquarters at Soesterberg to a new hangar in Gilze-Rijen. 175 The other two planes flew
along the border near Arnhem and Vlissingen. 176
Because of their small numbers and vulnerability to weather conditions, no more
than one flight was made per day. 177 The frequency of flights decreased even further in
September 1914, when a stonn in Zeeland damaged the one aircraft stationed at Vlissingen
along with its storage tent. The Commander-in-Chief quickly authorised the building of
wooden hangars to prevent further damage. 178 Another potential problem identified early on
was the need to distinguish Dutch planes from those bearing the British Union Jack (later
roundel) or the Gennan cross. To malce sure border troops did not shoot down Dutch
aircraft, orange circles were painted on the fuselage and wings. 179
The most pressing problem for the Air Branch was improving and increasing the
size of its force. As soon as mobilisation began, the Anny sent Henri Wijmnalen, owner of
the recently refurbished Trompenburg aeroplane factory, to France (travelling through
crisis-tom Belgium) to malce sure the delivery of the six overdue aeroplanes was
honoured. 180 The aircraft eventually arrived. As with all other forms of military equipment,
acquisition of new aeroplanes and components during the war, however, remained difficult.
The Trompenburg facilities managed to build nine flyable Fannan aircraft in 1915,181 but
this aeroplane was of no great use other than as a training machine. By late that year, the
design had been superseded by all the air forces of the belligerent nations. By 1917, the
174 Porter, "Dutch Neutrality" p. 99.
175 Klinkert, "De N ederlandse mobilisatie van 1914" p. 31.
176 Commander-in-Chiefto Minister of War, Nicolaas Bosboom, 28 September 1914, in ARA, "Archieven van de
Generale Staf' entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 136.
177 Telegram from Commander of the Air Branch to the Commander-in-Chief, 1 August 1914, in ARA, "Archieven
van de Generale Staf' entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 136.
178 Commander-in-Chiefto Minister of War, 28 September 1914, in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Staf' entry
no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 136.
179 Commander-in-Chiefto all military authorities, 5 August 1914, in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Staf' entry
no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 136; Commander-in-Chief, "Order voor land- en zeemacht" [Order for the Army and
Navy] 21 September 1915, in ARA, "Archiefvan het Hoofdkwartier Veldleger" entry no. 2.13.16, inventory no. 168.
180 "Rapport Reis Henri Wijnmalen" [Report of the journey made by Henri Wijnmalen] 17 August 1914, ARA,
"Archieven van de Generale Staf' entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 1.
181 Staatscommissie, Verslag BetrefJende de Voorziening in de Behoeften aall Geschllt p. 14; Hardenberg,
"Luchtvaart" p. 706.