1908
The Birth of Aviation Belgium reaches the sky
In November 1908, Baron de Caters is the first Belgian to take off in an airplane. He performs an historical 200 meters flight in Brecht, in the vicinity of Antwerp. He paves the way to many pioneers who will build up the Belgian aviation in the early 1910s.
Baron de Caters in his Voisin biplane
Farman HF16, Brasschaat
1913
The Birth of Aviation The Compagnie des Aviateurs
In 1910, General Hellebout orders Farman Aeroplanes to create an aerial Observation Company within the Corps of Engineers. It will expand till the 16th of April 1913, when it will be renamed the “Compagnie des Aviateurs”, composed of 4 observation squadrons.
1914
World War 1 The outbreak of WW1
The 3rd of August 1914, the German empire invades Belgium, our Compagnie des Aviateurs has 22 aircraft available at that time. Many reconnaissance flights are performed in support of our land forces, and our aircraft are relocated to several locations, following the evolution of the front line. They are eventually based in Kerkepanne and Houtem, in vicinity of Coxyde and Ypres in January 1915.
Farmans in the early stages of WW1
Fernand Jacquet and Henry Vindevoghel in their Farman MF11
1915
World War 1 The outbreak of WW1
17 April 1915: Fernand Jacquet and his observer Henry Vindevoghel are performing a reconnaissance flight in vicinity of Diksmude while they spot and intercept an Aviatik C. Jacquet approaches as close as 30 meters from the German aircraft and his observer shoots him down with his Lewis MG over Beerst. It is the first confirmed Belgian air victory, and also the first one of our squadron.
1917
Nemo me impune lacessit The Thistle is born
The 1st Squadron was equipped with Hanriot Dupond HD-1 and Sopwith Camel and based at de Moeren, next to Veurne. Our pilots decided to adopt one squadron insignia and André De Meulemeester designed the Scottish Thistle for our squadron, visible for the first time in October 1917.
De Meulemeester in front of a HD-1 showing off the Thistle, De Moeren
Willy Coppens attacking his favorite target: observation balloons
1919
Nemo me impune lacessit Our aces
As WW I rages, our pilots fight for over 3 years, winning over 69 air victories. Four of those pilots became aces: Willy Coppens, André De Meulemeester, Fernand Jacquet and Jean Olieslagers. In March 1918, the squadron is renumbered 9th Squadron and put under the
“Groupe de chasse” (Wing) Jacquet.
1919
The twenties After the war
1919: the war is over. Our aviation is restructured in a peacetime format and many of our experienced pilots leave the armed forces to return to their civilian duties. Our squadron, based at Schaffen, is equipped with Fokker D VII and performs escort missions over occupied Germany. In 1923, the 9th Sqn becomes the 2nd Squadron, 1st Regiment, 2nd Group of the Military Aviation. As from that year, they are equipped with the Nieuport NI.D.29.
Nieuport Ni.D.29 of the 2/1/2
Fairey Firefly
1920
The Twenties The blurred days
The late 20s are years of numerous restructurations where the squadron changes twice of numbering. It is equipped with Avia BH21. The Belgian headquarters have no long term vision nor standardization plans for our aviation. In 1930 they initiate the acquisition of a single type of fighter for our entire “aéronautique militaire”. The Fairey Firefly will win the competition and becomes our fighter for the next 8 years.
1939
The Thirties The late 1930's concerns
In 1935, the concept of DAT (Défense Aérienne du Territoire) is adopted by the headquarters. However, that concept is fragile and hard to implement. In addition, our fleet of Fireflys is completely obsolete by 1938. Our government then decides to buy modern fighters to secure our sky. Our squadron will be equipped with Hawker Hurricanes in 1939.
Hawker Hurricane, Schaffen
The Phoney war caused many incidents, sometimes fatal to our aircrews
1940
The Thirties Phoney war
1939: the mission of our squadron is to defend the national airspace. Procedures are irrealistic, even dangerous for our aircrews. The 2nd of March 1940, Lt Xavier Henrard is deadly wounded during the interception of a German Dornier 17 over Bastogne. Procedures are adapted but many incidents still occur, mainly due to the bad condition of our airfields. In the early days of May 1940, our military aviation is all but ready to face the upcoming war.
1940
World War 2 Our darkest hours
10th of May 1940: despite the evident threat of the Luftwaffe, our Hurricanes are perfectly aligned on the Schaffen airfield, by order of the Group Commander Hendrickx. At 4h30, three waves of German HE-111 and DO-17 attack the airfield. Most of our aircraft are destroyed by the German bombers. Only three aircraft can take off, still managing to intercept and destroy a DO-17. They then have to land at Beauvechain where they will be destroyed on the next day by another attack.
Hurricanes aligned on the flight line in Schaffen
Spitfire from the RAF
1940
World War 2 Keep on the fight with the RAF
The war is not over for our pilots. Two of them take part in the Battle of Britain as from August 1940. Seven others will join the RAF later during the war, after evading from Nazi occupied Belgium. They will be the backbone of the 349 and 350 (BE) Squadrons, only composed of Belgian crews. They will be credited of 8 confirmed victories and 9 probable, plus numerous ground targets.
