LaurentHHi all,
I can report some good news on the expedition.
Yesterday afternoon a mixed group of Belgian paracommando’s and Congolese military discovered the wreckage in the jungle, and they confirmed it’s identity.
Unfortunately no trace was found of the missing crew.
Best regards,
Laurent
LaurentHTwo comments on the previous :
– Belgium never acquired T33s from either Germany or Turkey, all were delivered straight from the US
– None of the Belgian T33s wore c/n 9111
So I guess it’s safe to rule out option one.
Best regards,
Laurent
LaurentHHi Paul and Dave,
Thanks for the quick reply on my query, it really filled a gap in my database.
Honestly I don’t understand what you mean with the ‘lick and stick’ bit, my knowledge of the English language doesn’t go that far I’m afraid.
Best regards,
Laurent
LaurentHHi there,
The ‘Red Devils’ for the 1977 team were :
Cdt.Leo Lambermont (leader)
Capt Guy Lambermont
Lt.’King’ Lempereur (one of the autographs reads ‘King’)
Lt.Paul Demolin
Capt.Charly Hubert
Capt Jean-Pierre ‘Bill’ Scruel (could be ‘Jean’ in the autographs)
Lt Bruels de Ticken (reserve)
1977 was their last year, several years later some of the former pilots formed a smaller team that only performed on special occasions (for example 50th Anniversary of the Belgian Air Force in 1996).
I hope this is of help.
Best regards,
Laurent
LaurentHDuring Exercise Emperor on or around 14 October 1950
“Later the word filtered through that a Belgian Air Force Night Fighter had collided with a bomber in the Thames Estuary area.There are not expected to be any survivors.” Thats all there is on that.
I would assume that it would of been a RBAF Mosquito.
Collission between Belgian Air Force Mosquito NF.30 MB-18 (ex MM757) with a RAF Wellington. The aircraft collided near Birchington (Kent) and crashed into the sea at about 5 miles north of Margate. The Wellington came down in a swampy area between Birchington and Herne Bay. All crew (2 Belgian and 5 RAF) were killed. The belgian crew involved were Capt.Christian Henrard and Sgt.(nav).Joseph Tytgat.
I would like to know which RAF Wellington (serial, crew, unit,…) was involved.
Looking forward to your reaction.
Best regards,
Laurent Heyligen
(Belgium)
LaurentHHello,
Any idea which T33s were scrapped, i’m interested as some of the examples at Spadeadam where ex-Belgian Air Force ?
Looking forward to your reply.
Best regards,
Laurent
LaurentHHello,
Sorry for the late reply, but here are a few additions you might interest :
Spit IX MK912 (ex SM29 Belgian AF) : gateguard at Saffraanberg Technical School between 1955 and may1988
Now flying as C-FFLC with Ed Russell in Canada (
Spit XIV RN201 (ex SG31 Belgian AF) : gateguard at Beauvechain since mid50s until april1990
Now flying as N201TB with Tom Blair in the USA (ex G-BKSP)
Spit XIV NH904 (ex SG108 Belgian AF) : stored with Oscar Dewachter, with wing ‘chopped off’ between 1956 and 1966
Now preserved at Planes of Fame Museum as NX114BP (airworthy ?)
I hope this is off interest to someone.
Best regards,
Laurent
LaurentHHello,
Probably the next link will interest you as well, a large number of detail shots of the Pembroke preserved in the Brussels Air Museum.
http://www.flightsimkid.be/pages/the_pembroke_c.51_andthe_belgian_air_force_pembroke_c.51pag.html
I hope this what you where after.
Best regards,
Laurent
LaurentHI am in favor however to loose the Migs, F-4, L-29, Ouragan, Gina, Draken, Vampire and Hind. Nothing to do with Belgian aviation and the space could go to Belgian aircraft now in storage!
Hi Fouga23,
I agree with you on the MiGs, F4 and the likes, but can you please tell
me which Belgian aircraft that are now in ‘storage’ are suitable for display according to the new policy !
I visited the Vissenaken storage recently and I must say there is not a lot there that can be displayed apart from ;
– another MiG21 (ex Museum)
– another MiG23 (nothing to do with Belgian aviation)
– another Hind (nothing to do with Belgian aviation)
– a Voodoo (nothing to do with Belgian aviation)
– a Mystère IV (nothing to do with Belgian aviation)
– a Super Mystere (nothing to do with Belgian aviation)
– a TB25N (be honest, nothing to do with Belgian aviation)
– a TS11 Iskra (……)
– a Hunter two-seater (never flown in the Belgian Air Force)
What is ‘useable’:
– an Auster (registration A3), used as a travelling exhibit for the museum (already one example on display in the museum)
– an Alouette II (there is already one in the museum)
The rest are stripped hulks and parts.
