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concise 349 Squadron history
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349 (F) Squadron traces its origins to No.349 (Belgian) Squadron, formed as a Royal Air Force squadron by Belgian personnel at RAF Ikeja (near Lagos), Nigeria on 10 November 1942. The squadron was equipped with the Curtiss Tomahawk and was destined for operations in the Belgian Congo in preparation for an expected invasion of the German Afrikakorps in Central Africa, but the squadron did not become operational as such. Instead, it was diverted to ferrying duties, delivering fighters from West Africa to the Middle East In May 1944 the squadron joined No.135 Wing at RAF Selsey, taking part in operations in preparation for the Normandy landings as well as covering the invasion itself. Under the command of Ivan du Monceau de Bergendal, nicknamed “Duke”, the squadron took part in all major operations during the Second World War, including the very first flights over the beaches of Normandy on D-Day and the further liberation of Western Europe. Moving to France in August it carried out both fighter bomber and bomber escort missions until February 1945, when it returned to the UK and converted to the Tempest V. However, it was decided to cancel its conversion in April and the squadron returned to the continent, joining No.132 Wing in Holland for the remainder of the war. The squadron was disbanded on 3 May 1943 and the personnel transferred to the UK. On 5 June 1943, the Squadron was reformed at RAF Station Wittering, operating the Supermarine Spitfire V and became operational at RAF Digby in August 1943. The squadron moved to southern England to operate over France as bomber escorts and low-level sweeps. In May 1944 the squadron joined No.135 Wing at Selsey taking part in operations in preparation for the Normandy landings as well as covering the invasion itself. During the invasion of Normandy, it carried out beachhead patrols and were used as bomber escorts. In August 1944 the squadron moved to France, in the fighter-bomber role, and carried out armed reconnaissance behind enemy positions, attacking targets of opportunity (mainly vehicles). In February 1945, the squadron returned to England to convert to the Hawker Tempest. However, it was decided to cancel its conversion in April and the squadron returned to the continent, joining No.132 Wing in Holland for the remainder of the war, flying armed reconnaissance sweeps over Germany. Over the course of the Second World War this first generation of 349 pilots carried out hundreds of missions, flying from a whopping 26 different locations, achieving 15 air victories. It remained in Germany as part of the occupation forces until being transferred back to Belgian control on 24 October 1946. It was transferred to the re-established Belgian Air Force in 1946, together with 350 Squadron, the other Belgian WW2 RAF squadron. Both are considered "honorary" squadrons, and thus retained their original name and numbering. 349 (F) Squadron, together with its French-speaking sister squadron (350 (F) Squadron), was part of the 1st Fighter Wing (All Weather) in Beauvechain until 1996, where they specialized in all aspects of air combat, including the famous stratospheric flights on the F-104 Starfighter. In 1946, Spitfires were still being flown, followed by the Gloster Meteor from 1948 and a short period in 1957 and 1958 with Hawker Hunter aircraft. From 1957 to 1964, the squadron flew the Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck. In December 1957, the first 15 Canucks became operational, of the total of 53 aircraft that would be used by the Belgian Air Force. In 1964, the squadron converted to the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter. On 29 January 1979, the first F-16 built in Europe was delivered to the Belgian Air Force. The first conversion class of six 349 Sqn pilots started on 17 September 1979. With this aircraft 349 Squadron became not only the first Belgian F-16 squadron but also the first operational F-16 unit within NATO, in May 1980. In March 1996, the 1st Fighter Wing in Beauvechain was disbanded and the squadron became part of the 10th Tactical Wing at Kleine-Brogel air base, which today bears the name of the legendary 349 C.O. Count "Duke" du Monceau de Bergendal, and the squadron was trained multi-role. In 1998, 349 became the first Belgian unit to be equipped with the F-16 Mid Life Update. |
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1942: Activation of the squadron in Ikeja (Nigeria) 1942: P-40 'Tomahawk I' 1943: 'Spitfire' Mk. VA (RAF Wittering) 1943: 'Spitfire' Mk. LF VB (RAF Southend) 1943: 'Spitfire' Mk. VC 1944: 'Spitfire' Mk. LF IXE (part of 135 Wing (RAF), RAF Selsey) 1945: 'Tempest' Mk. V 1945: 'Spitfire' Mk. IXB (part of 132 Wing (RAF)) 1945: 'Spitfire' Mk. XVI (part of 123 Wing (RAF), Wunstorf [Germ.]) 1945: 'Spitfire' Mk. XVI (part of 135 Wing (RAF), Fassberg [Germ.]) 1946: 'Spitfire' Mk. XVI (part of 160 Wing, Fassberg [Germ.]) 1946: 'Spitfire' Mk. XVI (part of A Wing, Beauvechain) 1947: 'Spitfire' Mk. XIV (part of 160 Wing) 1948: 'Spitfire' Mk. XIV (part of 1 Wing) 1949: 'Meteor' F. Mk. 4 1953: 'Meteor' F. Mk. 8 1957: 'Hunter' Mk. 4 1958: CF-100 Mk. 5 'Canuck' 1963: F-104G 'Starfighter' 1979: F-16A 'Fighting Falcon' 1996: F-16A 'Fighting Falcon' (part of 10 Wing, Kleine-Brogel) 1998: F-16AM 'Fighting Falcon' 2027 : F-35 'Lightning II' |
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Deployments: 'Air Policing Baltic States' 'Allied Force' 'Decisive Endeavour' 'Deliberate Forge' 'Determined Falcon' 'Enhanced Air Policing' 'International Security Assistance Force - Eastern Eagle' 'International Security Assistance Force - Guardian Falcon' 'Odyssey Dawn / Unified Protector' 'Operation Inherent Resolve - Desert Falcon' |
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text & picture sources : own collection & library + the world wide web / No copyright infringement intended : drawings, photos, etc. belong to the rightful owners. |