1946
The Birth of the Belgian Air Force Building the Air Force
1946: the post war aviation is rebuilt as a new entity, finally independent from the army, the Belgian Air Force. The 2nd Fighter Wing (initially named 161st Wing) is created on the former German base of Florennes. The wing owns 3 squadrons. The First Squadron is officially created again in October 1947 and equipped with Spitfires MK14. Many of our pilots are RAF veterans.
Spitfire MK14
F-84G
1951
The Birth of the Belgian Air Force First jets coming in
1951: the US Congress adopts the Mutual Defence Assistance Program and Belgium receives its first jets: F-84E and F-84G Thunderjet. Conversion on the aircraft is relatively fast and many hours are flown by our pilots (more than 2500 monthly for the 2nd Wing, a top record for NATO in April 1953).
1955
Training to NATO Standards New NATO rules
With the Cold War tensions increasing, the First Squadron participates in many NATO exercises and shooting ranges in Coxyde, Belgium, and on the Island of Sylt, Germany until 1955. A squadron demo team is even created and will perform during the 1955 season with the Thunderjet.
Long line astern
F-84F required a light slope to go supersonic
1955
Training to NATO Standards First Squadron goes supersonic
In 1955, the MDAP allows us to be equipped with a new aircraft: the F-84F Thunderstreak. This aircraft is a transonic (it can go supersonic on a light slope) tactical bomber. The squadron is now considered as fighter-bomber. On the 30th of August 1955, 2 former pilots from our squadron break the sound barrier over Florennes with 2 F-84F from the 3rd Squadron. Our squadron is operational in November 1955.
1960
The Sixties Thunderstreaks over Europe
It is the least to say that the First Squadron is kept busy by many deployments and exercises in Europe. Solenzara (Corsica) is used as a permanent base to practice shooting. Exchanges are performed with Canadian, Norwegian, Danish, Italian, Turkish, French and British squadrons. Tactical evaluations are also performed every year (and then every 2-3 years) to remain at the highest standards ordered by NATO.
(Very) close formation
F-84 in exercise “Deep Express Balikesir”, 1970
1960
The Sixties Cold War and AMF
Our squadron shows off very good results in exercises such as the air tactical meets and TacEval. We are the only BAF squadron to be integrated in the AMF, a Quick Reaction Force created by Allied Command in Europe and ready to be deployed on short notice. The number of exercises increases again, our squadron being deployed in Greece, Turkey and even Libya.
1971
The Delta Era The Mirage 5 and Bierset Air Base
In 1971, our squadron leaves Florennes and moves towards Bierset in order to start its conversion on the Mirage 5BA. The squadron is declared operational on the Delta Fighter-Bomber on march 1972. Our very last Thunderstreaks are ferried to Coxyde in May. The “Delta Era” begins!
Mirage 5 in formation low approach
AMF Dyarbakir (Turkey), 1983
1975
The Delta Era Resuming exercises and AMF duties
Equipped with a large panel of Air to Ground munitions, our Mirages take part to many exercises and exchanges in the Netherlands, Denmark, UK, Greece, Portugal, Italy, Spain and Turkey. Our pilots are used to perform exceptionally well in the international environment while the duties towards NATO (AMF exercises and TacEval) are still executed with the highest standards.
1987
Third Generation Fighters The last years of the Delta
Our squadron celebrates its 70 years. Our BA-33 is painted in an impressive black and yellow paint scheme. It is quickly nicknamed the “Blackbird”. That aircraft will take part to many international representations. But the Delta years are at their dawn. The 1st Squadron moves back to Florennes in 1989 and starts its conversion on the new F-16 Fighting Falcon. Some of our pilots will take part to the 1991 Iraqi Campaign from Dyarbakir (Turkey) with the 8th Squadron.
The first “Blackbird”: Mirage BA-33 with the 70 years special paint
F-16 intercepting a German Mig-29
1990
Third Generation Fighters The Fighting Falcons
In 1990, our squadron is fully operational on the F-16 “OCU”. But the Cold War (and the AMF concept) is over. Our squadron is now integrated in the IRF (Immediate Reaction Force) and the RRF (Rapid Reaction Force). In 1994, the disbanding of the 42nd Recce Squadron leaves the tactical air reconnaissance role to our squadron.
1992
New Conflicts are Rising More Blackbirds
1992: our squadron celebrates its 75th anniversary. A F-16 is painted in a beautiful black and yellow scheme. Five years later, for our 80th anniversary, another F-16 is painted in black with gold. That’s about when our squadron pilots are nicknamed “the Stingers”. While exercises and training continue, the 1st Sqn pilots don’t know they are about to fly war missions again, for the first time since 1940.
