Prior to World War II, the Belgian government ordered 20 Hawker Hurricane Mk. I fighters and a license to produce another 80 from the British. These aircraft were intended to replace older biplanes and were equipped with Rolls-Royce Merlin II engines and two-bladed propellers. By May 1940, only 15 of the British-built Hurricanes had been delivered. In addition, Belgium also acquired four Hurricanes that made emergency landings in the country during the “Phoney War” and were incorporated into the air force. Avions Fairey, a Belgian company, started licensed production and managed to complete two aircraft before the German invasion.
When Germany invaded on May 10, 1940, most of Belgium’s Hurricanes were destroyed on the ground during an early morning raid. Only a few managed to take off and engage in combat. The remaining Hurricanes were destroyed the following day during ground attacks.
While the Hurricane’s service with the pre-war Belgian Air Force was brief and tragic, the aircraft later returned to the country. After the war, in 1946, the newly formed Belgian Air Force acquired six former RAF Hurricane Mk. IIs. These aircraft, a mix of Mk. IIB and Mk. IIC models, had their armaments removed and were used for fast communications and as instructional airframes. Their service was also short-lived, with the remaining flying examples being withdrawn by 1947. One of these post-war Hurricanes is now preserved and on display at the Royal Army Museum in Brussels.