Belgian Wings
Belgian Air Force, past and present.
The Aeronautical Reference Site - De Luchtvaart Referentie Site - Le site référence de l'Aéronautique
Single-engine twin-seat trainer
Forty-eight T-33A jet trainers and 2 RT-33A reconnaissance aircraft were initially earmarked for the Belgian Government in the framework of the MDAP (Mutual Defence Assistance Programme), however after a review the order was adjusted to 38 T-33As and a single RT-33A.
The first T-33As for Belgium were shipped to the Moroccan port of Casablanca, assembled at the base of Meknes and flown to Florennes. A second batch was delivered via the northern route and Denmark while the remainder was delivered in flight straight from the USA.
The first aircraft were fitted with standard F-80A Shooting Star drop tanks and initially wore only the USAF 'buzz number' and no roundels. Over the early years Belgian Air Force T-Birds had a varied life and were based at virtual all military airbases and units (2, 9, 10 Wing and the Fighter School), before being grouped at Brustem airbase.
Eight aircraft were temporarily transferred to the Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht) as part of a Belgian-Dutch agreement for a common pilot training scheme.
At the end of their service life with the Belgian Air Force and as the aircraft had remained property of the US government most of the T-Birds were returned to the legal owners and got a second career with other foreign air forces or in the worst case as a target on bombing ranges.
C/N
5335
FT-01
Date In
Sep 1951
Date Out
Nov 1979
History
51-4041/TR-O41 (USAF), TR-041 (BAF), FT-1, FT-01, Special markings "Adios T-Bird", Spadeadam (U.K.) Electronic Warfare Tactics Range as "21/40", Florida (?).
C/N
5337
FT-02
Date In
May 1951
Date Out
Nov 1979
History
51-4043/TR-043 (USAF), TR-043 (BAF), FT-2, FT-02; Spadeadam (U.K.) Electronic Warfare Tactics range as “10/77”
C/N
5356
FT-03
Date In
Mar 1951
Date Out
May 1978
History
51-4062/TR-062 (USAF), TR-062 (BAF), FT-03, M-59 (KLu), FT-03, Transported by CH-47C Chinook to the Vilseck (D.) shooting range.
C/N
5446
FT-04
Date In
Mar 1952
Date Out
Jul 1978
History
51-4152/TR-152 (USAF) TR-152 (BAF), FT-4, M-43 (KLu), FT-04 crashed after mid-air collission with FT-26 at Ciney on 27 Apr 1977.
C/N
5445
FT-05
Date In
Aug 1952
Date Out
Oct 1979
History
51-4151/TR-151 (USAF), TR-151 (BAF), FT-5, M-42 (KLu), FT-05, fatal crash at Mückenbomberg/Kell (D.) on 18 Nov 1977.
C/N
5525
FT-06
Date In
Aug 1952
Date Out
Nov 1979
History
51-4231/TR-231 (USAF), TR-231 (BAF), FT-6, M-44 (KLu), FT-06, Spadeadam (U.K.) Electronic Warfare Tactics range as "15/11"
C/N
5527
FT-07
Date In
Jul 1952
Date Out
Nov 1979
History
51-4233/TR-233 (USAF), FT-7, "A"(10W), M-45 (KLu), FT-07, Spadeadam(U.K.) Electronic Warfare Tactics range as "70"
C/N
5994
FT-08
Date In
Feb 1953
Date Out
Jun 1965
History
51-6662/TR-662 (USAF), TR-662 (BAF), FT-8, "B" (10W), M-46 (KLu), "Whiskey Four" team, crashed after mid-air collision at Woensdrecht during "Whiskey Four" display on 8 Jun 1965.
C/N
5995
FT-09
Date In
Oct 1952
Date Out
Aug 1976
History
51-6663/TR-663 (USAF), FT-9, "C" (10W), M-60 KLu, FT-09, "Schwäbisches Bauern und Technik Museum" at Eschach/Siefertshofen (D.). Was written off in emergency landing at Brustem on 4 Aug 1976 after losing tip-tank in flight.
