Two-seat Dassault Mirage 5BD BD-04 accompanies Mirage 5BA BA-42 and RAF Buccaneer S.2B XZ431 of 12 Squadron during an exchange visit in the early 1980s. Both types have now been retired by their respective operators - after 23 years service, the last BAF Mirage 5s were retired after the MIRSIP (Mirage Safety Improvement Programme) upgrade was abandoned. Some 20 MIRSIP Mirages and five unmodernised examples were then sold in 1994 to Chile.
C-119G Flying Boxcar CP-27/‘OT-CBG’ was one of 46 C-119F/Gs which formed the backbone of the 15 Wing transport fleet for two decades between 1953 and 1973. Initially, 18 C-119Fs were delivered to the BAF but eight of these were passed on to the Norwegian Air Force in 1956 and the remaining ten were converted to C-119G standard while a further 28 new C-119Gs were also delivered. The type officially retired on June 27, 1973, having been replaced by 12 C-130H Hercules.
To replace its elderly Starfighter fleet, the BAF initially ordered 96 F-16As and 20 F-16Bs, the first of which were delivered in 1979. A follow on batch of 40 F-16As and four F-16Bs was then ordered in 1983 and the aircraft are now going through a Mid-Life Update programme, although it is currently uncertain how many will eventually be upgraded, due to budget considerations. Seen here is F-16A FA-75 in a vertical climb.
One of 15 Wing’s C-130H Hercules formates behind and below one of the two elderly Boeing 727-29QCs also operated by the Wing. Both the 727s are expected to be replaced shortly, probably with newer 727s. Of the 12 Hercules delivered, 11 remain in service, one having been destroyed in a tragic fatal accident in Holland on July 15,1996. Heavy utilisation of the Herk fleet means that an attrition replacement for this aircraft is now being urgently sought.
Westland Sea King Mk 48 RS-05 was the last of five to be delivered to 40 Squadron at Koksijde in 1976. Wearing a somewhat unusual camouflage scheme for a SAR helicopter, the Sea Kings continue in use after two decades of service and have now been considerably upgraded.
Republic F-84F Thunderflash FU-160/‘UR-V’ from 2 Wing/2 Squadron heads a line-up of four of the unit’s examples at its Florennes base in 1960. Some 197 F-84Fs served with the BAF, operating with 2 and 10 Wings, respectively at Florennes and Kleine-Brogel, while a further 34 RF-84F Thunderflashes were flown by 42 Squadron in the reconnaissance role, initially from RAF Wahn, Germany, and then Brustem.
A formation of BAF/VVS/7 Squadron Alpha Jets seen recently in the latest two-tone grey colour scheme, led by an example with enlarged 7 Squadron markings and a red/white colour scheme to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Squadron, which was formed on March 1, 1951.
Seven de Havilland DH.89A Dominies were acquired by the fledgling Belgian Air Force from the UK, along with much other ex-RAF equipment, following the end of World War Two. As with the other six, D-2, seen here at Wevelgem around 1952, was initially operated by 367 Transport Squadron of 169 Wing at Evere when delivered in September 1946 but the unit was then renumbered 21 Communications Squadron as part of 15 Wing on February 1,1948, moving to Brussels/Melsbroek in 1950.
