| Unit Name: | No. 350 (Belgian) Squadron RAF 350th Squadron |
| Dates: | 12 November 1941 |
| Country: |  Belgium |
| Branch: | (1941–1946) |
| Role: | Fighter |
| Command Structure: | 2nd Tactical Wing |
| Garrison: | Florennes Air Base |
| Motto: | Belgae gallorum fortissimi[1] (Latin, "Of all the Gauls, the Belgians are the bravest") |
| Equipment: | F-16 Fighting Falcon Supermarine Spitfire (historic) |
| Equipment Label: | Fighter |
| Identification Symbol: | An ancient Belgian warrior's head with helmet[2] |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Squadron Badge |
| Identification Symbol 2: | MN (Nov 1941 – Oct 1946) |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | Squadron Codes |
The 350th Squadron (French: 350<sup>e</sup> escadrille, Dutch; Flemish: 350<sup>ste</sup> Squadron) is a fighter squadron in the Air Component of the Belgian Armed Forces. It was originally formed in 1941 as No. 350 (Belgian) Smaldeel of the Royal Air Force during World War II. The unit was transferred to the Belgian Air Force, together with 349th Squadron, in 1946. Based at Florennes air base, the unit is now part of the 2nd Tactical Wing and operates F-16 Fighting Falcons.
No. 350 Squadron, the first Royal Air Force squadron to be formed by Belgian personnel, was formed during World War II at RAF Valley in the United Kingdom in November 1941. The squadron operated the Supermarine Spitfire at first on convoy protection duties over the Irish sea, relocating to RAF Atcham in early 1942. In April 1942 the squadron moved to RAF Debden and carried out offensive operations over France. The squadron moved several times around southern England.
During Operation Overlord (the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944) it was equipped with the Spitfire V LF operating from RAF Friston in Air Defence of Great Britain, though under the operational control of RAF Second Tactical Air Force.[3] It provided beach-head patrols during the invasion. During Operation Diver in August 1944 the Squadron operated the Spitfire XIV against V-1 flying bombs attacking England. The squadron moved to Belgium in December 1944 to provide offensive patrols over the battlefield including patrols in the Berlin area. The squadron was disbanded on 15 October 1946 on transfer to the Belgian air force.
| +[4] | |||||
| From | To | Aircraft | Variant | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1941 | Apr 1942 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.II | ||
| Feb 1942 | Dec 1943 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.Vb | ||
| Dec 1943 | Mar 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.IX | ||
| Mar 1944 | Jul 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.Vb, Vc | ||
| Jul 1944 | Aug 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.IX | ||
| Aug 1944 | Oct 1946 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.XIV | ||
| Apr 1946 | Oct 1946 | Supermarine Spitfire | LF.XVIe |
| +[5] | |||
| From | To | Name | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1941 | Mar 1942 | S/Ldr. J.M. Thompson, DFC | |
| Mar 1942 | Dec 1942 | S/Ldr. D.A. Guillaume, DFC | |
| Dec 1942 | Jan 1944 | S/Ldr. A.L.T.J. Boussa | |
| Jan 1944 | Mar 1944 | S/Ldr. L.O. Prevot | |
| Mar 1944 | Oct 1944 | S/Ldr. M.G.L. Donnet, DFC | |
| Oct 1944 | Jan 1945 | S/Ldr. L. Collignon | |
| Jan 1945 | Feb 1945 | S/Ldr. T. Spencer, DFC | |
| Mar 1945 | Apr 1945 | S/Ldr. F. Wooley, DFC | |
| Apr 1945 | Apr 1945 | S/Ldr. T. Spencer, DFC | |
| Apr 1945 | Aug 1945 | S/Ldr. H. Walmsley | |
| Aug 1945 | Oct 1946 | S/Ldr. R. Van Lierde, DFC & 2 Bars |
In 1946, the squadron was integrated into the Belgian Air Force.
In July 1949, the squadron received its first jet aircraft, the Gloster Meteor mk. 4 and 8. In 1954, they were replaced by Hawker Hunter mk 4s. In 1958, they received the Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck. In August 1964, the unit was given F-104G Starfighters, taking on the role of Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) with 349th Squadron.
In 1975, the Starfighters were finally replaced with F-16s, becoming operational with the type in January 1982.
In 1993, 1st Fighter Wing was dissolved and in 1996, the squadron left Beauvechain to join 2nd Tactical Wing in Florennes.
In 1999, the unit participated in Operation Allied Force: the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.