350 (Belgian) Squadron
"The Belgae, the bravest of the Gauls"



350 Squadron - A Brief History:    Back to Top

The first Belgian fighter squadron to be formed in the RAF, this occurred at Valley on 12th November, 1941. It was equipped with Spitfires from the outset and began defensive duties in December. It moved south and joined in offensive operations in April 1942 until being sent north in March, 1943. 

It rejoined the offensive in October and became part of No 135 Airfield on 15th November within the 2nd Tactical Air Force. It was now heavily involved in attacks on targets connected with the forthcoming invasion and then covering the actual landings themselves. 
In August 1944, the squadron re-equipped with the Griffon engined Mk XIV and was immediately thrown into defensive operations against the V-1 flying bombs being launched against Britain. After a month on Anti-Diver operations the squadron resumed attacks against targets on the continent, but it was December before the squadron moved there itself arriving at Evere in Belgium on the 3rd. 

Following the end of the war the squadron joined to occupation forces and was eventually transferred to Belgian control on 15th October, 1946, ceasing to be a RAF unit at the same time.

Spitfire Vb of 350 Squadron

350 Squadron Codes:       Back to Top

 YM (April 1939 - September 1939)
MN (November 1944 - October 1946)

Note: Aircraft recognition codes were changed from 3rd September 1939 as a measure against German intelligence.

350 Squadron Stations:      Back to Top

Base County Arrived Comments
Valley
Anglesey
13/11/1941
Formed. Spitfire IIa
Atcham Salop
19/02/42
Spitfire Vb, 03/42
Warmwell
Dorset
05/04/42
Debden
Essex
15/04/42
Gravesend
Kent
30/06/42
Martlesham Heath
Suffolk
07/07/42
Kenley
Surrey
16/07/42
Redhill
Surrey
31/07/42
Martlesham Heath
Suffolk
07/09/42
Redhill
Surrey
15/09/42
Rochford
Essex
23/09/42
Hornchurch
Essex
07/12/42
Heston Middlesex 01/03/43  
Hornchurch Essex 13/03/43  
Fairlop Essex 15/03/43  
Acklington Northumberland 23/03/43  
Ouston Northumberland 08/06/43  
Acklington Northumberland 20/07/43  
Digby Lincolnshire 25/08/43  
West Malling Kent 07/09/43  
Digby Lincolnshire 19/09/43  
Hawkinge Kent 01/10/43  
Rochford Essex 12/10/43  
Hawkinge Kent 31/10/43  
Hornchurch Essex 30/12/43 Spitfire IXb
Hawkinge Kent 10/03/44 Spitfire Vc
Peterhead Aberdeenshire 14/03/44  
Friston Sussex 25/04/44  
Westhampnett Sussex 03/07/44  
Hawkinge Kent 08/08/44 Spitfire XIV
Lympne Kent 29/09/44  
To Evere, B56   03/12/44  
Warmwell Dorset 18/03/45  
To Twente , B106   02/04/45  
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Pilots (1939-1945)

A   
Alexandre, R.A.
Arend, P.
 
 
B   
Boute, F.
Boussa, A.L.
 
 
C   
Claesen, A.
Collignon, L.
 
D   
De Hasse, R.
DeLabouchere, F.H
De Merode
De Patoul
Du Monceau
F   
Fejfar, S.
Flohimont, L.V.
G   
Guillaume, D.A.
 
H   
Harmel, L.
Heimes, L.
Herreman, A.
L   
Lewis, F.P.
Limet, H.
 
 
M   
Marcel Bel, H.E.
Michiels
 
 
P 
Piercot, P.
Plas, E.
Plisner, A.
Prevot, L.
 
R   
Rosse
Rigole, J.
Rougeteh
 
S
Seydel, G.M.
Smets, H.
 
 
 
V   
Vanlerbergh, J.
Vanderpoel, R.
Venesoen, F.A.
 
 

Aircraft      Back to Top
 
Type 329 - "Spitfire" Mark II
The major change from the Mark I was the use of the 1,050 HP Merlin XII with higher supercharger gearing and a Coffman cartridge starter, enabling a level airspeed of 354 mph (570 kph) to be achieved. Fitted with a Rotol contant-speed 3-blade propeller. 921 were produced. The first Mark IIs were delivered to 611 Squadron in August 1940.

Type 349 - "Spitfire" Mark Vb
With the arrival of the Me (Bf)109F an interim aircraft was produced by adding the latest Merlin to a strengthened airframe. They were powered by a 1,230 HP Merlin 45 or 46, with a maximum all-up weight of 6,170 lb. 3 patterns of wing were introduced:
  • A - eight 0.303 Browning machine guns
  • B - two 20mm cannon, and four Browning machine guns
  • C - either four cannon or either of the other combinations.

Type 361 - "Spitfire" Mark IX
Introduced as another temporary measure, the Mk IX started life as a strengthened MkV airframe with the latest, 60 series, Merlin engines driving a 4-bladed airscrew. It proved so successful that all in total around 7180 were produced.
Trainer variants were produced by the USSR and UK after the war.

Type 373 - "Spitfire" Mark XIV
In classic Spitfire tradition, the new engine, a Griffon 61 (and later Griffon 65), was mated to an available airframe- in this case a Mk VIII. To absorb the power generated, a 5-bladed airscrew was introduced.
Some of the Mk XIV were produced with a cut-down rear fuselage and "teardrop" canopy for increased visibility.
957 were produced.

Aircraft of 350 Squadron from 1942:

Spitfire Mk II:
P8549 (02/06/42-Sgt. Harmel)

Spitfire Mk V:
P8549 (02/06/42-Sgt. Harmel); W3236 (12/09/42-P/O Patoul); W3262 (12/09/42-P/O de Merode); W3370 (12/09/42-P/O Seydel); AB967 (06/07/42-Sgt. Herreman); AD113 (12/09/42-F/Lt. Boussa); AD228 'Cheshire County' (24/05/42-Sgt. Flohimont); AD231 'West Borneo' (12/09/42-S/Ldr. Guillaume); AD475 (11/02/42-P/O Venesoen) (Damaged on ops. P/O Venesoen unhurt.); AD550 (10/02/42-F/O de Merode) (Shot down on 12/12/42. F/O Demerode evaded capture.); AR373 (17/06/42-Sgt. Alaxandre) (Damaged on ops. Sgt. Alexandre unhurt.); AR380 (20/07/42-P/O Marcel Bel) (Shot down on 19/08/42. P/O Marcel Bel unhurt.); AR452 (04/12/42-G/Capt. Lott); AR515 (30/11/42-F/O Plisner) (Crash-landed on 12/12/42. F/O Plisner safe.); AR592 (02/12/42-Sgt. Flohimont) (Shot down on 22/01/43. Sgt. Flohimont killed.); BL540 (11/12/42-Sgt. Limet); BL696 (01/07/42-P/O Arend); BM196 'Brentford & Chelsea' (Sgt. Boute); BM258 (16/08/42-Sgt. Rigole); BM381 (17/04/42-F/O Smets); BM564 (30/04/42-P/O de Merode); EE723 (13/12/42-P/O Siroux); EE738 (09/12/42-Sgt. de Jaegher); EE743 (09/12/42-Sgt. Dancot); EE745 (13/12/42-Sgt. Wustefield); EE766 (13/12/42-Sgt. Groensteen); EN769 (31/07/42-Sgt. Boussa) (Hit overhead cables, force-landed on 13/08/42. F/Lt. Boussa unhurt.); EP288 'Canadian Pacific' (29/11/42) (Failed to return on 28/03/43.); EP640 (26/11/42-P/O Gallatay).

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