C/N
5996
FT-10
Date In
Dec 1952
Date Out
Nov 1979
History
51-6664/TR-664 (USAF), TR-664 (BAF), FT-10, "D" (10 Wing), Spadeadam (U.K.) Electronic Warfare Tactics range as "14/77".
C/N
5993
FT-11
Date In
Mar 1953
Date Out
Nov 1979
History
51-6661/TR-661 (USAF), TR-661 (BAF), FT-11, "E" (10W), M-47 (KLu), FT-11, Spadeadam (U.K.) ) Electronic Warfare Tactics range as "80/70".
C/N
5383
FT-12
Date In
Feb 1953
Date Out
Jun 1957
History
51-4089/TR-089 (USAF), TR-089 (BAF), FT-12, "F" (10W), Written off at Brye on 15 May 1957 after emergency landing due to engine fire in flight.
C/N
6816
FT-13
Date In
Jul 1953
Date Out
Nov 1979
History
51-9032/TR-032 (USAF), TR-032 (BAF), FT-13, to Yugoslavian A.F, Serbian A.F., Cape May (NJ, USA).
C/N
7032
FT-14
Date In
Sep 1953
Date Out
Nov 1979
History
51-9248/TR-248 (USAF), FT-14, "G" (10W), to Yugoslavian AF, to Serbian Air Force as 100055, noted at Cape May (NJ/USA)
C/N
7138
FT-15
Date In
Nov 1953
Date Out
Nov 1979
History
51-17445/TR-445 (USAF), FT-15, USAF, N1180C, N410GH, N133CK Lakeview (OR, USA)
C/N
7254
FT-16
Date In
Nov 1953
Date Out
1979
History
51-17463/TR-463 (USAF), FT16, to Yugoslav A.F., N533CB Wilmington (DE, USA)
C/N
7362
FT-17
Date In
Dec 1953
Date Out
Dec 1979
History
51-17468/TR-468 (UASAF), FT-17, To Yugoslav A.F., N125AT, Stockton (CA, USA)
C/N
7363
FT-18
Date In
Dec 1953
Date Out
Sep 1959
History
51-17469/TR-469 (USAF) TR-469 (BAF), FT-18. Crashed at Bogaarden (Pepingen) on 13 May 1959 after mid-air collision with FT-35.
C/N
7485
FT-19
Date In
Jan 1954
Date Out
Jun 1960
History
51-17505/TR-505 (USAF), TR-505 (BAF), FT-19, crashed at Wezeren after flame-out on 15 Jun 1960.
C/N
7373
FT-20
Date In
Jan 1954
Date Out
Sep 1962
History
51-17479/TR-479 (USAF), TR-479 (BAF), FT-20, Flight Refuelling, Tarrant Rushton (U.K.), spare parts resource Mojave (CA, USA).
C/N
7573
FT-21
Date In
Apr 1954
Date Out
Oct 1979
History
51-17513/TR-513 (USAF), FT-21, "H" (10 W), 1928 (Portugal), stored at Beja AB (P.)
C/N
7584
FT-22
Date In
Apr 1954
Date Out
Dec 1979
History
51-17524/TR-524 (USAF), FT-22, "I" (10 W), N1180D Wilmington (DE, USA)
C/N
7684
FT-23
Date In
Apr 1954
Date Out
Jul 1961
History
51-17539/TR-539 (USAF), FT-23 "J" (10W), crashed at Oldenmark(Steenwijk (Nl.)
C/N
7788
FT-24
Date In
Apr 1954
Date Out
-
History
52-9892/TR-892 (USAF), TR-892 (BAF), FT-24, monument 11 Sq. Brustem, monument 11 Sq. Beauvechain, “1W Historical Center” Beauvechain.
