In 1950 fourteen C-47 Dakotas of the Oostelijke Verkennings en Transport Squadron (Easterly Reconnaisance and Transport Squadron) gained autonomy as vsq 8 at Biak. After independance of Indonesia the Dakotas were transferred to AURI and vsq 8 was disbanded. In March 1952 the unit was reformed at Valkenburg flying Mitchells and Sea Otters. In 1953 it became the first helicopter unit of the navy after accepting the sole S-51 and three S-55 in september. After the S-51 had been withdrawn in 1959 and one of the S-55 had crashed two Oh-23B Ravens were loaned from the Air Force. From early 1960 the first SH-34J came into service for duties on board of the aircraft carrier Karel Doorman (other sources mention 1963). Late 1968 the SH-34J was transferred to vsq 7 and vsq 8 was disbanded  |