Belgian Wings
Belgian Air Force, past and present.
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Supermarine Spitfire LF.IXc/e
Single engine single seat fighter
In accordance to the “Anglo/Belgian Agreements” of December 4th, 1946, 28 Spitfire LF.IX fighters (SM-1 to SM-28) were acquired from wartime RAF surplus stocks. These aircraft were to provide advanced combat training for future fighter pilots. As of August 1947 the first of these aircraft entered service with the Advanced Flying School (VVS or EPA) at Brustem airbase. Due to a high attrition rate (Belgium did not use two-seater Spitfire’s as did the Irish and Royal Netherlands Air Force) it was necessary to order some additional aircraft. An order for 18 secondhand Spitfires was signed with the LSK/Fokker of Holland. These machines which formerly were used in the Dutch-Indies received serials (SM-29 to SM-43) additionally 3 more aircraft were acquired (former KLu H-50, H-54 and H-58) which were in such a bad shape that they could only be used as spare part resource. Of these post war aircraft four served during WWII with 349 (Belgian) Squadron. The Spitfires were not attributed any tactical codes as they were purely used for training. For that purpose they were used at the Advanced Training School (VVS-EPA) at Brustem, the Fighter school at Koksijde and the Auxiliary Squadron at Beauvechain. In 1952 the idea emerged briefly to create a demonstration team on Spitfire IX, but after an unfortunate accident this fell through. After their Belgian military service, many Spitfires went on to become target tugs with the civilian company Cogea Nouvelle of Oostende. Most of these Spits went on to have a film career (Battle of Britain, etc.) and quite interestingly the majority survived to this day. (Daniel Brackx)
C/N
-
SM-1
Date In
Aug 1947
Date Out
Aug 1952
History
PL349 (RAF), SM-1, SOC Aug 1952
C/N
-
SM-2
Date In
Aug 1947
Date Out
Jul 1950
History
MJ353 (RAF), SM2, fatal crash at Hoepertingen after mid-air collision with SM-15 on 17 May 1950
C/N
-
SM-3
Date In
Aug 1947
Date Out
Dec 1949
History
RT887 (RAF), SM-3, destroyed in fire at Brustem on 11 Jul 1949
C/N
-
SM-4
Date In
Aug 1947
Date Out
Jul 1949
History
PL190 (RAF), SM-4, crashed on take off from Brustem due to engine failure on 24 Mar 1949
C/N
-
SM-5
Date In
Aug 1947
Date Out
Feb 1952
History
TE520 (RAF), SM-5, Fatal crash at Tomveld (Brustem) on 14 Feb 1952
C/N
4161
SM-6
Date In
Aug 1947
Date Out
May 1954
History
EN568 (RAF), Mk.V Spitfire modified into LF.IX, SM-6, scrapped.
C/N
3565
SM-7
Date In
Aug 1947
Date Out
Oct 1951
History
EN-123 (RAF), SM-7, Fatal crash at Sivry-Rance on 18 Jul 1951.
C/N
-
SM-8
Date In
Aug 1947
Date Out
Mar 1949
History
PL149 (RAF), SM-8, written off in a field emergency landing at Beyne-Heusay on 16 Oct 1948.
C/N
-
SM-9
Date In
Aug 1947
Date Out
Aug 1950
History
MJ421 (RAF), SM-9, fatal crash at Brustem on 4 Aug 1950.
C/N
-
SM-10
Date In
Aug 1947
Date Out
Dec 1951
History
TA855 (RAF), SM-10, dived in the ground from high altitude at Sint-Truiden on 14 Dec 1951
C/N
-
SM-11
Date In
Sep 1947
Date Out
May 1954
History
MJ244 (RAF), SM-11, scrapped.
C/N
-
SM-12
Date In
Sep 1947
Date Out
Sep 1947
History
MH366 (RAF), SM-12 attributed but not worn, crashed on delivery at Etterbeek on 2 Sep 1947 due to engine problems.
C/N
-
SM-13
Date In
Oct 1947
Date Out
Jan 1952
History
PT643 (RAF), SM-13, written off at Brustem airbase on 20 Jun1951, One wing recovered to repair SM-15.
C/N
-
SM-14
Date In
Nov1947
Date Out
May 1954
History
MJ332 (RAF), SM-14, scrapped.
C/N
CBAF-IX-1301
SM-15
Date In
Feb 1948
Date Out
Jul 1951
History
MJ783 (RAF), SM-15, on display at the Royal Army Museum, Brussels as "MN-L", "MJ360/GE-B"
C/N
-
SM-16
Date In
May 1948
Date Out
Jan 1952
History
PT853 (RAF), SM-16, used in fire fighting exercise at Evere on 16 June 1952
C/N
-
SM-17
Date In
Jul 1948
Date Out
Sep 1953
History
PT644 (RAF), SM-17, Scrapped after a Cat.4 accident at Brustem on 8 Sep 1953
C/N
-
SM-18
Date In
Jul 1948
Date Out
May 1954
History
ML423 (RAF), SM-18, scrapped.
C/N
-
SM-19
Date In
Jul 1948
Date Out
Sep 1952
History
MJ482 (RAF), SM-19, fatal crash on 14 Jan 1952 at Kortenbos on first solo flight of student pilot.
