Category: musée royal de l’armée et de l’histoire militaire

Belgian 5th Special Air Service Regiment Jeep

This Belgian 5th Special Air Service Regiment Jeep complete with bullet holes, was on display at the Musée royal de l’armée et de l’histoire militaire or Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels.

The Belgian 5th Special Air Service Regiment (SAS), a special airborne unit, specialised in sabotage and military intelligence gathering during World War II.

The Willys MB and the Ford GPW, both formally called the U.S. Army Truck, ​1⁄4-ton, 4×4, Command Reconnaissance, commonly known as the Jeep. The jeep became the primary light wheeled transport vehicle of the United States Military and its Allies in World War II, as well as the postwar period, with President Eisenhower once calling it, “one of three decisive weapons the U.S. had during WWII.”

Kübelwagen

The Volkswagen Kübelwagen is a military light utility vehicle designed by Ferdinand Porsche and built by Volkswagen during World War II for use by the German military.

This Kübelwagen was on display at the Musée royal de l’armée et de l’histoire militaire or Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels.

Belgian Air Force Fairchild C-119

The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar was an American military transport aircraft renowned for its distinctive twin-boom and boxy fuselage design, which earned it its popular nickname. Developed from the World War II-era Fairchild C-82 Packet, the C-119 made its initial flight in November 1947, and over 1,100 units were produced before manufacturing ceased in 1955. Designed to haul cargo, troops (up to 62 fully equipped), litter patients, and mechanised equipment, its rear “clamshell” doors and high fuselage allowed for easy straight-in loading and the aerial deployment of large objects and paratroopers.

Belgian Air Force Hawker Hurricane

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.

F16 Fighting Falcon

F16 Fighting Falcon

The Belgian Air Component’s use of the F-16 Fighting Falcon began in the late 1970s as a replacement for its aging F-104G Starfighters. As one of the original European partners in the F-16 program, Belgium played a key role in the aircraft’s development and production, with its own SABCA factory assembling many of the F-16s for the Belgian and other air forces. The F-16 quickly became the backbone of the Belgian Air Force, providing a versatile multirole platform for a variety of missions, from air-to-air combat to ground attack. The fleet has undergone continuous modernisation, most notably with the Mid-Life Update (MLU) program, which has kept the aircraft combat-relevant for decades, allowing them to participate in numerous international operations, including NATO’s air policing missions.

While the F-16 has been the stalwart of the Belgian Air Component for over four decades, its service is now drawing to a close. In 2018, Belgium officially selected the F-35 Lightning II to replace its F-16 fleet. The transition is a gradual process, with the F-35s being delivered and pilots being trained, while the F-16s continue to carry out their duties. As the F-35s become operational, the retiring F-16s are being phased out. 

Supermarine Spitfire MKXIV

Supermarine Spitfire MKXIV at the Musée royal de l’armée et de l’histoire militaire or Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels.

Supermarine Spitfire MKXIV

The Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIV was a major upgrade of the iconic fighter, introduced in 1944. It was the first mass-produced Spitfire to be powered by the powerful 2,050 horsepower Rolls-Royce Griffon 65 engine, a significant leap from the Merlin engines used in earlier models. This new engine, along with a five-bladed Rotol propeller and a lengthened fuselage to handle the increased power and torque, gave the Mk XIV a distinct look and improved performance. It was a more powerful and faster aircraft, with an excellent rate of climb, which made it a formidable opponent for late-war German fighters and an effective interceptor against V-1 flying bombs. The Mk XIV saw widespread service with the RAF and other Allied forces from late 1944 until the end of World War II, playing a crucial role in armed reconnaissance and air superiority missions.

Sud Aviation Caravelle

Sud Aviation Caravelle

A former Sabena Sud Aviation Caravelle airliner is on three metal stilts was on display at the Musée royal de l’armée et de l’histoire militaire or Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels.

Sud Aviation Caravelle

The Sud Aviation Caravelle was a pioneering French jet airliner developed in the 1950s by SNCASE (which later became Sud Aviation). It holds a significant place in aviation history for its innovative design, which featured rear-mounted engines and a clean-wing configuration. This layout, which became common on many subsequent short and medium-range airliners, reduced cabin noise and allowed for a quieter flight experience for passengers. The Caravelle’s design also incorporated a licensed copy of the de Havilland Comet’s nose and cockpit. Entering service in 1959 with Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) and later with Air France, the Caravelle was specifically designed for the European and Mediterranean markets, providing a faster and more comfortable alternative to piston-engine aircraft. Over its production run, which ended in 1972, 282 Caravelles were built, and the aircraft was used by airlines on every continent.

This Sud Aviation Caravelle was operated by Sabena, which was the national airline of Belgium, operating from 1923 until its bankruptcy in 2001. 

Gloster Meteor

This Gloster Meteor was on display at the Musée royal de l’armée et de l’histoire militaire or Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels.

After the Second World War, European air forces faced the challenge of modernising their fleets. For the Belgian Air Force, this meant transitioning from piston-engine fighters like the Spitfire to the new era of jet propulsion. The answer came in the form of the Gloster Meteor, a twin-engine fighter that had already made history as the only Allied jet to see combat in WWII.

Belgium became a major operator of the Meteor, eventually acquiring a total of 355 aircraft, more than any other overseas customer. The first to arrive were the Meteor F.4s in 1949, which equipped the Beauvechain-based 1st Wing. These were soon followed by the more advanced Meteor F.8s, a variant with a stretched fuselage, a redesigned tail, and a more powerful engine. The F.8s were so vital to Belgium’s air defense that many were built under license in the Netherlands and by the Belgian company Avions Fairey.

The Belgian Air Force also operated the two-seat Meteor T.7 trainer and the all-weather night fighter variant, the Meteor NF.11. The introduction of these aircraft allowed the Belgian Air Force to establish dedicated night fighter squadrons and modernize its pilot training programs. The Meteor era saw the formation of the “Acrobobs,” an aerobatic team from the 1st Fighter Wing at Beauvechain, which was a precursor to the famous “Red Devils” display team.

The Gloster Meteor was a workhorse for the Belgian Air Force throughout the 1950s, serving as the backbone of its fighter and night fighter squadrons. It wasn’t until the arrival of more advanced aircraft like the Hawker Hunter and Avro CF-100 Canuck that the Meteor began to be phased out. The last Belgian Meteor, a target-towing version, was retired in 1963, marking the end of a significant chapter in Belgian aviation history. Today, a few examples are preserved in museums, a testament to the jet that helped launch the Belgian Air Force into the modern age of military aviation.

North American F-86F Sabre

This North American F-86F Sabre was on display at the Musée royal de l’armée et de l’histoire militaire or Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels.

North American F-86F Sabre

The North American F-86F Sabre was a key U.S. Air Force jet fighter that rose to prominence during the Korean War. As America’s first swept-wing fighter, its design was influenced by captured German aerodynamic research, which helped it overcome the drag that had limited earlier straight-wing jets. The F-86F variant, in particular, featured a more powerful General Electric J47 engine and an improved wing design that enhanced its high-speed performance and maneuverability. In the skies over “MiG Alley,” the F-86F went head-to-head with the Soviet-built MiG-15. While the MiG had a higher ceiling and faster climb rate, the F-86’s superior pilot training, handling at high speeds, and advanced gunsight gave it a decisive advantage, leading to a highly favorable kill ratio and cementing its legacy as one of the most important aircraft of the early jet age.