11 Squadron (Belgian Air Force)
Encyclopedia
11 Squadron is a training squadron of the Belgian Air Component, deployed at Base Aérienne 120 at Cazaux in France, in the scope of the Advanced Jet Training School (AJeTS).
aerodrome near Veurne. As the third dedicated fighter squadron of the Aviation Militaire Belge, next to 9ème Escadrille
and 10ème Escadrille
, it was part of Belgium's first fighter wing, the Groupe de Chasse
. The new unit used an insignia that was adopted from Willy Coppens
's personal insignia with his consent. The Cocotte is a two dimensional representation of an origami
Chicken, and was painted in white on the airplanes. The squadron was equipped with castoff Sopwith Camel
s from 1ère Escadrille de Chasse as well as a few Hanriot-Dupont 1
s, and under command of Commander Paul Hiernaux.
and one pilot WIA
. Its success coincided with the September 1918 Belgian Army advance. To support this advance, 11ème Escadrille moved to Moerkerke
near the Dutch border on October 30, 1918
until July 5, 1919, when it was recalled to Sint-Agatha-Berchem
, in the outskirts of Brussels, where it is disbanded in August 1919. In March 1920, 11 Squadron was recreated at Sint-Agatha-Berchem
, with the same squadron number, insignia and aircraft, augmented by Fokker D-VII
aircraft, yielded by the Germans as compensation for damages during WWI. Lieutenant Albert Massaux took command of the squadron. In the following months, the squadron moved up and down to Wilrijk
, before returning to Bochum
on July 9, 1920. During their stay there, 11 Squadron transformed to Airco DH.4. On January 5, 1922, 11 Squadron moved to Bierset for the first time, only to move to Schaffen at the start of 1923. It was disbanded a second time on Februari 19, 1923.
In 1935, the Squadrons at Bierset were re-organised into 9 and 11 Squadrons of the 5th Group of the 1st Aeronautical Regiment. Initially still equipped with Bréguet XIX
, they soon received the Belgian Renard R 31
monoplane
. Their mission changed from Bombardment to Observation. As from 1938, the “Sioux” symbol appeared on the aircraft. On 11 Squadron aircraft the "Sioux" was surrounded by a red circle. The squadron motto was "Tenacity".
Commanded by Captain Henri de la Lindi, 11 Squadron took an active part in the 18 days campaign
. On the morning of the May 10, 11 Squadron rejoined its diversion airfield at Hannut, few hours before Bierset was bombarded by Dornier 17
's of the Luftwaffe
. 11 Squadron was one of three squadrons that continued to fight until the surrender on May 28, 1940. Both "Sioux" squadrons (9 and 11) combined executed 54 combat missions, for a loss of three pilots and 11 aircraft.
on April 25, 1951. It was equipped with de Havilland Mosquito
NFXXXs, and the squadron insignia was a grey bat on a yellow triangle. As from the summer of 1952, it entered the jet age by slowly transforming to Gloster Meteor
NFXI. The squadron only gained operational status on that type on September 10, 1956. On December 17, 1957, 11 Squadron received as first non-Canadian squadron, its initial batch of CF-100 Canuck. It was disbanded again at Beauvechain on November 3, 1960.
(Sint Truiden), together with 7 and 9 Squadrons. Its initial mission was to provide Instrument Flight Training to the student pilots on Lockheed T-33. This aircraft was to be retired from service on August 23, 1979.
The first delivery of its successor, the Dassault Alpha-Jet took place on December 7, 1978, and as of 1979 the students started training on this aircraft. The mission of 11 Squadron was now to provide Initial Operational Training (IOT), combining simulated air-to-air combat and air-to-ground tactics. 11 Squadron continued to be based at Brustem until the move to Beauvechain
.
. A few years later, in 2000, the Alpha-Jet received an extensive avionics update. The Inertial Reference System
updated by GPS
, combined with a Head-up display
provided the possibility to simulate tactics used on the F-16.
