The task of the Commando Luchtverdeding was the defense of the Dutch
airspace. In order to do this, the command had three main elements: aircraft
(and the airfields from which these aircraft operated), AA guns and observation
posts.
The aircraft of the command were part of the 1st Aviation Regiment,
which consisted of two groups. The first group had a reconnaissance squadron
(StratVerVA = Strategische Verkenningsvliegtuig Afdeeling) with Fokker
C.X single-engined aircraft and a medium bomber squadron (BomVA = Bombardeervliegtuig
Afdeeling) with Fokker T.V twin-engined bombers. The 2nd group consisted
of four fighter squadrons (JaVA = Jachtvliegtuig Afdeeling) with Fokker
D.XXI single-engined fighters (with fixed landing gear) or Fokker G.I twin-engined
fighters. The airfields under command of CLV were Waalhaven (near Rotterdam),
Bergen (near Den Helder), Schiphol (still an airport today, near Amsterdam),
Ypenburg (near The Hague) and Ruijgenhoek (near Haarlem). After the German
invasion of Norway, some airfields got a number of armoured cars to put
up a stronger defense against enemy airborne landings. The defense of Ypenburg
airfield (3 RG) was under direct command of the CLV. Ruijgenhoek was only
used as an emergency airfield.
The AA guns were part of the luchtverdedigingskring Rotterdam / Den
Haag and the luchtverdedigingskring Amsterdam. The third AA element was the
Vrijwillige Landstormkorps Luchtafweerdienst, a territorial AA group manned
by volunteers (the Landstorm was made up of volunteers and can be compared
with the modern Territorial Army of the British). The guns were sponsored
by local factories and most crewmembers were employees at those factories.
The last element of the CLV were the observation posts. These were
also manned by Landstorm personnel, from the Vrijwillig Landstormkorps
Luchtwachtdienst (air observation service).
Notes
1. Organization and strength (aircraft, guns, searchlights): Nierstrasz, Inleiding en algemeen overzicht, p. 23-26.
2. Personnel strength: Molenaar: Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.996; armament: Vijfde opgave van wijzigingen, p.8.
3. Personnel strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.996; location: Molenaar: luchtverdediging dl.1, p.119.
4. Personnel strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.996; location: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.119.
5. Personnel strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.996; aircraft strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.240; location: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.239.
6. Personnel strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.996; aircraft strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.122; location: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.119.
7. Personnel strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.996; location: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.131; allocation FK-43: Schoenmaker & Postma: Klu vliegtuigen, p.76; the aircraft was located at Schiphol.
8. Personnel strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.996; aircraft strength and location: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.159.
9. Personnel strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.996; aircraft strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.122; location: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.119.
10. Personnel strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.996; aircraft strength and location: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.208.
11. Personnel strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.996; aircraft strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.240; location: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.239.
12. Organization: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.211-212.
13. Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.997.
14. Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.997; personnel strength for the separate companies is organic according to oorlogsorganisatiën, p.98-101.
15. Oorlogsorganisatiën, p.100 and Inspecteur der Infanterie Nr.5556G/560 Personeel (‘s Gravenhage, 11 october 1939). Onderwerp: organieke versterking van de pag. compagnieën en de infanteriesectiën (Nationaal Archief 2.13.65 - Inv.No.68).
16. Armament: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.211.
17. Number and type of AC: Chef van den Generalen Staf No.4299 Geheim (‘s Gravenhage, 5 december 1935). Onderwerp: oorlogsorganisatie van 1e, 2e, 3e en 4e sectie pantserwagens (Nationaal Archief 2.13.91 - Inv.No.426). Personeel strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.997.
18. Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.997.
19. Personnel strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.997; number of hMG: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.246; number of lMG: Opperbevelhebber van Land- en Zeemacht, Afd. Landmacht, Sectie Ie No.1375A (AHK, 23 februari 1940). Onderwerp: Bewaking vliegparken (Nationaal Archief 2.13.70 - Inv.No.1226).
