Belgian Wings
Belgian Air Force, past and present.
The Aeronautical Reference Site - De Luchtvaart Referentie Site - Le site référence de l'Aéronautique
Republic RF-84F Thunderflash
Single engine single seat reconnaissance aircraft
The RF-84F Thunderflash was the dedicated reconnaissance version of the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak fighter-bomber. The classic “Streak” intake having been moved to the wing roots a new streamlined nose housed the air reconnaissance cameras. Between 1955 and 1958 24 Thunderflashes (FR1 - FR24) were delivered to the Belgian Air Forces through the Mutual Defence Air Programme (MDAP). All Thunderflashes were operated by 42 Squadron. To cover for losses by accidents 6 additional aircraft (FR25 - FR30) were bought by the Belgian Air Force in 1963, these aircraft were former U.S.Air National Guard jets. In January 1965 another 4 aircraft (FR31 - FR34) were bought from the German Luftwaffe. After the introduction of the Mirage 5BR the remaining MDAP Thunderflashes were put into storage at Koksijde and scrapped, the 'national' aircraft were kept for preservation purposes at various locations.
FR-01
History
C/N
-
Date In
Jul 1955
Date Out
Jan 1972
51-11250, FR-1/H8-A, accident 08 Nov 1971 multiple bird strike in flight near Liège, storage Koksijde (by road), scrapped.
FR-02
History
C/N
-
Date In
Sep 1955
Date Out
Apr 1960
51-16996, FR-2/H8-B, crashed on 19 Apr 1960 at Mettendorf (D.) after engine problems.
FR-03
History
C/N
-
Date In
Sep 1955
Date Out
Jun 1972
51-16998, FR-3/H8-C, storage at Koksijde, scrapped.
FR-04
History
C/N
-
Date In
Sep 1955
Date Out
Oct 1971
52-7240, FR-4/H8-D, not repaired after discovery of contaminated hydraulics, stored at Koksijde, scrapped
FR-05
History
C/N
-
Date In
Dec 1956
Date Out
Sep 1971
51-1949, FR-5/H8-E, storage at Koksijde, scrapped.
FR-06
History
C/N
-
Date In
Mar 1956
Date Out
Jan 1972
51-1958, FR-6/H8-F, accident 21 Jul 1971 Bierset, not repaired, storage at Koksijde, scrapped.
FR-07
History
C/N
-
Date In
May 1956
Date Out
Nov 1956
51-1957, FR-7/H8-G, crashed on take off from Wahn on 8 Aug 1956.
FR-08
History
C/N
-
Date In
Oct 1955
Date Out
Feb 1972
51-11257, FR-8/H8-H, storage at Koksijde, scrapped.
FR-09
History
C/N
-
Date In
Oct 1955
Date Out
Jun 1971
52-7229, FR-9/H8-J, storage at Koksijde, scrapped.
FR-10
History
C/N
-
Date In
Mar 1958
Date Out
Jan 1959
52-7230, FR-10/H8-K, crashed at Wijchmaal on 27 Jan 1959 due to engine problems.
FR-11
History
C/N
-
Date In
Aug 1956
Date Out
Oct 1956
51-16999, FR-11/H8-L, crashed on approach to Wahn airbase on 31 Oct 1956 due to explosion of the engine.
FR-12
History
C/N
-
Date In
Apr 1956
Date Out
May 1972
52-7238, FR-12/H8-M, storage at Koksijde, scrapped.
FR-13
History
C/N
-
Date In
Jun 1957
Date Out
May 1960
52-7237, FR-13/H8-N, intercepted by two Russian MiG fighters and forced to land at Darmgarten (then East-Geramny) on 29 May1958; returned to BAF, crashed on landing at Lahr (D.) on 17 May 1960
FR-14
History
C/N
-
Date In
Nov 1956
Date Out
Dec 1966
52-7281, FR-14/H8-O, crashed at Grandmenil on 22 Dec 1966 because of engine problems.
FR-15
History
C/N
-
Date In
Mar 1957
Date Out
Sep 1971
52-7282, FR-15/H8-P, storage at Koksijde, scrapped.
