Discover the untold story of the Netherlands Fokker TVIIIW, the remarkable twin-engine maritime patrol floatplane that defied the Third Reich during World War Two. When the Netherlands fell in May 1940, courageous Dutch naval aviators refused to surrender, flying these aircraft across the North Sea to establish RAF No 320 Netherlands Squadron in Great Britain. Operating from Pembroke Dock, the seaplane conducted critical anti-submarine and convoy escort missions with British Coastal Command while battling severe supply shortages. The aircraft became a legendary symbol of Dutch resistance in May 1941, when resistance fighters boldly stole a German-marked airframe directly from occupied Amsterdam and escaped across the English Channel. From harrowing lake extractions to serving on opposing sides of the conflict, this documentary examines the engineering brilliance, combat history, and enduring legacy of this iconic Dutch military aircraft.
Music provided by Liborio Conti (
Released under Creative Commons / Free for Commercial Use.
Source: European Defense
