Lockheed T-33A

Lockheed T-33A

Single-jet-engine twin-seat trainer

Forty-eight T-33A jet trainers and 2 RT-33A reconnaissance aircraft were initially earmarked for the Belgian Government in the framework of the MDAP (Mutual Defence Assistance Programme), however after a review the order was adjusted to 38 T-33As and a single RT-33A.
The first T-33As for Belgium were shipped to the Moroccan port of Casablanca, assembled at the base of Meknes and flown to Florennes.
A second batch was delivered via the northern route and Denmark while the remainder was delivered in flight straight from the USA.
The first aircraft were fitted with standard F-80A Shooting Star drop tanks and initially wore only the USAF 'buzz number' and no roundels. Over the early years Belgian Air Force T-Birds had a varied life and were based at virtual all military airbases and units (2, 9, 10 Wing and the Fighter School), before being grouped at Brustem airbase.
Eight aircraft were temporarily transferred to the Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht) as part of a Belgian-Dutch agreement for a common pilot training scheme.
At the end of their service life with the Belgian Air Force and as the aircraft had remained property of the US government most of the T-Birds were returned to the legal owners and got a second career with other foreign air forces or in the worst case as a target on bombing ranges.

Picture
Serial C/N Date In Date Out History

FT-02 5337 1951 Nov 1979 51-4043/TR-043 (USAF), TR-043, FT-2, FT-02; Spadeadam (U.K.) shooting range as “10/77”

FT-04 5446 Mar 1952 Jul 1978 51-4152/TR-152 (BAF), FT-4, M-43 (KLu), FT-04 crashed after mid-air collission with FT-26 at Ciney on 27 Apr 1977.

FT-05 5445 Aug 1952 Oct 1979 51-4151/TR-151 (USAF), TR-151, FT-5, M-42 (KLu), FT-05, fatal crash at Mückenbomberg/Kell (D.) on 18 Nov 1977.

FT-07 5527 Jul 1952 Noc 1979 51-4233/TR-233 (USAF), FT-7, "A"(10W), M-45 (KLu), FT-07, Spadeadam(U.K.) shooring range as "70"

FT-10 5996 Dec 1952 Nov 1979 51-6664/TR-664, TR-664, FT-10, "D" (10 Wing), Spadeadam (U.K.) shooting range as "14/77".

FT-13 6816 Jul 1953 Nov 1979 51-9032/TR-032, TR-032, FT-13, to Yugoslav A.F, Servian A.F., Cape May (USA).

FT-16 7254 Nov 1953 1979 51-17463/TR-463 (USAF), FT16, to Yugoslav A.F., N533CB Wilmington (DE, USA)

FT-17 7362 Dec 1953 Dec 1979 51-17468/TR-468, FT-17, To Yugoslav A.F., N125AT, Stockton (California , USA)

FT-24 7788 Apr 1954 - 52-9892/TR-892 (USAF), TR-892, FT-24, monument 11 Sq. Brustem, monument 11 Sq. Beauvechain, “1W Historical Center” Beauvechain

FT-25 9063 Jun 1955 Mar 1976 53-5724/TR-724 (USAF), FT-25, scrapyard Kalken, Zele, Affligem along E-40 motorway with wings of FT-33.

FT-28 9091 Jun 1955 1979 53-5752/TR-752, FT-28, 1929 (Portugal), stored Beja AB, (P.)

FT-30 9093 Aug 1955 1979 53-5754/TR-754 (USAF), FT-30, 1930 (Portugal), stored Beja AB (P.) special colour scheme "38 anos FAP”

FT-33 9582 Mar 1956 Feb 1978 55-3041/TR-041, FT-33A, jun 1979 fatal crash at Velm/Opvelp

FT-34 9584 Mar 1956 1979 55-3043/TR-043 (USAF), FT34, stored Koksijde, Royal Army Museum Brussels.

FT-36 9588 Apr 1956 1979 55-3047/TR-047 (USAF), FT-36, displayed at Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum at Tinwald Downs (U.K.) as “Little Miss Laura”

FT-37 9623 Apr 1956 Feb 1980 55-3082/TR-082, FT-37, Transported by CH-47C Chinook to Alconbury (U.K.) and used for BDRT, to Scuthorpe (U.K.), to Molesworth (U.K.)

Lockheed T-33A formation break

Picture	Serial	C/N	Date In	Date Out	History
	FT-02	5337	1951	Nov 1979	51-4043/TR-043 (USAF), TR-043, FT-2, FT-02; Spadeadam (U.K.) shooting range as “10/77”
	FT-04	5446	Mar 1952	Jul 1978	51-4152/TR-152 (BAF), FT-4, M-43 (KLu), FT-04 crashed after mid-air collission with FT-26 at Ciney on 27 Apr 1977.
	FT-05	5445	Aug 1952	Oct 1979	51-4151/TR-151 (USAF), TR-151, FT-5, M-42 (KLu), FT-05, fatal crash at Mückenbomberg/Kell (D.) on 18 Nov 1977.
	FT-07	5527	Jul 1952	Noc 1979	51-4233/TR-233 (USAF), FT-7, "A"(10W), M-45 (KLu), FT-07, Spadeadam(U.K.) shooring range as "70"
	FT-10	5996	Dec 1952	Nov 1979	51-6664/TR-664, TR-664, FT-10, "D" (10 Wing), Spadeadam (U.K.) shooting range as "14/77".
	FT-13	6816	Jul 1953	Nov 1979	51-9032/TR-032, TR-032, FT-13, to Yugoslav A.F, Servian A.F., Cape May (USA).
	FT-16	7254	Nov 1953	1979	51-17463/TR-463 (USAF), FT16, to Yugoslav A.F., N533CB Wilmington (DE, USA)
	FT-17	7362	Dec 1953	Dec 1979	51-17468/TR-468, FT-17, To Yugoslav A.F., N125AT, Stockton (California , USA)
	FT-24	7788	Apr 1954	-	52-9892/TR-892 (USAF), TR-892, FT-24, monument 11 Sq. Brustem, monument 11 Sq. Beauvechain, “1W Historical Center” Beauvechain
	FT-25	9063	Jun 1955	Mar 1976	53-5724/TR-724 (USAF), FT-25, scrapyard Kalken, Zele, Affligem along E-40 motorway with wings of FT-33.
	FT-28	9091	Jun 1955	1979	53-5752/TR-752, FT-28, 1929 (Portugal), stored Beja AB, (P.)
	FT-30	9093	Aug 1955	1979	53-5754/TR-754 (USAF), FT-30, 1930 (Portugal), stored Beja AB (P.) special colour scheme "38 anos FAP”
	FT-33	9582	Mar 1956	Feb 1978	55-3041/TR-041, FT-33A, jun 1979 fatal crash at Velm/Opvelp
	FT-34	9584	Mar 1956	1979	55-3043/TR-043 (USAF), FT34, stored Koksijde, Royal Army Museum Brussels.
	FT-36	9588	Apr 1956	1979	55-3047/TR-047 (USAF), FT-36, displayed at Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum at Tinwald Downs (U.K.) as “Little Miss Laura”
	FT-37	9623	Apr 1956	Feb 1980	55-3082/TR-082, FT-37, Transported by CH-47C Chinook to Alconbury (U.K.) and used for BDRT, to Scuthorpe (U.K.), to Molesworth (U.K.)

	Lockheed T-33A formation break