On August 30, 2001, a further re-organisation of the training squadrons lead to an expansion of 11 Squadron's mission. It took over the Advanced Flying Training (AFT) from 7 Squadron. During the AFT, students having finished on the SF260 took their first steps on a jet aircraft, and graduated as pilots after succeeding. Afterwards, they stayed in 11 Squadron to complete the IOT.
in France on September 14, 2005. Transfer of the aircraft had begun as from 2004. The Belgian, updated, Alpha-Jets are operated alongside the French, non-updated, aircraft to provide the first taste of operational flying to Belgian and French students alike. Students and instructors fly out of a unit, combining the insignia and traditions of the Belgian 11 Squadron and the French Escadron de Chasse 2/8. After the move of the complete fleet, the AFT mission was fulfilled, also in the scope of AJeTS, by the Ecole de l'Aviation de Chasse at Base Aèrienne 705 at Tours
.
The squadron's origins
The 11ème Escadrille de Chasse was created March 1, 1918, at Les MoëresLes Moëres
De Moeren or Les Moëres are a marshy region in the Westhoek, politically divided between the French-Belgian border. At one time the area was inhabited by the Gallic people known as the Morini; they are believed to have lent their name to the territory.For many centuries, beginning around 800,...
aerodrome near Veurne. As the third dedicated fighter squadron of the Aviation Militaire Belge, next to 9ème Escadrille
9 Squadron (Belgian Air Force)
9 Squadron is a training squadron of the Belgian Air Component, constituting the Basic Flying Training School together with 5 Squadron.-The squadron's origins:...
and 10ème Escadrille
10me Escadrille de Chasse
The 5me Escadrille de Chasse was the second fighter squadron of the Belgian Air Component. The squadron was founded during World War I, reorganized into a dedicated fighter unit under its new designation of 10me Escadrille de Chasse in March 1918, and became part of a fighter wing before war's...
, it was part of Belgium's first fighter wing, the Groupe de Chasse
Groupe de Chasse
The Groupe de Chasse was Belgium's first dedicated Fighter Wing. It was created in March 1918 at Les Moëres aerodrome near Veurne. On request of King Albert I, Capitaine Fernand Jacquet was appointed Commanding Officer, and the Groupe de Chasse also became known as the Groupe Jaquet...
. The new unit used an insignia that was adopted from Willy Coppens
Willy Coppens
Willy Omer Francois Jean Coppens was Belgium's leading fighter ace and the champion "balloon buster" of World War I.-Background and Early Military Service:...
's personal insignia with his consent. The Cocotte is a two dimensional representation of an origami
Origami
is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, which started in the 17th century AD at the latest and was popularized outside Japan in the mid-1900s. It has since then evolved into a modern art form...
Chicken, and was painted in white on the airplanes. The squadron was equipped with castoff Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
s from 1ère Escadrille de Chasse as well as a few Hanriot-Dupont 1
Hanriot HD.1
|-References:* Bruce, J.M. The Hanriot HD 1 Leatherhead: Profile Publications* Cheesman E.F. Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War Letchworth, Harletford Publications, 1960 pp. 82-83- External links :*...
s, and under command of Commander Paul Hiernaux.
Operations
11ème Escadrille de Chasse became operational as a fighter squadron, capable of being included in combined Allied operations, on May 28, 1918. The new escadrille scored its first victory on September 27, 1918. In its short operational career, the squadron claimed twelve wins and was credited with seven verified aerial victories. In turn, it suffered two pilots KIAKilled in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
and one pilot WIA
Wounded in action
Wounded in action describes soldiers who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during war time, but have not been killed. Typically it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing to fight....