Blackbird 2 and 3 for the 75 and 80 years of the Squadron
F-16 during “Deliberate Guard” Operation
1997
New Conflicts are Rising Over former Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia is splitted into several republics. The situation is very tense and ends up into an armed conflict between Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia. A joint Belgian/Dutch task force takes part to the “Deliberate Guard” ops from Villafranca and then from Amendola air base, Italy, from 1997 to 1999. Our pilots shoot Maverick missiles and drop the first PGMs (Precision Guided Munitions) ever dropped by a Belgian aircraft. Our squadron then takes part to the Air Surveillance Flights over Kosovo from 1998 till 2001.
2004
Entering the 21st Century Baltic QRA
In the early 2000s, our F-16s are converted to the MLU (Mid-Life Update) standard. In 2004, the squadron is deployed in support of the Baltic countries freshly integrated to NATO. The Belgian F-16 will be the very first NATO aircraft to support Lithuania in the frame of Baltic QRA. The 1st Squadron performs its second tour in 2006.
Stingers performing air policing over the Baltics
F-16 over Afghanistan during “Operation Guardian Falcon”
2005
Entering the 21st Century Stingers over Afghanistan
Our F-16s are deployed for six months to Kabul Air Base for the NATO operation in Afghanistan, also known as “Eastern Eagle”. In September 2008 we are deployed to Kandahar Air Base (KAF) to perform Close Air Support (CAS) and Reconnaissance (NTISR) in support of ISAF. Some of our Stingers will spend almost one year in total supporting that operation until 2014. 16,500 flight hours and 5466 sorties will be performed by Belgian F-16s during Operation Guardian Falcon.
2011
The Last Decade Operation Freedom Falcon
2011: the “Arab Spring” spreads all over North Africa. In Libya, rebellion against dictator Khadafi degenerated into a civil war. 6 F-16s are deployed to Araxos air base (Greece) to support Operation Unified Protector. The pace of the operation is very high and within 7 months, 2568 flight hours will be performed in 614 deliberate targeting and SCAR sorties.
F-16 over Sirte airfield, Libya
Interception of a COOT A over the Baltic Sea
2013
The Last Decade Back to Baltic shores
The crisis in Ukraine accelerates the deployment pace of our F-16s in the eastern countries. Within the frame of enhanced air policing mission, they perform A-scrambles to shadow and intercept Russian planes violating the Baltic countries’ airspace. They stay 4 months in Lithuania, then Poland in 2015 to finally end up in Estonia in 2016. They will be deployed again in Estonia in 2017.
2014
The Last Decade Fighting DAESH
The world enters a tragic era with the invasion of Syria and Iraq by the terrorist group « Islamic State ». A coalition is created by the USA in 2014 and Belgium is one of the first countries to deploy to Jordan. After only one week of pre-notice, the first detachment deploys and starts air operations over Iraq and then later Syria. Many CAS and deliberate targeting missions are performed in support of the land forces.
F-16 taking off for a mission over Iraq during “Operation Desert Falcon”
Blackbird 4
2017
The Last Decade The fight is not over!
With 100 years of continuous engagement all over the world, our squadron can be proud of its heritage and legacy. We have never been more operational and still, all the pilots and the support personnel of the “Thistle Squadron” are ready to continue the job that started so many years ago. We are eager to continue that tradition of excellence inherited by our former Stingers for we hope, at least, the next 100 years!
2018
Current Days Stingers around the world
The Stingers cross the Atlantic and deploy to Mountain Home (Idaho, USA), then Cold Lake (Alberta, CAN), where they participate to Maple Flag. Thanks to the huge areas, they train low-level flights, as well as integration with allied fighters.
A couple of months later, Gioia del Colle (IT) welcomes the Vipers for multiple dogfights against the Italian Typhoons.
At the end of the year, more than ever committed to NATO, the Belgian Air Force deploys four F-16’s to Šiauliai (Lithuania) for the 48th rotation of Baltic Air Policing (BAP); several members of the 1st Squadron participate.
F-16 taking off during Maple Flag
Blackbird 4 over Florennes
2022
Current Days 105 Years First Squadron
The FA-57 was presented in its new colors to celebrate the 105th anniversary of the Stingers. The new design is based on the yellow and black of the squadron’s long line of Blackbirds. The tartan and thistle are also represented to remind the Scottish heritage and the ‘ONE” logo brings the modern touch.
Happy 105th anniversary & Sting on!
2022
Current Days eVA
Stingers operate above the Baltics in the context of the Enhanced Vigilance Activities mission, in which Belgium is involved. Not only do they perform enhanced air policing above the Baltics, but also train with other nations.
Intercepting a Flanker over the Baltic sea
Asgard Falcon Patch
2023
Current Days Asgard Falcon - ACE
From April to June, a fleet of F-16s conducts training at Ørland air base in Norway. Large-scale exercises (Arctic Challenge Exercise) with international partners, training flights, and in-depth instruction in an extensive airspace are on the agenda for our pilots and personnel.