My guess is that they will ‘cleanup’ the collection, but that nothing else will come in turn, hopefully the nice things they have are then displayed in a better way.
Another thing that surely will disappear is the restoration corner, all future restorations will be done at Vissenaken (just as the Tank Museum does).
Best regards,
Laurent
LaurentHWell there is some news from the Brussels Air Museum front.
This is what I picked up on the BAHA-website :
16/12/2006 – Brussels Air Museum soon to be closed for renovation work.
The Aeronautical Department of the Royal Army Museum, better known as the Brussels Air Museum, should close its doors for a period of an estimated four years. The long awaited complete refurbishment of the Air Museum hall now seems to be underway after the official request for tender published in the Belgian Monitor on June 9th, 2006. The Museum is now slowly but surely preparing to move its entire aircraft collection to the Royal Army Museum’s Vissenaken storage facility. Not to say that the careful dismantling and transport of these historically very important birds will be a truly difficult challenge for the personnel involved. At the same time it is also said that the future display will be refocused on Belgian and military aircraft. Most of the foreign and/or civil aircraft are not to be reintegrated into the famous hall.
Best regards,
Laurent
LaurentHNils,
Apparently they shot a lot more footage than was used in the movie.
The intention is to re-edit the complete movie and turn it into a 3 part mini-series (with the extra scenes).
I guess this will be on belgian TV somewhere in 2007.
Best regards,
Laurent
LaurentHHello,
I have the following info on the former Belgian Air Force Hunters that went to Iraq via Hawker Siddeley :
BAF-reg – temp-reg HS – Mod.to – dd – Iraq registration :
IF6 – G-9-70 – F59 – 1964 – 570
IF8 – G-9-127 – F59A – 1966 – 660
IF9 – G-9-133 – F59A – 1966 – 661
IF10 – G-9-71 – F59 – 1964 – 584
IF11 – G-9-97 – F59 – 1965 – 631
IF14 – G-9-72 – F59A – 1964 – 572
IF20 – G-9-73 – T59 – 1965 – 627
IF21 – G-9-74 – F59 – 1964 – 574
IF22 – G-9-108 – F59A – 1966 – 659
IF24 – G-9-75 – F59 – 1964 – 577
IF25 – G-9-162 – F59A – 1966 – 671 re-registered to 693
IF27 – G-9-77 – F59 – 1964 – 575
IF28 – G-9-78 – F59 – 1964 – 573
IF31 – G-9-120 – F59A – 1966 – 674 re-registered to 696
IF32 – G-9-100 – F59 – 1964 – 583
IF48 – G-9-81 – F59 – 1964 – 571
IF49 – G-9-159 – F59A – 1967 – 680 re-registered to 702
IF51 – G-9-82 – F59 – 1964 – 581
IF54 – G-9-116 – F59A – 1966 – 670 re-registered to 692
IF59 – G-9-125 – F59A – 1967 – 675 re-registered to 697
IF68 – G-9-83 – T59 – 1964 – 568
IF71 – G-9-151 – F59A – 1966 – 668 re-registered to 690
IF72 – G-9-150 – F59A – 1967 – 678 re-registered to 700
IF74 – G-9-109 – F59A – 1966 – 673 re-registered to 695
IF75 – G-9-84 – F59A – 1965 – 587
IF79 – G-9-85 – F59 – 1965 – 628
IF80 – G-9-86 – F59 – 1965 – 630
IF84 – G-9-87 – T59 – 1965 – 567(2)
IF87 – G-9-149 – F59A – 1966 – 669 re-registered to 691
IF88 – G-9-88 – F59 – 1964 – 578
IF93 – G-9-126 – F59A – 1967 – 676 re-registered to 698
IF94 – G-9-98 – F59 – 1965 – 629
IF97 – G-9-89 – F59 – 1964 – 626
IF99 – G-9-135 – F59A – 1967 – 677 re-registered to 699
IF107 – G-9-90 – F59 – 1964 – 580
IF114 – G-9-91 – F59 – 1964 – 586
IF122 – G-9-92 – F59 – 1964 – 579
IF126 – G-9-93 – F59 – 1964 – 585
IF135 – G-9-153 – F59A – 1966 – 672 re-registered to 694
IF138 – G-9-155 – F59A – 1967 – 679 re-registered to 701
IF140 – G-9-94 – F59 – 1964 – 576
IF142 – G-9-95 – F59 – 1964 – 580 (ntu) to 582
IF143 – G-9-99 – T69 – 1964 – 569
IF19+IF67 – wreckS dd HS, rebuild as T66A – G-APUX – Iraq AF 567 (12 month lease)
I hope somebody finds this of interest.