. Its success coincided with the September 1918 Belgian Army advance. To support this advance, 11ème Escadrille moved to Moerkerke
Moerkerke
Moerkerke is a town in the Belgian province West Flanders and a part of the city of Damme-External links:*...
near the Dutch border on October 30, 1918
Between the wars
After the armistice, 11 Squadron participated in the occupation of Germany. It operated from BochumBochum
Bochum is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany. It is located in the Ruhr area and is surrounded by the cities of Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Herne, Castrop-Rauxel, Dortmund, Witten and Hattingen.-History:...
until July 5, 1919, when it was recalled to Sint-Agatha-Berchem
Sint-Agatha-Berchem
Sint-Agatha-Berchem or Berchem-Sainte-Agathe is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium.The municipality had a total population of 20,078 on 1 January 2006...
, in the outskirts of Brussels, where it is disbanded in August 1919. In March 1920, 11 Squadron was recreated at Sint-Agatha-Berchem
Sint-Agatha-Berchem
Sint-Agatha-Berchem or Berchem-Sainte-Agathe is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium.The municipality had a total population of 20,078 on 1 January 2006...
, with the same squadron number, insignia and aircraft, augmented by Fokker D-VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
aircraft, yielded by the Germans as compensation for damages during WWI. Lieutenant Albert Massaux took command of the squadron. In the following months, the squadron moved up and down to Wilrijk
Wilrijk
Wilrijk is a district of the municipality and city of Antwerp in the Flemish Region of Belgium. Wilrijk had been a separate municipality before January 1, 1983; the enlarged municipality of Antwerp was decentralized in 2000 and Wilrijk became one the city's nine districts.This suburb is also known...
, before returning to Bochum
Bochum
Bochum is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany. It is located in the Ruhr area and is surrounded by the cities of Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Herne, Castrop-Rauxel, Dortmund, Witten and Hattingen.-History:...
on July 9, 1920. During their stay there, 11 Squadron transformed to Airco DH.4. On January 5, 1922, 11 Squadron moved to Bierset for the first time, only to move to Schaffen at the start of 1923. It was disbanded a second time on Februari 19, 1923.
In 1935, the Squadrons at Bierset were re-organised into 9 and 11 Squadrons of the 5th Group of the 1st Aeronautical Regiment. Initially still equipped with Bréguet XIX
Breguet 19
The Breguet 19 was a light bomber and reconnaissance plane, also used for long-distance flights, designed by the French Breguet company and produced from 1924.-Development:...
, they soon received the Belgian Renard R 31
Renard R-31
-See also:-Bibliography:* Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Seven: Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft. London: Macdonald & Co. Ltd., 1967. ISBN 0356-01477-0....
monoplane
Monoplane
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with one main set of wing surfaces, in contrast to a biplane or triplane. Since the late 1930s it has been the most common form for a fixed wing aircraft.-Types of monoplane:...
. Their mission changed from Bombardment to Observation. As from 1938, the “Sioux” symbol appeared on the aircraft. On 11 Squadron aircraft the "Sioux" was surrounded by a red circle. The squadron motto was "Tenacity".
Second World War
Just before the outbreak of WWII, 11 Squadron was assigned to 6th Group under command of Commander Dumonceau, while 9 Squadron remained in the 5th Group. To improve mobility and the possibility of deployed operations, each group comprised a maintenance squadron, a field train of about 25 vehicles, and an anti-aircraft unit of 40mm Bofors guns.Commanded by Captain Henri de la Lindi, 11 Squadron took an active part in the 18 days campaign
Battle of Belgium
The Battle of Belgium or Belgian Campaign formed part of the greater Battle of France, an offensive campaign by Germany during the Second World War...
. On the morning of the May 10, 11 Squadron rejoined its diversion airfield at Hannut, few hours before Bierset was bombarded by Dornier 17
Dornier Do 17
The Dornier Do 17, sometimes referred to as the Fliegender Bleistift , was a World War II German light bomber produced by Claudius Dornier's company, Dornier Flugzeugwerke...
's of the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
. 11 Squadron was one of three squadrons that continued to fight until the surrender on May 28, 1940. Both "Sioux" squadrons (9 and 11) combined executed 54 combat missions, for a loss of three pilots and 11 aircraft.
