The early days
The No. 350 (Belgian) Squadron, was the first Belgian squadron of the Royal Air Force. Initially, pilots and pilot candidates who had joined England following the Belgian capitulation were distributed and integrated into different squadrons of the RAF.
On November 12, 1941, the Belgian pilots were grouped in a new squadron. No. 350 (Belgian) Squadron was established on the Valley RAF air base and became operational on 22 December. The official inauguration of the squadron took place on February 12, 1942 in Northolt in the presence of Prime Minister Hubert Pierlot and Finance Minister Camille Gutt.
Initially, the squadron’s missions consisted of convoy escort missions to the Irish Sea on Spitfire IIA from the Atcham RAF base.
In October 1946, following its inclusion in the Belgian Air Force, the 350th Squadron was stationed at Beauvechain Air Force Base and integrated into the 160th Wing.
On 1 February 1948, the 160th Wing became the 1er Wing de Chasse.In 1993, following a restructuring of the Armed Forces, the 1st Fighter Wing was dissolved and became the 1st Wing. On March 4, 1996, the squadron left Beauvechain, to join the 2nd Tactical Wing in Florennes
Aircraft of 350
In July 1949 the era of jet aircraft begins. 48 Gloster Meteor F4 are delivered to the 1W composed of the 4th, 349th and 350th squadron. In May 1951, the Meteor F4 were replaced by Meteor F8.
On December 10, 1953, Major Van Lierde and Captain Bodart became the first Belgian pilots to cross the sound barrier during an evaluation flight of the Hawker Hunter over Britain.
At the end of 1956 NATO decided, following the increase in tensions between the two blocs, to create a role of Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) which will be partially lifted in the 1990s. The QRA is still relevant, as evidenced by Baltic Air Policing operations.
In April 1957, the arrival of the Hawker Hunter MK4 starts the supersonic era for the Belgian Air Force. This arrival also marks the end of the “MN” marking present since the origins of the unit.
In December 1957, the squadron received its first Avro Canada CF 100 “Canuck” which allowed hunting missions in all weather by the presence of a navigator/radar operator. In December 1958, the squadron was declared operational on the CF-100.
The 1st Fighter Wing becomes the 1st All Weather Fighter Wing of the Belgian Air Force and will be the only foreign unit to use this aircraft.
On August 1, 1964, 350th squadron changed aircraft to fly on the F-104G and then assumed, with 349 Squadron, the role of “Quick Reaction Alert”(QRA). The F-104 will be officially withdrawn from the unit on 10 April 1981.
In June 1975, the decision was taken to replace the F-104Gs with F-16s, on which 350th Squadron became operational as of 1 January 1982.
Operations
Operation Decisive Endeavour in Yugoslavia from 1996 to 1998
Operation Deliberate Guard in Yugoslavia from 1998 to 2001
Operation Allied Force in Bosnia and Kosovo in 1999
Baltic Air Policing deployment in 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2019
Operation Eastern Eagle, as part of ISAF 2005-2006
Operation Guardian Falcon, as part of the 2008-2014 ISAF
Operation Unified Protector in Libya in 2011
Operation Desert Falcon in Iraq 2014-2017
Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq in 2020