Best regards,
Laurent
LaurentHPlease note that Rafale exists in two versions, a Naval version and an Air Force version. Obviously Belgium would opt for the Air Force version.
Please note that EC330 and EC7 in France already started receiving their first aircraft about a year ago !
For a picture :
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1039865/L/
Best regards,
Laurent
LaurentHApparently one type is being ruled out ‘Rafale’.
With the current ‘relationship’ the belgian MoD is creating with the French this is according to me a very likely candidate. Do not forget that the French are already using updated belgian Alpha Jets to train their future Rafale-pilots !
The reason why they bought Embraer to ‘replace’ the HS748 is quite obvious, you don’t put a minister in a ‘cargo plane’.
I guess you all know how 15 Wing in Melsbroek is called nowadays :
‘Air Flahaut’ (Flahaut is the current belgian Minister of Defence, who travels more than the late Pope).
Regards,
Laurent
LaurentHThe worst thing is that the equipment of all forces (army, air force, navy) is rapidly ageing.
A few figures :
– NATO agreed that 2% of Gross National Product is to be spend on defence, Belgium invests 1.1%. More bizar it gets that the last 6 years a substantial amount of the money intended for new equipment remains unspend !
– when investments are done the deliveries are spread out over long periods, example 1 : purchase of 7 Airbus A400’s (ordered in 2000, delivery currently planned for 2014-2015. They will replace C130’s who will then be 42 years old (delivered in 1972-1973), last week we lost one aircraft in a hangar fire in Brussels, so only 10 (of 12 delivered) are left (another was lost in crash in 1996), out of these about half is airworthy at any one time, the rest are cannibalised for spares. At this moment 15 Wing technicians are doing double shifts to catch up on maintenance (shortage of spares, shortage of manpower). Our C130’s always have been very well used, Somalia, Ethiopia, Congo, detachments in Afghanistan, etc.
example 2 : our 5 Westland Sea Kings are really completely at the end of their life, but the 10 ordered NH90s will only be delivered in 2008 (1 a/c), 2009 (1 a/c), 2010 (3 a/c), 2011 (4 a/c) and 2012 (1 a/c). Only 4 of the NH90 are intended to replace the Sea Kings, the rest are ‘heavy transport’ !
Currently 1 or 2 Sea Kings are airworthy, they are 30 years old, originally 1 Sea King was to be send to the Belgian army museum in 2004, but maintenance problems with the other four have forced the Air Force to keep it in service, the story goes better, the aircraft that was to be preserved (RS04) has now undergone a complete overhaul and will likely remain airworthy until the bitter end, RS01 is now scheduled to go to the museum.
– our complete advanced flying training and helicopter training has moved to France. The recently upgraded Alpha Jets are now based at Cazaux (France) where they are used to train French pilots (and a handful of belgians), because these upgraded Alpha Jets are more suitable for the transition to the Rafale. The Helicopter Training school at Brasschaat has closed its doors last week, in September the next training course will start at Dax (France), the Alouette II will be phased out. The Islanders the Belgian Army had are already phased out in 2004, but where never replaced.
– replacement for our F16’s is not even considered, did you know that we have two F16BMs in storage that did not fly one hour in the hands of the belgian air force, it was flown straight from the SABCA factory to the depot
– a number of years ago the same happened to our Mirage 5’s, we spend a lot of money on a complete upgrade, they were flown from the factory to the depot and sold for a few millions to Chili in 1994, where are still being used, and will be replaced by former Royal Netherlands Air Force F16AM/BMs shortly.
– a couple of years the belgian army tanks could not practice, because of a shortage of tracks (caterpillar links) for the tanks, eventually they bought… secondhand ones from the german army
– in a few years the belgian army will be the only army in NATO without heavy armour (tanks), the current tanks will be phased out and replaced by wheeled vehicles.
– the army personnel is one of the oldest in NATO, belgian average is 40 years, US = 28 years, UK = 29 years, despite this some of the personnel have done about 13 to 14 operational deployments (former Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Afghanistan), a real credit to these guys !!
The story goes on and on and on.
Laurent
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