- Base history starting in 1940.
- Formation of 350 Squadron in 1941 within the RAF.
- Formation of 349 Squadron in 1943 within the RAF.
- Both squadrons join 135Wing in Fassberg.
- Formation of 160 (Belgian) Wing within the 135Wing.
- Return of both squadrons to Beauvechain with their Spitfire MK. XVI.
"Audeo Aciem"
(I dare engage combat - Tacite)
HISTORY OF THE BASE.
The Charles Roman Air Base in Beauvechain traces its origins to the 1930s, when the Belgian government acquired two plots of land in this part of Brabant with the aim of establishing two airfields for the country’s defense.
The first site, known as “Site No. 25 – Hamme-Mille,” is located within an area bounded by the villages of Nodebais, Tourinnes-la-Grosse, and Beauvechain to the north; the "La Baraque" neighborhood to the southwest; and finally the "Culot" neighborhood and the hamlet of "La Bruyère" to the east.
The second airfield, known as “Airfield No. 21 – Beauvechain,” takes the form of a wide strip of land bordering the hamlet of “Les Burettes,” which is located east of the village of Beauvechain.
It was not until September 1939, during mobilization, that the Belgian Air Force carried out basic development work on both sites.
1940
- May 10, 1940: German troops invade Belgium.
The Schaffen airfield is attacked at dawn at 4:30 a.m.
Thirteen Gloster Gladiators from the 1/I/2 Aé (*) out of the fourteen airworthy aircraft managed to take off and headed for Beauvechain (Les Burettes), while the last one (G17), hit on the ground by fire from a Heinkel 111, collided with a Hurricane. (H20) A Gloster (G24), whose engine was hit during the attack, was forced to make an emergency landing in a field.
The Hurricanes of the 2/I/2 Aé, their maneuvers hampered by the two burning aircraft, were almost entirely destroyed by the Luftwaffe. Only two of the eleven Hurricanes present managed to reach Beauvechain.
At 9:00 a.m., all personnel of the Fighter Group left the airfield by truck and along the local road to reach Airfield No. 21 (Les Burettes).
(*) 1st Squadron of the 1st Group of the 2nd Aviation Regiment.
- May 11, 1940: Six Gloster Gladiators took off in two groups from Les Burettes starting at 5:30 a.m. to escort and protect a formation of nine “Fairey Battle” aircraft.
Only two of the six Gloster aircraft involved returned to base; the others were either shot down or forced to make emergency landings in the countryside.
At 2:00 p.m., a dozen Messerschmitt Me-109s attacked the airfield for nearly twenty-five minutes. The remaining seven Gloster and two Hurricane aircraft were destroyed.
At 4:00 p.m., the two squadrons—or at least what remained of them—received orders to abandon the airfield.
- May 17, 1940: The Luftwaffe begins establishing a presence in the heart of Walloon Brabant.
As early as May 17, the Luftwaffe conscripted a portion of the male population who had not yet evacuated the greater Beauvechain area in order to undertake the reconfiguration and development of the two airfields it intended to use for two air units.
Priority was given to the “Burettes” sector in order to clear the takeoff area of the numerous “Gloster” wrecks destroyed on May 11.
- May 19, 1940: Thirty-six “Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-1” fighters from III./JG26 (*) arrived at “Les Burettes.”
The “Gruppe” (Group) consisted of three “Staffel” (Squadrons) and was under the command of Major Ernst Freiherr von Berg. As early as June 11, command of the Group was handed over to the man who would become the famous German fighter ace: Oberstleutnant Adolf Galland, who had scored three victories since May 12.
The unit was quickly reinforced by the arrival of the maintenance and supply column that followed the unit from plain to plain.
Most of the flight and technical personnel set up camp in tents near the camouflaged aircraft at the edge of the woods.
III./JG 26 left the “Burettes” plain on May 27 to move closer to the Dunkirk sector of operations, where the battle raged until June 4.
(*) : 3rd Group of Jagdgeschwader 26.
- May 28, 1940: Belgium surrenders.
- June 1, 1940: Two officers from the Territorial Air Defense Staff, having obtained authorization from Lieutenant General Duvivier, decided to attempt to reach Great Britain.
Air Force Major Renson and Air Force Captain De Soomer arrived, with great difficulty, in London on June 1. They were the first two Belgian airmen to escape and reach Great Britain.
