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kanyiko — Invasion Stripes

#air #airforce #antwerp #baf #belgian #c130 #component #display #f16 #formation #liberation
Published: 2019-10-03 00:09:09 +0000 UTC; Views: 680; Favourites: 23; Downloads: 2
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Description Antwerp (Belgium), September 7th 2018

Lockheed F-16AM FA-124 of 349 Squadron, Belgian Air Component (sporting invasion stripes), Lockheed C-130H CH-11 of 20 Squadron, Belgian Air Component (also sporting invasion stripes), and an unidentified F-16AM of the Belgian Air Component make a formation flight over Belgium during the 75th anniversary of the city's liberation.

349 Squadron (and its sister unit, 350 Squadron) started as Royal Air Force units crewed by Belgian air crew during World War II.
349 Squadron was formed at RAF Ikeja in Lagos, Nigeria on November 10th 1942, originally flying the Curtis Tomahawk, before converting to the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V in June of 1943.
350 Squadron was formed at RAF Valley in Anglesey, UK in November of 1941, originally flying the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.II, before converting to the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V in February of 1942.
Both units were in action on D-Day, June 6th 1944, operating the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX at the time.  Following the end of the War, both units were transferred to the Belgian Air Force in 1946.  Post-War, both units progressed through the Supermarine Spitfire 16 (1946) and 14 (1946); Gloster Meteor F4 (1949) and F8 (1952); Hawker Hunter F.4 (1954); Avro Canada CF-100 (1958) and Lockheed F-104G (1963) before converting to their present F-16A/AMs (1979).  Both units are scheduled to convert to the F-35A in 2023.

20 Squadron is a post-War unit, formed in 1946 as a transport unit in the reborn Belgian Air Force.  Originally flying the C-47 Dakota, it converted to the Fairchild C-119F in 1952 and C-119G in 1953, before accepting its first Lockheed C-130H in 1972.  The unit is expected to convert to the Airbus A400M in 2020, at which point 20 Squadron will become a bi-national squadron (housing 7 Belgian and 1 Luxembourg A400Ms)
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Comments: 3

akphotographystudio [2019-10-03 22:30:40 +0000 UTC]

Like this one!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

kanyiko In reply to akphotographystudio [2019-10-21 14:03:25 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! :3

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

County1006 [2019-10-03 13:35:58 +0000 UTC]

Nice catch! I flew back from Germany in a Herc once (although not with an escort like this!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0