At the end of World War II, two RAF fighter squadrons composed almost solely of Belgian pilots (N°s 349 and 350 Squadrons) were equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire LF.XVI (later this designation would become LF.16). When Belgium created its own independent air arm (still called Militaire Vliegwezen - Aviation Militaire) in October 1946 twenty seven of these LF.16 Spitfires were taken over on 'temporarily loan" from the RAF pending the delivery of the Griffon powered Spitfire F.14 fighters which were ordered by the Belgian Government. Already as early as March 1946 many of these LF-16's acquired Belgian roundels but they never were attributed Belgian serial numbers, instead maintaining the RAF registrations. In function of the deliveries of Spit Mark 14's the Packard Merlin powered LF.16 were returned individually to the United Kingdom. The last of these machines was returned in March 1948.