- June 10, 1940: The Belgian authorities announced through their Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Henri DENIS, that any military personnel attempting to escape would be considered deserters.
- June 15, 1940: Arrival at Airfield No. 25 “Hamme-Mille” of Stab II./KG 30 (**), commanded by Hauptmann Claus Hinkelbein, along with its three squadrons (Staffel) equipped with Junkers Ju 88 A-1 bombers.
The Espinette estate was requisitioned to house its staff and a few pilots. The same was true of the two farms, Dewaersegger and Maisin, at the edge of La Bruyère in the locality known as “Le Culot.”
On the very day of their arrival, seven Junkers Ju 88s took off on a dive-bombing mission over the port of Cherbourg. Once the mission was accomplished, the formation returned without incident to the plain, which is now known as “Le Culot.”
(**) 2nd Gruppe of Kampfgeschwader 30.
- June 18, 1940: The French Campaign comes to an end. The Stab II./KG30 leaves “Le Culot”.
- July 2, 1940: The Führer orders preparations for a seaborne invasion of England. From that point on, the Wehrmacht focuses all its energy on putting together the organizational framework for a crossing of the English Channel.
- July 8, 1940: Three squadrons (Staffel) of nine Dornier Do 17 Z-2 and Z-3 aircraft each, from the 1st Group of Kampfgeschwader 3 (I./KG 3), arrived at the “Culot” plain.
The fleet was reinforced by one or two Heinkel He 111s, while transport was handled by a few Junkers Ju 52s shared among the entire Geschwader.
In preparation for operations against England, the four Groups of KG 3 were distributed across four airfields and air bases in Belgium.
Its headquarters (Stab/KG 3) and the 2nd Group (II./KG 3) are at Deurnes; the 1st Group (I./KG 3) is at Le Culot; the 3rd Group (III./ KG 3) was in Sint-Truiden, and the 4th Group (IV./KG 3) was in Chièvres.
Runway No. 25 at “Culot” was now used exclusively, while Runway No. 21 at Les Burettes was temporarily abandoned because it was too cramped and could not be expanded.
The Culot plain has been extended to cover the entire Espinette field; the Dewaersegger and Maisin farms have been permanently requisitioned.
The Flight Command offices, workshops, and technical services have been transported by truck and are quartered at Culot de La Bruyère in “Wohnwagen” and “Schlafwagen” (travel trailers and sleeper cars).
The Germans took full advantage of the various benefits the site offered. Major highways, a local railway network, and resources easily accessible through the many neighboring farms were all factors that contributed to the decision to occupy the area.
As early as the first half of July, anti-aircraft defense positions were established around the base.
I./KG 3 was engaged in systematic bombing raids on maritime traffic in the English Channel. These missions, intended to draw out the RAF in an effort to weaken it as much as possible and cut off supplies to Great Britain, continued until August 7.
- August 7, 1940: The launch of the invasion, codenamed “Seelöwe” (Sea Lion)—originally scheduled for August 15—is drawing near, but its success still hinges on the Luftwaffe’s control of the air.
The RAF, for its part, managed to make up for its losses by rolling out about 100 Spitfires a week, but could still field only about 400 aircraft compared to the Luftwaffe's 2,600.
- August 15, 1940: Göring throws all his forces into the battle. The Luftwaffe carries out 520 bombing missions and 1,270 fighter missions, losing 75 aircraft compared to 34 for the RAF.
Le Culot’s I./KG 3 is part of the fray.
During the night, new engagements take place, and the losses once again favor the RAF: 78 aircraft lost by the Luftwaffe compared to 29 on the RAF side.
The following week, the day and night missions remained substantial, both in terms of scale and the number of targets, but the air defenses held firm, much to the despair of Göring, who had boasted that he would make short work of them.
- August 24 to September 6, 1940: The intensity of the bombing decreased but continued to focus on aircraft production facilities and airfields in southern England. The Germans became increasingly reluctant to launch their invasion by sea.
- September 7, 1940: The Luftwaffe launches waves of massive bombing raids on London. This relentless assault on the capital and England’s major cities allows the British aviation industry—whose factories are no longer under constant threat—to rebuild its workforce.
The Führer grew increasingly skeptical of the Luftwaffe’s ability to achieve air supremacy and decided to postpone “Seelöwe” until the following spring.
