Belgian Wings
Belgian Air Force, past and present.
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Spad S.XI A.2
A Spad XI A2 of N° 2 Squadron (Mouette) in flight.
Single engine – twin seat reconnaissance / observation aircraft
The Spad XI A2 was introduced into the Belgian Air Service in 1917 when the first machines were transferred to N° 5 Squadron (Hirondelle) which flew Army cooperation missions including artillery spotting and photographic reconnaissance from its base at Bray-Dunes (F.) The Spad XI was powered by a single 235 Hp Hispano Suiza 8Be giving it a maximum speed of 176 km/h at 2.000m. In the Belgian Air Service, the Spad XI replaced the ageing R.E.8 and the Sopwith 11/2 Strutter. As the Belgian authorities decided to reserve the Hispano-Suiza engines of the Spad XI for their single seat Spad VII and Spad XIII fighters, a single Spad XVI A2 (which see) was acquired for testing purposes. This particular subtype was fitted with the more powerful Loraine 8Bd powerplant of 240 hp. Most probably the results of the assessment weren’t conclusive as no more Spad XVI A2’s were acquired.
At least 42 Spad XI A2 two seaters were operated by the following Belgian units: N° 2 Squadron (Mouette / C.O. Cpt F. Isserentant / De Moeren) – N° 4 Squadron (Zebre / C.O. Cpt P. Richard / Hondschoote (F.)) – N° 5 Squadron (Hirondelle / C.O. Cpt Hugon- Bray-Dunes (F.)) - N° 6 Squadron (Abeille / Cdt R. Desmet / Houtem) and N° 7 Squadron (Dragon / C.O. Cdt. J. Jaumotte). Very often these squadrons used their Spad XIs alongside the Breguet XIV A2 (for which the crews had a slight preference). Towards the end of its career, a small number of Spad XI's was also operated by the Flying School at Asch and later Wevelgem airbase.
King Albert I, flew several times over the front lines and on 8 May 1918 he observed the situation aboard Spad XI A2 Sp6 flown by Lt Henri Crombez. As of then, two Spad XI’s (Sp 6 and Sp 18) and three pilots (Crombez, Stampe and Ledure) were reserved for the King at all times within N° 6 Squadron at Houtem. As such creating informally the Royal flight. (Daniel Brackx)
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Sp 1
History
C/N
-
Date In
1917
Date Out
-
Sp 1, delivered to N° 5 Squadron (Hirondelle) in 1917.
Sp 2
History
C/N
-
Date In
1917
Date Out
-
-
Sp 3
History
C/N
-
Date In
-
Date Out
-
Sp 3, in service with IV Group in June 1922
Sp 4
History
C/N
6370
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
Sp 4, N° 6 Squadron (Abeille), aircarft used by Adj. Victor Simonet and Capt Jean Piron.
Sp 5
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
-
Sp 6
History
C/N
6366
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
Sp 6, N° 6 Squadron (Abeille), assigned to Lt. Henri Crombez, often used by King Albert I to inspect the front and to travel between his HQ and his villa at De Panne, the crew Crombez and Paul du Roy de Blicquy shot down Fokker flying Sp 6 on 14 October 1918.
Sp 7
History
C/N
6344
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
Sp 7, N° 6 Squadron (Abeille)
Sp 8
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
Sp 8, Spad XVI (Lorraine powered) 9 Squadron, re-registered Sp 40 in 1922 (see below), fate unknown;
Sp 9
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
-
Sp 10
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
-
Sp 11
History
C/N
6394
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
Sp 11, N° 6 Squadron (Abeille), used by Slt Albert Gisseleire and Slt Max Roland. transferred to 8/IV Groupe (Bulldog) on 9 Jan 1922.
Sp 12
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
Sp 12, Transferred from VII Gr. to IV Gr. on 19 May 1922.
Sp 13
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
Sp 13, N° 4 Squadron (Zebre)
Sp 14
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
Sp 14, Noted at Squadron 8/IV Gr. (Hibou) on 9 Jan 1922.
Sp 15
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
Sp 15, Noted as flown by de Rochelée (Jan & Apr 1919)
Sp 16
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
Jun 1925
Sp 16, N° 4 Squadron (Zebre) usually flown by the crew de Rochelée/Van Landuyt, stricken off charge at I/3Aé (Serv. Techn) Evere on. 26 Jun 1925.
Sp 17
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
Sp 17, N° 6 Squadron (Abeille)
Sp 18
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
Sp 18, Was a second Spad XI reserved for flight with King Albert I within Squadron N° 6 (Abeille) and as such often flown by Lt. Crombez, Stampe or Ledure..
Sp-19
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
Sp 19, N° 4 Squadron (Zebre), painted overall white
Sp 20
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
-
Sp 21
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
-
Sp 22
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
-
Sp 23
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
Sp 23, N° 4 Squadron (Zebre) at Bockum (D.)
Sp 24
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
Sp 24, Squadron 7/II Gr. (Dragon)
Sp 25
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
Sp 25, noted at IV Gr. on 15 Jul 1922.
Sp 26
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
Sp 26, noted at IV Gr. on 29 Jul 1922
Sp 27
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
-
Sp 28
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
Jan 1922
Sp 28, N° 4 Squadron (Zebre), marked as destroyed with II Gr. by 27 Jan 1922.
Sp 29
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
Jun 1926
Sp 29, Squadron 1/III Gr. (Mephisto) in 1921, 2/II/3Aé (Pingouin) at Wevelgem, stricken off charge on 4 Jun 1926.
Sp 30
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
Sp 30, N° 6 Squadron (Abeille)
Sp 31
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
-
Sp 32
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
-
Sp 33
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
-
Sp 34
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
-
Sp 35
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
-
Sp 36
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
-
Sp 37
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
-
Sp 38
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
Jan 1922
Sp 38, N° 4 Squadron (Zebre), marked as destroyed with II Gr. by 27 Jan 1922.
Sp 39
History
C/N
6464
Date In
1918
Date Out
Jan 1922
Sp 39, N° 4 Squadron (Zebre), re-registered Sp 39 from “6464” in 1921, marked as destroyed with II Gr. by 27 Jan 1922.
Sp 40
History
C/N
-
Date In
1918
Date Out
Jan 1925
Sp 40, Spad XVI (Lorraine powered), re-registered Sp40 (from Sp 8) (see above), stricken off charge on 20 Jan 1925.
Sp 41
History
C/N
-
Date In
Sep 1923
Date Out
Jan 1924
Sp 41, VII Gr. Asch, crashed at Beverst (Bilzen) after engine failure on 23 Jen 1924.
Sp 42
History
C/N
-
Date In
-
Date Out
Jun 1926
Sp 42, II/3Aé, stricken of charge at II/3Aé on 04 Jun 1926
Sp 8108
History
C/N
8108
Date In
1918
Date Out
-
Sp 8108, noted at Bockum (D.) sporting its construction number as serial. Unfortunately no correspondence with its correct serial is known.
Photo slider with Belgian Air Service Spad XI A.2 Pilots
