Single-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.
FT-01
51-4041/TR-O41 (USAF), TR-041 (BAF), FT-1, FT-01, Special markings "Adios T-Bird", Spadeadam (U.K.) Electronic Warfare Tactics Range as "21/40", Florida (?).
FT-02
51-4043/TR-043 (USAF), TR-043 (BAF), FT-2, FT-02; Spadeadam (U.K.) Electronic Warfare Tactics range as “10/77”
FT-03
51-4062/TR-062 (USAF), TR-062 (BAF), FT-03, M-59 (KLu), FT-03, Transported by CH-47C Chinook to the Vilseck (D.) shooting range.
FT-04
51-4152/TR-152 (USAF) 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
51-4151/TR-151 (USAF), TR-151 (BAF), FT-5, M-42 (KLu), FT-05, fatal crash at Mückenbomberg/Kell (D.) on 18 Nov 1977.
FT-06
51-4231/TR-231 (USAF), TR-231 (BAF), FT-6, M-44 (KLu), FT-06, Spadeadam (U.K.) Electronic Warfare Tactics range as "15/11"
FT-07
51-4233/TR-233 (USAF), FT-7, "A"(10W), M-45 (KLu), FT-07, Spadeadam(U.K.) Electronic Warfare Tactics range as "70"
FT-08
51-6662/TR-662 (USAF), TR-662 (BAF), FT-8, "B" (10W), M-46 (KLu), "Whiskey Four" team, crashed after mid-air collission at Woensdrecht during "Whiskey Four" display on 8 Jun 1965.
FT-09
51-6663/TR-663 (USAF), FT-9, "C" (10W), M-60 KLu, FT-09, "Schwäbisches Bauern und Technik Museum" at Eschach/Siefertshofen (D.). Was written off in emergency landing at Brustem on 4 Aug 1976 after losing tip-tank in flight.
FT-10
51-6664/TR-664 (USAF), TR-664 (BAF), FT-10, "D" (10 Wing), Spadeadam (U.K.) Electronic Warfare Tactics range as "14/77".
FT-11
51-6661/TR-661 (USAF), TR-661 (BAF), FT-11, "E" (10W), M-47 (KLu), FT-11, Spadeadam (U.K.) ) Electronic Warfare Tactics range as "80/70".
FT-12
51-4089/TR-089 (USAF), TR-089 (BAF), FT-12, "F" (10W), Written off at Brye on 15 May 1957 after emergency landing due to engine fire in flight.
FT-13
51-9032/TR-032 (USAF), TR-032 (BAF), FT-13, to Yugoslavian A.F, Serbian A.F., Cape May (NJ, USA).
FT-14
51-9248/TR-248 (USAF), FT-14, "G" (10W), to Yugoslavian AF, to Serbian Air Force as 100055, noted at Cape May (NJ/USA)
FT-15
51-17445/TR-445 (USAF), FT-15, USAF, N1180C, N410GH, N133CK Lakeview (OR, USA)
FT-16
51-17463/TR-463 (USAF), FT16, to Yugoslav A.F., N533CB Wilmington (DE, USA)
FT-17
51-17468/TR-468 (UASAF), FT-17, To Yugoslav A.F., N125AT, Stockton (CA, USA)
FT-18
51-17469/TR-469 (USAF) TR-469 (BAF), FT-18. Crashed at Bogaarden (Pepingen) on 13 May 1959 after mid-air collision with FT-35.
FT-19
51-17505/TR-505 (USAF), TR-505 (BAF), FT-19, crashed at Wezeren after flame-out on 15 Jun 1960.
FT-20
51-17479/TR-479 (USAF), TR-479 (BAF), FT-20, Flight Refuelling, Tarrant Rushton (U.K.), spare parts resource Mojave (CA, USA).
FT-21
51-17513/TR-513 (USAF), FT-21, "H" (10 W), 1928 (Portugal), stored at Beja AB (P.)
FT-22
51-17524/TR-524 (USAF), FT-22, "I" (10 W), N1180D Wilmington (DE, USA)
FT-23
51-17539/TR-539 (USAF), FT-23 "J" (10W), crashed at Oldenmark(Steenwijk (Nl.)
FT-24
52-9892/TR-892 (USAF), TR-892 (BAF), FT-24, monument 11 Sq. Brustem, monument 11 Sq. Beauvechain, “1W Historical Center” Beauvechain.
FT-25
53-5724/TR-724 (USAF), FT-25, scrapyard Kalken, Zele, Affligem along E-40 motorway with wings of FT-33, to Expo Gowalt, Kwatrechtsesteenweg, 114 Wetteren
FT-26
53-5725/TR-725 (USAF), FT-26," Schwäbisches Bauern und Technik Museum" at Seifertshofen (D.), stored.
FT-27
53-5726/TR-726 (USAF), FT-27, landing mishap at Brustem on 19 Sep 1961. Not repaired, spare parts resource at Flight Refuelling, Tarrant Rushton (U.K.)
FT-28
53-5752/TR-752, FT-28, 1929 (Portugal), stored Beja AB, (P.)
FT-29
53-5753/TR-753, FT-29, Spadeadam shooting range (U.K.) as "77/44".
FT-30
53-5754/TR-754 (USAF), FT-30, 1930 (Portugal), stored Beja AB (P.) special colour scheme "38 anos FAP”
FT-31
55-3038/TR-038, FT-31, crashed at Weert(Nl.) after engine problems on 03 Oct 1966
FT-32
55-3040/TR-040 (USAF), FT-32, crashed at Brustem on 22 Mar 1957.
FT-33
55-3041/TR-041, FT-33, 13 Jun 1979 fatal crash at Velm/Kerkom.
FT-34
55-3043/TR-043 (USAF), FT34, stored Koksijde, Royal Army Museum Brussels.
FT-35
55-3046/TR-046 (USAF), FT-35, crashed at Saintes after mid-air collision with FT-18 on 13 May 1959.
FT-36
55-3047/TR-047 (USAF), FT-36, displayed at Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum at Tinwald Downs (U.K.) as “Little Miss Laura”
FT-37
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.)
FT-38
55-3044/TR-044, FT-38, transported by US Army CH-47C Chinook helicopter to Ramstein airbase (D.) to be used for Battle Damage Repair Training (BDRT).
As mentioned higher, a single RT-33A reconnaissance development of the T-33A Shooting Star was delivered to the Belgian Air Force in the framework of the Mutual Defence Assistance Programme (MDAP). The aircraft with c/n 8872 and USAF serial 53-5533 was registered FTR-1 with the Belgian Air Force. Arriving at the end of December 1955, it was delivered to N° 42Sq/9W at Wahn airbase (D.). However, the a/c was refused by Major Maricq (CO 42sq), as it needed a different maintenance chain (42 Sq being a fully self-supporting unit). On 28 March 1956 it was transferred to Melsbroek airbase were it was kept in storage until being returned tp MAAG (USAF) on 5 April 1956 and flown over to Châteauroux on 21 April 1956. After having been active with the Pakistan Air Force it is now on display at the Pakistan AF Academy at Risalpur (PK). Only a hanfull of images exist of the TR-33A in Belgian service, these being stills taken from a movie and thus explaining the rather poor quality.
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