Cold War
After WWII, 11 Squadron was resurrected as a night fighter squadron of 1st Fighter Wing at Beauvechain Air BaseBeauvechain Air Base
Beauvechain Air Base is a Belgian Air Component military airfield in Belgium, located south of Beauvechain ; east-southeast of Brussels...
on April 25, 1951. It was equipped with de Havilland Mosquito
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
NFXXXs, and the squadron insignia was a grey bat on a yellow triangle. As from the summer of 1952, it entered the jet age by slowly transforming to Gloster Meteor
Gloster Meteor
The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
NFXI. The squadron only gained operational status on that type on September 10, 1956. On December 17, 1957, 11 Squadron received as first non-Canadian squadron, its initial batch of CF-100 Canuck. It was disbanded again at Beauvechain on November 3, 1960.
Sint Truiden
In 1971, a thorough revision of the Air Force training system called for the creation of new training squadrons. Re-created on May 14, 11 Squadron became part of the “Perfectioning Center” at BrustemSint-Truiden Air Base
Sint-Truiden Air Base is a Belgian Air Component base, located south of Sint-Truiden , approximately east of Brussels ....
(Sint Truiden), together with 7 and 9 Squadrons. Its initial mission was to provide Instrument Flight Training to the student pilots on Lockheed T-33. This aircraft was to be retired from service on August 23, 1979.
The first delivery of its successor, the Dassault Alpha-Jet took place on December 7, 1978, and as of 1979 the students started training on this aircraft. The mission of 11 Squadron was now to provide Initial Operational Training (IOT), combining simulated air-to-air combat and air-to-ground tactics. 11 Squadron continued to be based at Brustem until the move to Beauvechain
Beauvechain Air Base
Beauvechain Air Base is a Belgian Air Component military airfield in Belgium, located south of Beauvechain ; east-southeast of Brussels...
.
Beauvechain
On November 19, 1996, all training units were moved to Beauvechain, a former air defense base, to become 1st Wing1st Wing (Belgium)
The 1st Wing is a wing in the Air Component of the Belgian Armed Forces, located at Beauvechain Air Base.-Training Wing:The 1st Fighter Wing was disbanded in 1996, with 349 Squadron and the Operational Conversion Unit moving to Kleine Brogel Air Base. 350 Squadron moved to Florennes Air Base...
. A few years later, in 2000, the Alpha-Jet received an extensive avionics update. The Inertial Reference System
Inertial navigation system
An inertial navigation system is a navigation aid that uses a computer, motion sensors and rotation sensors to continuously calculate via dead reckoning the position, orientation, and velocity of a moving object without the need for external references...
updated by GPS
Global Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
, combined with a Head-up display
Head-Up Display
A head-up display or heads-up display is any transparent display that presents data without requiring users to look away from their usual viewpoints...
provided the possibility to simulate tactics used on the F-16.
On August 30, 2001, a further re-organisation of the training squadrons lead to an expansion of 11 Squadron's mission. It took over the Advanced Flying Training (AFT) from 7 Squadron. During the AFT, students having finished on the SF260 took their first steps on a jet aircraft, and graduated as pilots after succeeding. Afterwards, they stayed in 11 Squadron to complete the IOT.
Cazaux
In the scope of a European training programme, the Advanced Jet Training School (AJeTS), 11 Squadron moved to Base Aérienne 120 at CazauxCazaux
Cazaux is a commune of the Ariège department in southwestern France....
in France on September 14, 2005. Transfer of the aircraft had begun as from 2004. The Belgian, updated, Alpha-Jets are operated alongside the French, non-updated, aircraft to provide the first taste of operational flying to Belgian and French students alike. Students and instructors fly out of a unit, combining the insignia and traditions of the Belgian 11 Squadron and the French Escadron de Chasse 2/8. After the move of the complete fleet, the AFT mission was fulfilled, also in the scope of AJeTS, by the Ecole de l'Aviation de Chasse at Base Aèrienne 705 at Tours
Tours
Tours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
.