Dutch transport Vlissingen picked up German pilots at sea according to the Dutch newspaper Zierikzeesche Nieuwsbode dated Monday 10 December 1917

An item reported that on the morning of last Thursday the Dutch transport Vlissingen while underway to the lightship Noord-Hinder to exchange personnel a German floating plane sighted. On board of the sinking plane were two exhausted men which were there already 24 hours. The plane had left Ostende, Belgium on Wednesday morning and was forced to land on sea at 10.00 o’clock. Both men and the plane were taken on board. The pilots were later released but he plane was interned.