The British thus gradually won the Battle of Britain.
The Luftwaffe, suffering heavy aircraft losses, soon began operating primarily at night at very high altitudes over major British industrial cities, thereby avoiding some of the enemy fighter interceptions.
The RAF, for its part, did the same and carried out nighttime raids against Luftwaffe installations.
On the La Bruyère plain (Le Culot), construction work on the future base is underway and will slow down only slightly as winter approaches.
- November 14–15, 1940: Thus, during the night of November 14–15, around 10:00 p.m., “Blenheim IV” aircraft from RAF No. 107 Squadron, coming from Wattisham, attacked “Le Culot.”
Deurne, Sint-Truiden, and Evere were also targeted by Blenheims from 105 Squadron and 110 Squadron.
1941
During the first months of the war, our pilots are grouped within different RAF units, isolating them of each other.
In January 1941, an agreement is reached between the British and the Belgian governments: whenever possible, our pilots will be reunited into national units.
This is the way the first Belgian “flight” is created in February 1941 within the 609 Squadron.
A second one is created within the 131 Squadron in August 1941, this one will be the basement of the 350 Squadron in November 1941.
Its first commanding officer (CO) is British: S/Ldr J.Thompson.
The badge of the 350 Squadron, as all RAF Squadron badges are designed in respect with the same canvas. It consists of a "Royal Air Force blue" disk surrounded by the British Crown, and incorporating a specific emblem.
In this case, the emblem represents the head of Ambiorix the Gallic, chief of the Eburon tribe. The disk is surrounded by the mention:
350 (BELGIAN) SQUADRON – ROYAL AIR FORCE
A golden listel on the bottom contains a motto:
BELGAE GALLORUM FORTISSIMI : Julius Caesar's famous words in “de bello gallico”: “From all Gallic tribes, the Belgians are the bravest...”
The badge has been designed by the squadrons chaplain, Sqn Ldr Clément Boone. The original drawing, signed and approved by King Georges VI, is preserved at the College of Arms.
It is to be noted, that the first project, that was sent to the Ministry for approval on May 23, 1944.was accepted on June 7, but will be refused later by RAF, considering, that Ambiorix’s hair was to long !
The drawing will be finally modified in order to be accepted by King George VI.
- March 16, 1941: Operations by I.KG 3 at Culot and II.KG 3 at Deurnes were suspended. Both groups were sent back to Oldenburg, Germany, to replace their Dornier Do 17s with Junkers Ju-88 A-5s.
The III./KG 3 from Sint-Truiden, with its Dornier Do 17s, departs for Münchendorf to bolster forces in preparation for the invasion of the Balkans.
- May 5, 1941: I.KG 3 returned to Culot with its Junkers Ju-88 A-5s and was once again deployed against England.
- June 18, 1941: Development work on the Culot Plain is well underway, as shown in this aerial photograph taken on June 18, 1941.
1943 - 349 Squadron
The 349 Squadron, our second national Squadron, is created on January 11, 1943 in Ikeja (Nigeria).
The squadron badge is approved in August 1944 by King George VI. It has been designed by the Chester Herald of the Royal College of Herald.
The 349 Sqn badge differs from the 350 Sqn badge by the following :
The emblem in this case is the two “Goedendag”, two crossed "masses of arms" on a white background surrounded by the Royal Air Force Blue circle surrounded by the squadron designation :
349 (BELGIAN) SQUADRON – ROYAL AIR
The CO du Monceau de Bergendael (*) had the idea to use the “Goedendags”, as this weapon was one of the most feared in the Middle Age history of Belgium.
The “Goedendags” were used on July 11, 1302 during the battle of Courtrai (Battle of the Golden Spurs), when the Walloons and the Flemish joined Robert de Bétune (son of Gui de Dampierre, Count of Flanders) to evict the king of France, Philippe IV.
(*) CO 349 Sqn from June 8 until July 22, 1944.
The motto used for the 349 Squadron is a citation of the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill:
STRIKE HARD – STRIKE HOME
1945
- May 7, 1945: The defeat of Germany is near.
The 350 Sqn is based in Fassberg, at 40 km from the Elbe river, the line of demarcation between the British and the Russian zones.
