“UT FULGUR SULCA AETHERA”
like lightning, crossing the stars

The 2nd Fighter Squadron is a direct descendant of the 1st Fighter Squadron, which was founded in 1913 at Brasschaat. 

During the First World War, the 1st Fighter Squadron was moved to France to Dunkerque-Les Moères in 1917.  It soon became apparent that this had too few aircraft and it was decided to form from it the 2nd Fighter Squadron, with one squadron operating in the morning and the other in the afternoon.  The unit received a number of Nieuport XI and XVI (an improved version of the XI) aircraft to fight against the German army.

After the end of World War I in 1918 the Squadron was disbanded.

In 1946 the 352nd Fighter Squadron was created as part of the 161st Wing.

On 1 November 1947 this squadron became the 2nd Fighter Squadron as part of the 2nd Wing, and was equipped with the Spitfire Mk. XIV.  In February 1948 it was allowed to wear the insignia and motto of the world War I-era 5th Fighter Squadron : a red and gold comet, formed of a five-pointed star and a three-pointed tail.  The badge was designed by one of its pilots,  Maurice Franchomme, and originally adopted on March 18, 1917.

In 1951 the squadron would enter the jet age when the F-84E Thunderjet entered service.  These were replaced by the more advanced F-84G version in 1952.

In 1957 the Thunderjets were replaced by the F-84F Thunderstreak.  These aircraft were deployed in the tactical strike role at the start of the Cold War.

In 1970 2nd Fighter Squadron received its first Mirage VBA at Florennes.  In 1988, the 2nd Fighter Squadron was the first Mirage unit in Belgium to undergo the conversion to the F-16A Fighting Falcon.

Initially, the F-16A of the 2nd Fighter Squadron would be deployed in the same role as the Mirages in the past. : the aircraft would be deployed in the ground attack role.  This role was often referred to in Belgium as the “mud-moving” role indicating that the unit specializes in low-level air-to-ground missions and interdiction.  In addition to the mud moving role, the F-16s of the 2nd Fighter Squadron were also deployed for the air defense of the country during daylight role in case of emergency and to have sufficient intercepting resources available at all times.  The 2nd Fighter Squadron was assigned this role alongside the 349th and 350th Squadron at Beauvechain which had the all-weather intercept role.  Shortly after the Cold War, the mud-moving role became obsolete and such attacks were banned because too many accidents occurred during this type of training.  From 1996, the 2nd Fighter Squadron, like all other F-16 units in Belgium, had to surrender six aircraft.  The squadron would have a total of twelve aircraft operational and ready to serve with the Air Force and NATO.  In 2001, the 2nd Fighter Squadron was the last Belgian F-16 unit to undergo the MLU conversion.  At the end of 2001 the unit was fully operational in the MLU role with the F-16AM.

Since the 2nd Fighter Squadron has been flying the F-16, the Belgian government has deployed the unit several times to foreign conflict zones.  Especially during the war in the Former Yugoslavia, the 2nd Fighter Squadron had the majority of its deployments.  2nd Fighter Squadron took part in the Decisive Endeavor deployment and flew from Villafranca Air Base in Italy until December 1996.  This operation took place in support of UN-led IFOR troops in Bosnia-Herzegovina.  From December 1996 to June 1998, this mission continued under the name Deliberate Guard.  The UN troops in Bosnia and Herzegovina were given more mandate, which resulted in a name change from IFOR to SFOR.  The 2nd Fighter Squadron also took part in the Determined Falcon deployment to Villafranca, this short operation lasted from 5 June 1998 to 16 June 1998.  During this one-day operation, NATO flexed its muscles to ensure that Serbian politicians would stop the bloodshed in Kosovo.  In 1999, the 2nd Fighter Squadron also took part in the bombing raids on Serbian targets during Operation Allied Force.

During a reorganization that took place in Belgium in 2001 under the name Falcon 2000, it was decided that each unit would fly 18 aircraft per squadron because of the fact that all squadrons had a multi-role task at that time.  A few months later it was decided to disband the 2nd Fighter Squadron despite the fact that the unit had only recently received its first MLU F-16s.

After 54 years of operational service with the Belgian Air Force, the 2nd Fighter Squadron was disbanded on 20 April 2001 transferring all its assets to the 1st Fighter Squadron.

With the arrival of the new Remotely Piloted Aircraft System, the MQ-9B SkyGuardian, in 2024 the 2nd Fighter Squadron is re-activated.

Mirage VBA version

F-16A/M version

MQ-9B version 

MQ-9B version 

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