20. Personnel strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.997; number of hMG: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.246; number of lMG: Opperbevelhebber van Land- en Zeemacht, Afd. Landmacht, Sectie Ie No.1375A (AHK, 23 februari 1940). Onderwerp: Bewaking vliegparken (Nationaal ARchief 2.13.70 - Inv.No.1226); this letter states that the company was soon to be equipped with 8 lMGs.
21. Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.246.
22. Composition and armament: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.242 and Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.1018-1019; personnel strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.997.
23. Organic strength for a 75 mm AA bty: 103 men; actual strength for 15 Bt.Lua. and Pel. 2 tl. Bergen 178 men.
24. Peloton 2 tl. Bergen; combined actual strength for 15 Bt.Lua. and Pel. 2 tl. Bergen 178 men.
25. 3rd and 4th Section were part of Lvd.Kr. Rotterdam/’s Gravenhage; type of S/L: Algemeen Hoofdkwartier, Afd. Luchtverdediging, Sectie Verl.d, No.5726 (St.K, 9 September 1939). Onderwerp: Oprichting XI Zl. A. tl. (Nationaal Archief 2.13.70 - Inv.No.1403).
26. Organization: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.124-127.
27. Personnel strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.997.
28. Personnel strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.997; indicated strength for the companies is organic according to Oorlogsorganisatiën, p.98-101 and Inspecteur der Infanterie Nr. 5556G/560 Personeel (‘s Gravenhage, 11 october 1939). Onderwerp: organieke versterking van de pag. compagnieën en de infanteriesectiën (Nationaal Archief 2.13.65 - Inv.No.68); armament: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.124-125.
29. Organic strength 8 lMG; 2 lMGs had been attached from Military Aviation; personnel strength: Oorlogsorganisatiën, p.100 and Inspecteur der Infanterie Nr. 5556G/560 Personeel (‘s Gravenhage, 11 october 1939). Onderwerp: organieke versterking van de pag. compagnieën en de infanteriesectiën (Nationaal Archief 2.13.65 - Inv.No.68).
30. Organic strength 8 lMG; 3 lMGs had been attached from Military Aviation; personnel strength: Oorlogsorganisatiën, p.100 and Inspecteur der Infanterie Nr. 5556G/560 Personeel (‘s Gravenhage, 11 october 1939). Onderwerp: organieke versterking van de pag. compagnieën en de infanteriesectiën (Nationaal Archief 2.13.65 - Inv.No.68).
31. 1st and 2nd platoon detached to Ypenburg; personnel strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.997; MG strength: supplement, p.6; number and type of AC: Klingens, Krijgsvolk, p.18.
32. Commander II-2 LVR also was Air Field commander (Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.997).
33. III-R.Gr. was directly attached to the CLV, because the c-III R.Gr. was higher in rank than the air field commander (Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.335); attachment of 1st and 2nd Pel - 1 Esk Paw: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.335; personnel strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.997; organization and organic personnel and MG strength for the companies: Oorlogsorganisatiën, p.98-101 and Inspecteur der Infanterie Nr. 5556G/560 Personeel (‘s Gravenhage, 11 october 1939). Onderwerp: organieke versterking van de pag. compagnieën en de infanteriesectiën (Nationaal Archief 2.13.65 - Inv.No.68).
34. 4 lMG had been attached from II Verkennings Groep.
35. Armament: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.341-342.
36. Personnel strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.997; MG strength and number of AC: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.341; AC type: Klingens, Krijgsvolk, p.18.
37. Commander III-2 LVR also was Air Field commander (Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.997); organization: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.402.
38. Personnel strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.997; armament: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.1, p.404.
39. Personnel strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.997; organic armament: Oorlogsorganisatiën, p.100.
40. Personnel strength (as of May 15th) and organization: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.1004.
41. Organization and gun strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.575.
42. Organization and gun strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.575.
43. Organization and gun strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.575.
44. Organization and gun strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.645.
45. Organization and gun strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.563.
46. Afdeeling Leeuwarden; organization and gun strength: Nierstrasz, Inleiding en algemeen overzicht, p.25; all AA guns in the VL-Lad were 2 tl no.1 (Albeda, Kroesen: Nederlands geschut, p.75).
47. Organization and personnel strength: Molenaar, Luchtverdediging dl.2, p.1003.