The Squadron Leader H.Walmsley is in command of the squadron. consisting of 22 pilots, 5 of them are British.
The 349 Sqn is based in Varrelbush.
The Squadron Leader “Cheval” Lallemand being in command. The squadron is composed of 27 pilots, 7 of them are British.
Both squadrons are a part of the 2TAF.
Hundred and thirty-four Belgian pilots served in 2 TAF; thirty-four of them will lose their live in combat.
In the early part of 1945, the two Belgian squadrons are equipped with two different types of aircraft.
The 349 Sqn uses the Spitfire Mk.IX while the 350 Sqn flies the Spitfire Mk.XIV
The 349 Sqn will keep the Spitfire Mk.IX till May 1945, then will be equipped with the Mk.XVI, while the 350 Sqn will retain the Spitfire Mk..XIV till November 1945, before to be reequipped with the Mk.XVI.
- July 1945: For the first time, both squadrons are reunited within the same unit, the 123Wing based in Wunsdorf.
- August 1945: The 350 Squadron moves from Wunsdorf to Fassberg, it will be joined very soon by the 349 Sqn in November.
- August 16th 1945 : Sqn Ldt Remy "Mony" Van Lierde, second highest-scoring V1 killer (44) takes the command of 350 squadron.
- November 1945: Both squadrons join the 135 Wing in Fassberg.
At mid-September 1944, the major part of the national territory is freed. On the 8th of September already, the Belgian government is back in the country.
It is the time now to rebuild a military aviation, released from the RAF guardianship. There is of course a great desire to see the Belgian nationality markings back in the sky.
But it is clear, that at the end of 1945, there is no airfield in acceptable condition to accept the aircraft, there is no operational as well as logistical structure, and not enough technicians to maintain the aircraft.
Fortunately, the Royal Air Force authorities accepts to keep our squadrons under its command and organization until the end of 1946. This period is used to create a “Commission to reorganize the Belgian Military Aeronautic” as well as a “Commission for Airfields”.
It quickly appears that the only airfields, that can be used, are the ones built by the Luftwaffe during the war. They've been all bombed during 1944 and they all need heavy repair before receiving our squadrons.
As early as September 1945, the choice for Beauvechain is clear, only the financial support to rebuild the airfield is missing.
1946
- 1946 : An agreement for 20 million BF is signed with the “Compagnie des Chemins de Fer et d’Entreprises” to restore Beauvechain airfield.
160 (Belgian) Wing
- Early 1946 : the Belgian Wing is formally created in Fassberg, as a part of 135Wing and is identified as 160 (Belgian) Wing.
The first Wing Commander is Daniel Le Roy du Vivier. His Second in Command, Squadron Leader Léon Prévot, becomes the first OSN (Senior Flying Officer), he will replace him as from July.
The squadron leaders are :
- Sqn Ldr Albert Van de Velde, CO of the 349 Squadron since the 17th of December 1945.
He succeeded to the Sqn Ldr R.Lallemand (CO since 1945) - Sqn Ldr Remy Van Lierde, the V1 Flying Bomb Ace, in command of the 350 Squadron since the 16th of August 1945.
The British pilots have now left the two squadrons, each of them comprising now more than 30 pilots per squadron.
Picture 4600-01 : Some members of the 135Wing around a Spitfire Mk.XVI belonging to the 349 Squadron. (From L to R)
- Sqn Ldr R.N.G. Allen
- Sqn Ldr Remy Van Lierde CO 350 Sqn
- Gp Capt H.P. Broad
- Wg Cdr Léon Prévot Wing Leader 160 (Belgian) Wing
Spitfire Mk.XVI - Presumed TE191 GE-G "STAD GENT" - Personal aircraft of CO Albert Van de Velde. - Sqn Ldr Albert Van de Velde CO 349 Sqn
- Wg Cdr Robert Deacon-Elliott Wing Leader 135 Wing
- Sqn Ldr Dennis.C. Usher CO 16 Sqn RAF
- ???
- April 1946 : The Spitfires XVI of the 160(Belgian)Wing proudly display their new belgian roundels.
- July 1946 : Negotiations with the British authorities are initiated, the purpose of these being to provide all the necessary equipment required to establish an independent military aviation ; the equipment going from combat aircraft to kitchen supply.