C/N
9063
FT-25
Date In
Jun 1955
Date Out
Mar 1976
History
53-5724/TR-724 (USAF), FT-25, scrapyard Kalken, Zele, Affligem along E-40 motorway with wings of FT-33, to Expo Gowalt, Kwatrechtsesteenweg, 114 Wetteren
C/N
9064
FT-26
Date In
Jun 1955
Date Out
Mar 1978
History
53-5725/TR-725 (USAF), FT-26," Schwäbisches Bauern und Technik Museum" at Seifertshofen (D.), stored.
C/N
9065
FT-27
Date In
Jun 1955
Date Out
Dec 1961
History
53-5726/TR-726 (USAF), FT-27, landing mishap at Brustem on 19 Sep 1961. Not repaired, spare parts resource at Flight Refuelling, Tarrant Rushton (U.K.)
C/N
9091
FT-28
Date In
Jun 1955
Date Out
1979
History
53-5752/TR-752, FT-28, 1929 (Portugal), stored Beja AB, (P.)
C/N
9092
FT-29
Date In
Jun 1955
Date Out
Nov 1979
History
53-5753/TR-753, FT-29, Spadeadam shooting range (U.K.) as "77/44".
C/N
9093
FT-30
Date In
Aug 1955
Date Out
1979
History
53-5754/TR-754 (USAF), FT-30, 1930 (Portugal), stored Beja AB (P.) special colour scheme "38 anos FAP”
C/N
9579
FT-31
Date In
Mar 1956
Date Out
Oct 1966
History
55-3038/TR-038, FT-31, crashed at Weert(Nl.) after engine problems on 03 Oct 1966
C/N
9581
FT-32
Date In
Mar 1956
Date Out
May 1957
History
55-3040/TR-040 (USAF), FT-32, crashed at Brustem on 22 Mar 1957.
C/N
9582
FT-33
Date In
Mar 1956
Date Out
Feb 1978
History
55-3041/TR-041, FT-33, 13 Jun 1979 fatal crash at Velm/Kerkom.
C/N
9584
FT-34
Date In
Mar 1956
Date Out
1979
History
55-3043/TR-043 (USAF), FT34, stored Koksijde, Royal Army Museum Brussels.
C/N
9587
FT-35
Date In
Mar 1956
Date Out
Sep 1959
History
55-3046/TR-046 (USAF), FT-35, crashed at Saintes after mid-air collision with FT-18 on 13 May 1959.
C/N
9588
FT-36
Date In
Apr 1956
Date Out
1979
History
55-3047/TR-047 (USAF), FT-36, displayed at Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum at Tinwald Downs (U.K.) as “Little Miss Laura”
C/N
9623
FT-37
Date In
Apr 1956
Date Out
Feb 1980
History
55-3082/TR-082, FT-37, Transported by CH-47C Chinook to Alconbury (U.K.) and used for BDRT, to Scuthorpe (U.K.), to Molesworth (U.K.)
C/N
9585
FT-38
Date In
May 1956
Date Out
Feb 1980
History
55-3044/TR-044, FT-38, transported by US Army CH-47C Chinook helicopter to Ramstein airbase (D.) to be used for Battle Damage Repair Training (BDRT).
As mentioned higher, a single RT-33A reconnaissance development of the T-33A Shooting Star was delivered to the Belgian Air Force in the framework of the Mutual Defence Assistance Programme (MDAP). The aircraft with c/n 8872 and USAF serial 53-5533 was registered FTR-1 with the Belgian Air Force. Arriving at the end of December 1955, it was delivered to N° 42Sq/9W at Wahn airbase (D.). However, the a/c was refused by Major Maricq (CO 42sq), as it needed a different maintenance chain (42 Sq being a fully self-supporting unit). On 28 March 1956 it was transferred to Melsbroek airbase were it was kept in storage until being returned tp MAAG (USAF) on 5 April 1956 and flown over to Châteauroux on 21 April 1956. After having been active with the Pakistan Air Force it is now on display at the Pakistan AF Academy at Risalpur (PK). Only a hanfull of images exist of the TR-33A in Belgian service, these being stills taken from a movie and thus explaining the rather poor quality.