C/N
-
SM-20
Date In
Jul 1948
Date Out
Sep 1952
History
PL224 (RAF), SM-20, Spitfire Team, crash landing after mid-air collision with SM-24 and SM-30 at Saffraanberg on 1 Sep 1952
C/N
-
SM-21
Date In
Jul 1948
Date Out
May 1954
History
MK577 (RAF), SM-21, scrapped
C/N
-
SM-22
Date In
Aug 1948
Date Out
Apr 1954
History
MJ559 (RAF), SM-22, written off in accident on 13 Sep 1952, intended as instruction airframe at Technical School of Saffraanberg but scrapped, wings to SM-29 Gate Guardian of school
C/N
-
SM-23
Date In
Aug 1948
Date Out
Jun 1952
History
MJ617 (RAF), SM-23, fatal crash at Overrepen after mid-air collision with SM-26 on 25 Jun 1952
C/N
-
SM-24
Date In
Aug 1948
Date Out
Aug 1953
History
MK777 (RAF), SM-24, Spitfire Team, written off in accident at Brustem on 20 Jul 1953.
C/N
-
SM-25
Date In
Nov 1948
Date Out
May 1954
History
TA836 (RAF), SM-25, scrapped.
C/N
-
SM-26
Date In
Nov 1948
Date Out
Jun 1952
History
PV189 (RAF), SM-26, Fatal crash at Overrepen on 25 Jun 1952, mid-air collision with SM-23.
C/N
-
SM-27
Date In
Nov 1948
Date Out
Nov 1951
History
RK851 (RAF), SM-27, Crashed at Quarreux-St-Aumont on 22 Nov 1951
C/N
-
SM-28
Date In
Nov 1948
Date Out
Jul 1951
History
MK153 (RAF), photo-recce window, SM-28, overturned at Brustem on 6 Mar 1951, used as spare parts resource at Fairey, Gosselies
C/N
CBAF-IX-1875
SM-29
Date In
Jun 1952
Date Out
Apr 1954
History
MK912 (RAF), H119, H-59 (LSK - Nl.), SM-29, gate guard Saffraanberg, active at Biggin Hill (U.K.) as MK912/SH-L.
C/N
-
SM-30
Date In
Jun 1952
Date Out
Apr 1954
History
MH485 (RAF), H-102 (LSK), H-51,, SM-30, Spitfire Team, written off in crash at Brustem on 29 Apr 1953, scrapped.
C/N
-
SM-31
Date In
Jun 1952
Date Out
May 1954
History
MK205 (RAF), H-101 (LSK), H-52, SM-31, scrapped.
C/N
-
SM-32
Date In
Aug 1952
Date Out
Apr 1954
History
MH424 (RAF), H-106 (LSK), H-53, SM-32, Scrapped
C/N
-
SM-33
Date In
Oct 1952
Date Out
May 1954
History
MH439 (RAF), H-56, SM-33, fatal accident at Rivière-sur-Meuse on 13 Jan 1954.
C/N
-
SM-34
Date In
Aug 1952
Date Out
Apr 1954
History
MH309 (RAF), H-113, H-57, SM-34, scrapped after landing accident at Brustem on 8 Apr 1954.
C/N
-
SM-35
Date In
Jan 1953
Date Out
Apr 1954
History
MJ714 (RAF), H-117, H-67, SM-35, written off after landing accident on 19 Mar 1954.
C/N
CBAF-IX-2200
SM-36
Date In
Jan 1953
Date Out
May 1954
History
NH238 (RAF) H-103, H-60, SM-36, OO-ARE, N238V, EN-398/JE-J, G-MKIX, NH238/D-A, airworthy.
C/N
CBAF-IX-1886
SM-37
Date In
Feb 1953
Date Out
May 1954
History
MK923 (RAF), 5J-Z, H-104, H-61, SM-37, OO-ARF, N93081, NX521R, N521R, preserved at the Seattle Washington- Museum of Flight as MK923/5J-Z
C/N
-
SM-38
Date In
Mar 1953
Date Out
May 1954
History
MH725 (RAF), H112, H-63, SM-38, scrapped.
C/N
CBAF-IX-2161
SM-39
Date In
Apr 1953
Date Out
May 1954
History
NH188 (RAF), DN-S, H-109 (LSK), H-64, SM-39, OO-ARC, CF-NUS, NH188/AU-H, Canadian National Museum, Rockcliffe (Canada)
C/N
CBAF-IX-533
SM-40
Date In
Apr 1953
Date Out
May 1954
History
MH415 (RAF), ZD-E, H-108, H-65, SM-40, OO-ARD, N415MH, as ZD-E, up for sale in Texas, USA (2015), Pays Air Service, Scone, Australia
C/N
CBAF-IX-552
SM-41
Date In
Oct 1953
Date Out
May 1954
History
MH434 (RAF), ZD-B, H-105, H-68, SM-41, OO-ARA, G-ASJV, airworthy
C/N
-
SM-42
Date In
Apr 1953
Date Out
May 1954
History
MJ893 (RAF), H110, H-69, SM-42, crashed at Brustem on 5 May 1954 due to engine failure.
C/N
CBAF-IX-1515
SM-43
Date In
Jun 1953
Date Out
May 1954
History
MK297 (RAF), H-116 (LSK), H-55, SM-43, OO-ARB, G-ASSD, NX9BL, N9BL, destroyed in hangar fire at Hamilton, Ontario (Canada) on 15 Feb 1993