The negotiation on combat aircraft concerns the equipment of our two squadrons in Fassberg, the creation of a two new fighter squadrons and one night fighter squadron.
Our two squadrons (349 Sqn & 350Sqn) are then still equipped with Spitfire LF XVI with Packard Merlin 266 engines (1720 HP).
96 Spitfire XIV with Rolls-Royce Griffon engines (2050 HP) are initially ordered to equip 4 squadrons with 16 aircraft and guarantee a reserve of 32 aircraft.
22 Mosquitos NF30 will be ordered as future night fighters.
-
Pictures 4511-03 : Spitfire XVI TD124 MN-E from 350 Sqn.
On the left side of the cockpit, the zap represent a stork, the emblem of the RAF 345 French Squadron, which used the aircraft until 18th of January 1946.
This aircraft will be destroyed on the 05.October.1946 at Darup, not far from Münster.
During a navigation, Wg Cdr Léon Prévot experienced an engine shutdown and was forced to proceed to an emergency belly landing. Wg Cdr Prévot will be slightly injured and treated at the Münster hospital. -
Picture 4511-06 : GE-R (TD184) is one of the first Spitfires XVI delivered to the 349 Sqn in April 1945.
She will be part of the 27 Spitfires XVI loaned by R.A.F. to the newly ceated Belgian Air Force (*) pending the delivery of the Spitfire XIV.
(*) The Belgian Air Force will be officialy created on the 24.October.1946. -
Picture 4511-08 & 4511-09 : Spitfire XVI TE119 GE-H "Mady" has been delivered to the 349 Sqn in May 1946.
This aircraft will be also part of the 27 aircraft loaned to the Belgian Air Force.
- August 1946 : The 160(Belgian)Wing authorities confirm that both squadron will be back in Belgium by the end of October.
In turn, the 349 Sqn receives three new Spitfire XVI : TB480 (GE-Y), TE284 (GE-T) and TE444 (GE-P)
At the end of the month orders come that the squadron have to move to Ghent in September for a display. The mechanics therefore work very hard even on the saturday and sunday to bring the number of serviceable aircraft from 6 to 14.
Two Spitfire's, the GE-D (TD237) and GE-G (TE191) will be specially stripped of their camouflaged paint and polished for the occasion.
- September 7 & 8 : First official appearance of 349 sqn & 350 sqn during an air show organized by the city of Gent on the field of Sint Denijs Westrem. This airshow is the first in Europe since the end of the war.
A total of 24 Spitfire are presented to the Belgian public.
As the city of Gent officially sponsored 349 Sqn, Spitfire GE-G is named “City of Gent”. Squadron Leader A. Van de Velde, coming from Gent himself, offers Mr Edward Anseele Jr, Mayor of Gent, a picture of the Squadron Crest.
- Pictures 4609-07 & 4609-08: CO Raymond “Cheval” Lallemant with Cdt Pierre Arend, display pilot, facing Spitfire GE-R TD184 of 349 Sqn named “Suzy”.
- October 15, 1946: As agreed with the British authorities, our squadrons are not under British command anymore. “Belgian Military Aviation” is born.
24 Oct 1946 : The return.
- October 24, 1946 : Both 349 and 350 Squadrons leave Fassberg and move to Beauvechain (Le Culot).
Before arriving at the airfield, the aircraft land in Evere, where the official welcoming ceremony lead by the Minister of Defense, Colonel Raoul de Fraiteur, takes place.
The allied authorities present in Belgium are also present.
This ceremony marks the revival of our independent Military Aviation.
- October 24, 1946, p.m. : An engine roaring sound fills the sky above Beauvechain, braking the rural quietness of a fall day: 22 Spitfires wearing Belgian crests with blue propeller hubs (349 Sqn code GE) and red propeller hubs (350 Sqn code MN) fly over the airfield, sleeping since the end of the war, then land one by one (*).
(*) It has to be noted that to make the difference between the two squadrons, each one will choose a specific colour. It will be blue for 349 Sqn and red for 350 Sqn.
The 350 Sqn will modify its crest by replacing the classical "RAF blue" color by a flashy red one.
The Belgian military aviation is born; “349” and “350” squadrons is the basement of it.
This part of the Province of Brabant will be for the next fifty years, the home of the faithful of Ambiorix and Goedendags.
Next : 1Wing : 1946-1949