FR-16
History
C/N
-
Date In
Aug 1956
Date Out
Aug 1956
52-7279, FR-16/H8-Q, crashed at Euskirchen/Sassenrath (D.) on 24 Aug 1956 due to engine problems.
FR-17
History
C/N
-
Date In
Apr 1956
Date Out
Jul 1971
52-7297, FR-17/8H-R, storage at Koksijde, scrapped.
FR-18
History
C/N
-
Date In
May 1956
Date Out
Dec 1971
51-11297, FR-18/H8-S, Storage at Koksijde, scrapped.
FR-19
History
C/N
-
Date In
Nov 1956
Date Out
Nov 1971
52-7439, FR-19/H8-T, storage at Koksijde, scrapped.
FR-20
History
C/N
-
Date In
Dec 1956
Date Out
Mar 1958
52-7436, FR-20/H8-U, crashed on take off of from Brustem on 25 Mar 1958.
FR-21
History
C/N
-
Date In
Jan 1959
Date Out
Oct 1971
51-1876, FR-21/H8-V, storage at Koksijde, scrapped.
FR-22
History
C/N
-
Date In
Dec 1958
Date Out
Sep 1971
51-1906, FR-22/H8-W, storage at Koksijde, , scrapped.
FR-23
History
C/N
-
Date In
Dec 1958
Date Out
Nov 1971
51-1912, FR-23/H8-X, storage at Koksijde, scrapped.
FR-24
History
C/N
-
Date In
Feb 1959
Date Out
Feb 1962
51-1869, FR-24/H8-Y, destroyed in fire during maintenance at Beauvechain airbase on 22 Feb 1962.
FR-25
History
C/N
-
Date In
Jan 1964
Date Out
Jun 1969
51-1867, FR-25, crashed at Laufenselden (D.) on 26 Jun 1969
FR-26
History
C/N
-
Date In
Jul 1963
Date Out
Dec 1970
51-1886, FR-26, Accident Cat 4 at Bierset 22 Oct 1970 - not repaired, scrapdealer Kalken, Air Museum Savigny-les Neaune (F.).
FR-27
History
C/N
-
Date In
Jul 1963
Date Out
Sep 1971
51-1922, FR-27, strorage at Koksijde, preserved at Florennes airbase, Monument at Spa-La Sauvenière airfield.
FR-28
History
C/N
-
Date In
May 1963
Date Out
Nov 1972
51-1945, FR-28, on display at the Royal Army Museum, Brussels.
FR-29
History
C/N
-
Date In
Aug 1963
Date Out
Oct 1971
51-11279, FR-29, storage at Koksijde, gate guardian at Evere, gate guardian at Florennes
FR-30
History
C/N
-
Date In
Oct 1963
Date Out
Sep 1971
51-17015, FR-30, storage at Koksijde, Technical School Saffraanberg, Monument Temploux, storage Musée de l'Air , Paris (F.).
FR-31
History
C/N
-
Date In
Jan 1965
Date Out
Sep 1971
53-7644, EA+111, EA+311 (Luftwaffe), FR-31, storage at Koksijde, Techn School Saffraanberg, stored at Gilze Rijen for Mlitair Luchtvaartmuseum, gate guard as KLu "P-7" at Oranjekazerne, Schaarsbergen (Nl.)
FR-32
History
C/N
-
Date In
Jan 1965
Date Out
Jun 1971
53-7646, BD+103, EA+103, EA+303 (Luftwaffe), FR-32, Storage at Koksijde, Technical School Saffraanberg, restoration Bierset, storage Army Museum Weelde, Beauvechain
FR-33
History
C/N
-
Date In
Jan 1965
Date Out
Sep 1971
53-7658, BD+105, EA+105, EA+305 (Luftwaffe), FR-33, storage at Koksijde, (Royal) Technical School Saffraanberg, Storage at Bierset, Preserved at Florennes, dumped Beauvechain.
FR-34
History
C/N
-
Date In
Jan 1965
Date Out
Sep 1971
53-7677, EA+234, EA+334 (Luftwaffe), FR-34, "Adieu à toi le Petit Dernièr", Gate Guard Bierset, Stored for Royal Army Museum, Weelde, scrapped.