This French fighter, a SPAD S.VII, was confiscated by the Dutch during the First World War after an emergency landing in 1917. The Netherlands were neutral during the First World War and collected aircraft from emergency landings. They paid the French and started using it.

The Société Pour L’Aviation et ses Dérivés (SPAD) S.VII was  a biplane and made its first flight in May 1916.

After the Great War various countries including the Dutch army used the SPAD S.VII as around 6,000 were build.

Here it is depicted over Cadzand, Zeeland with the Dutch markings.

This reproduction is the month of May of the Pioneers of Flight Calendar.