BAF
#FA-25 was adorned with this splendid Spitfire color scheme to commemorate 50 years of 349 squadron
F-16 operations started in 349 squadron on January 16th, 1979 when the first F-16B (#FB-01) was delivered to the Belgian Air Force making it the first F-16 squadron for the Belgians. Initial training on the type was conducted within 349 squadron. A dedicated training squadron was only established a few years later. By May of 1980, 349 squadron had reached IOC and was the first European F-16 unit to be commissioned for NATO duty.
349 squadron has been a part of the 1st Fighter Wing (Wing Jacht Alle Weer/Wing de Chasse) based at Beauvechain AB since 1949. In 1996 however, a major reorganisation of the Belgian armed forces decided upon the transferral of 349 squadron and the OCU to the 10th Wing at Kleine Brogel AB where they joined 23 and 31 squadrons. The 1st Wing was to be disbanded and reactivated as a training squadron, with Beauvechain AB becoming the home of the entire Belgian Air Force training fleet. Instead of having 18 F-16s at their disposal, all BAF squadrons were reduced to 12 aircraft.
Although transferred to the 10th Wing (which used to be a tactical wing), the responsibilities of 349 squadron remained the same. This being 24 hour coverage of Belgian air space with a QRA unit available at all times. This being equipped with two F-16s being ready to intercept any incoming thread within a 15 minute timeframe.
The tell-tale black radome identifies F-16A
#FA-14 as a
block 1 aircraft. It was part of the first batch of F-16s delivered to the Belgian Air Force from 1979 to 1980. It is seen here armed with 4 AIM-9P Sidewinders.
With the limited availability of fighters within the Belgian Air Force, it became apparent that all F-16s should be used in a swing-role concept. During the following years, 349 squadron was thus also converted from a pure intercepting squadron to a multi-role squadron also capable of performing A/G mission when it was required. Specially with the introduction of the MLU version of the F-16 in late 1998
to early 1999, the capabilities of the squadron in the different domains grew drastically.
In 2002 the last reorganisation took place. Because of the fact that all squadrons had a multi-role task at that time, it proved more efficient to have 18 aircraft in every squadron. With the disbandment of 23 squadron within the 10th Wing, 349 squadron received half of its 12 airframes strong fleet, thus increasing the squadrons strength back to 18 F-16s.
Unfortunately, the increase in aircraft made available was quickly changed when in late 2003 the Belgian government announced a further reduction of the F-16 fleet as part of a cost reducing effort for the armed forces. This will mean that 349 squadron will loose 1/3rd of their F-16s again and will keep 12 planes operational in 2015.
