Single engine basic trainer aircraft.

 

   During World War I, the Belgian Militair Vliegwezen/Aviation Militaire already equipped units of its Flying School at Juvisy-sur-Orge (F.) with the very forgiving elementary trainer, Caudron G.III. (See the 1909-1919 section of this website). At least 14 Caudrons of different sub-types and engine configurations were in service at Juvisy, but only a few of them were transferred to Belgium when in 1919 the pilot school at As (Asch) was established

   At least 26 Caudron’s of a first batch were taken on charge after the end of the war and operated at As. These aircraft were identified by their S.F.A. (Service de Fabrication des Avions) numbers as well as individual letters painted on the backside of the fuselage. At the end of October 1921, the whole registration system of the Belgian Air Service’s Caudron G.III fleet was revised with each aircraft receiving and individual serial presided by the letter “C” (of Caudron). Between January 1922 and September 1923, the 20 remaining Caudrons of the initial post war delivery were supplemented with 46 newly delivered aircraft. In the meantime, the School at Asch officially became the VIth Group with most of the Caudrons serving with N°s 2 and 3 squadron. In September 1924 de Pilot School moved to its new permanent location at Wevelgem and becomes N° II Group of the 3rd Regiment (II/3 Aé) composed of three squadrons. The last Caudron G.III (C-34) in Belgian military service was withdrawn from use at the end of 1928.