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349th Squadron (Belgium)
Encyclopedia
No 349 Squadron is one of the traditional fighter
squadron
in the Air Component
of the Belgian Armed Forces
. Originally founded by Belgian refugees in England in 1942 as the No 349 Squadron of the Royal Air Force
, it was transferred to the Belgian air force
in 1946. Considered a 'honorary' squadron, it retained its original name and numbering and has been flying in Belgian colors ever since. Today, it is part of the 10th Tactical Wing
and operates F-16 Fighting Falcon
s from the Kleine Brogel airfield.
squadron by Belgian personal at RAF Ikeja, West Africa
on 10 November 1942. The squadron was equipped with the Curtiss Tomahawk for local defence duties. The squadron did not become operational and was disbanded in May 1943. On 5 June 1943 the Squadron was reformed at RAF Station Wittering
with the Supermarine Spitfire V
and became operational at RAF Station Digby
in August 1943. The Squadron moved to southern England to operate over France on bomber escorts and low-level sweeps. In early 1944 it began to train as a fighter-bomber unit and then operated in this role in occupied Europe. During the invasion it carried out beach-head patrols and then were used as bomber escorts. In August 1944 the Squadron moved to France in the fighter-bomber role, it carried out armed reconnaissance behind enemy positions and attacked targets of opportunity (mainly vehicles). In February 1945 the Squadron returned to England to convert to the Hawker Tempest
. This did not go well and the Squadron re-gained Spitfire IXs. It moved to Belgium and was disbanded as an RAF Squadron on 24 October 1946 on transfer to the Belgian Air Force
, keeping the Number.
! style="text-align: left;"|To
! style="text-align: left;"|Name
|-----
| Jan 1943
| Jul 1944
| Sqn Ldr I.G. du Monceau de Bergendael, DFC & Bar
, CdG
|-----
| Jul 1944
| Mar 1945
| Sqn Ldr A.A. Van der Velde
|-----
| Mar 1945
| Dec 1945
| Sqn Ldr Raymond ‘Cheval’ Lallemant, DFC & Bar
|-----
| Dec 1945
| Oct 1946
| Sqn Ldr A.A. Van der Velde, DFC
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
in the Air Component
Belgian Air Force
The Air Component, formerly the Belgian Air Force, is the air arm of the Belgian Armed Forces. Originally founded in 1909, it is one of the world's first air forces, and was a pioneer in aerial combat during the First World War...
of the Belgian Armed Forces
Military of Belgium
The Belgian Army is the national military of Belgium. The Belgian Army was established after Belgium became independent in October 1830...
. Originally founded by Belgian refugees in England in 1942 as the No 349 Squadron of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, it was transferred to the Belgian air force
Belgian Air Force
The Air Component, formerly the Belgian Air Force, is the air arm of the Belgian Armed Forces. Originally founded in 1909, it is one of the world's first air forces, and was a pioneer in aerial combat during the First World War...
in 1946. Considered a 'honorary' squadron, it retained its original name and numbering and has been flying in Belgian colors ever since. Today, it is part of the 10th Tactical Wing
10th Tactical Wing
The 10th Tactical Wing is a wing in the Air Component of the Belgian Armed Forces. It is based at the Kleine Brogel Air Base, in the municipality of Peer...
and operates F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force . Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since...
s from the Kleine Brogel airfield.
With the Royal Air Force
No 349 (Belgian) Squadron was formed as a Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
squadron by Belgian personal at RAF Ikeja, West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
on 10 November 1942. The squadron was equipped with the Curtiss Tomahawk for local defence duties. The squadron did not become operational and was disbanded in May 1943. On 5 June 1943 the Squadron was reformed at RAF Station Wittering
RAF Wittering
RAF Wittering is a Royal Air Force station within the unitary authority area of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. Although Stamford in Lincolnshire is the nearest town, the runways of RAF Wittering cross the boundary between Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire....
with the Supermarine Spitfire V
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
and became operational at RAF Station Digby
RAF Digby
RAF Digby is a Royal Air Force station which, since March 2005, has been operated by the Ministry of Defence's Joint Service Signals Organisation, part of the Intelligence Collection Group. Formerly a training and fighter airfield, it is currently a tri-service military signals installation located...
in August 1943. The Squadron moved to southern England to operate over France on bomber escorts and low-level sweeps. In early 1944 it began to train as a fighter-bomber unit and then operated in this role in occupied Europe. During the invasion it carried out beach-head patrols and then were used as bomber escorts. In August 1944 the Squadron moved to France in the fighter-bomber role, it carried out armed reconnaissance behind enemy positions and attacked targets of opportunity (mainly vehicles). In February 1945 the Squadron returned to England to convert to the Hawker Tempest
Hawker Tempest
The Hawker Tempest was a British fighter aircraft primarily used by the Royal Air Force in the Second World War. The Tempest was an improved derivative of the Hawker Typhoon, and one of the most powerful fighter aircraft used during the war....
. This did not go well and the Squadron re-gained Spitfire IXs. It moved to Belgium and was disbanded as an RAF Squadron on 24 October 1946 on transfer to the Belgian Air Force
Belgian Air Force
The Air Component, formerly the Belgian Air Force, is the air arm of the Belgian Armed Forces. Originally founded in 1909, it is one of the world's first air forces, and was a pioneer in aerial combat during the First World War...
, keeping the Number.
Aircraft operated during RAF service
| From | To | Aircraft | Variant | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1943 | Apr 1943 | P-40 Tomahawk | Mk.I | |
| Jun 1943 | Feb 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire Supermarine Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s... |
Mk.V | |
| Feb 1944 | Feb 1945 | Supermarine Spitfire | LF.IXe | |
| Feb 1945 | Apr 1945 | Hawker Tempest Hawker Tempest The Hawker Tempest was a British fighter aircraft primarily used by the Royal Air Force in the Second World War. The Tempest was an improved derivative of the Hawker Typhoon, and one of the most powerful fighter aircraft used during the war.... |
Mk.V | |
| Apr 1945 | May 1945 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.IXb | |
| May 1945 | Oct 1946 | Supermarine Spitfire | LF.XVIe |
Commanding officers
! style="text-align: left;"|From! style="text-align: left;"|To
! style="text-align: left;"|Name
|-----
| Jan 1943
| Jul 1944
| Sqn Ldr I.G. du Monceau de Bergendael, DFC & Bar
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
, CdG
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
|-----
| Jul 1944
| Mar 1945
| Sqn Ldr A.A. Van der Velde
|-----
| Mar 1945
| Dec 1945
| Sqn Ldr Raymond ‘Cheval’ Lallemant, DFC & Bar
|-----
| Dec 1945
| Oct 1946
| Sqn Ldr A.A. Van der Velde, DFC