Belgian Wings
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Stampe Vertongen SV-4B (Pre-War)
Single engine, twin seat basic trainer
The prototype OO-JAN (CofR.413) was presented to the military authorities on 29 September 1937 by de Vinck de Winnezeele and after evaluating it, some changes were requested on 31 March 1938. After the introduction of these modifications the aircraft (OO-ATC) was presented at the International Concours of the Belgian Military Aviation in 1939. Being designated as the winner in the category trainers, 30 aircraft were ordered in July 1939 to replace the ageing Avro 504K.
Only 24 aircraft (c/n 2201 to 2224) were delivered before the German invasion. 6 aircraft under construction (c/n 2225 to 2230) were evacuated to France when the factory at Deurne was abandoned. They all disappeared during the transport on board of m/s "Fons" and m/s "Milo" (captured by the Germans on 14 May 1940 ?). A single aircraft (probably V-19) was destroyed at Zwevezele during the evacuation.
On 12 May 1940 the 23 available aircraft left Wevelgem - via Beauvais (FR), Chartres (FR), Tours (FR) and Le Mans (FR) - for Caen-Carpiquet (FR).
On 5 June 1940 the aircraft (23 SV4b, 11 Foxes, 12 Avro 504N and 1 Avro 626) were loaded onto the cargo "Algérie", which arrived on 23 June 1940 at Oran (DZ).
In August 1940 the crates with the 23 aircraft were transported to Oran-La Sénia (DZ) for storage. On 7 September 1940, as a result of the armistice, the aircraft were handed over to the French authorities and were eventually transported to Noisy-les-Bains (DZ). The aircraft remained stored until the Allied landing in Algeria in November 1942.
After an inspection, on 24 November 1942, it was decided to re-assemble and test 2 aircraft. As the tests were satisfactory, the decision was taken that all the aircraft were to be made air-worthy during 1943. On 25 February 1943, the Ministry of Colonies in London (Cdt F. Bucquoi) estimated that it would be very difficult to get all the aircraft air-worthy. They would settle for some 10 aircraft but in the end only 7 aircraft (ex AéM 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14 and 16) were sold to the Colony for 3.500.000 FRF. As the Stampes lacked propellers, (new) propellers were made by Caudron at Blida. During August 1943 French personnel (Armée de l'Air) made the ferry flight to Casablanca (MA) where the aircraft were crated.
The crates were shipped and left Casablanca (MA) on 5 October 1943, via Dakar (..), to Belgian Congo. However on 31 July 1944 the crates were still at Dakar. Finally the aircraft arrived at Congo and were assigned the serials V41 to V47 (or V40 to V46) by the Weermacht/Force Publique (Congo). See Info below.
On 14 June 1943 , the remaining 16 aircraft (1 to 5, 7, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20 to 24) were sold to the Aviation Française d'Afrique, for use in the flying school at Marrakech (DZ), for 8.000.000 FRF.
C/N
2201
V-1
Date In
Dec 1939
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-1, Wevelgem Flying School, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), Jun 1943 to "Aviation Française d'Afrique" (Free French Forces) and used at the flying school at Marrakech (DZ), Ultimate fate unknown.
C/N
2202
V-2
Date In
Dec 1939
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-2, Wevelgem Flying School, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), Jun 1943 to "Aviation Française d'Afrique" (Free French Forces) and used at the flying school at Marrakech (DZ), Ultimate fate unknown.
C/N
2203
V-3
Date In
1940
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-3, Wevelgem Flying School, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), Jun 1943 to "Aviation Française d'Afrique" (Free French Forces) and used at the flying school at Marrackech (DZ), Ultimate fate unknown.
C/N
2204
V-4
Date In
1940
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-4, Wevelgem Flying School, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), Jun 1943 to "Aviation Française d'Afrique" (Free French Forces) and used at the flying school at Marrakech (DZ), registered 104, 1004, 1604, F-BDKN, used in film "Oasis", Oct 1959 registration F-BDKN cancelled.
C/N
2205
V-5
Date In
1940
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-5, Wevelgem Flying School, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), Jun 1943 to "Aviation Française d'Afrique" (Free French Forces) and used at the flying school at Marrakech (DZ), crashed at Mazagan (DZ) on 9 Jun 1944.
C/N
2206
V-6
Date In
1940
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-6, only SV-4B noted with two tone colour scheme, Wevelgem Flying School, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), to Weermacht/Force Publique (Bel. Congo).
C/N
2207
V-7
Date In
1940
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-7, Wevelgem Flying School, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), to "Aviation Française d'Afrique" (Free French Forces) and used at the flying school at Marrakech (DZ), Crashed at Taza Tadia (near Casblanca, MA) on delivery flight on 13 Jan 1943.
C/N
2208
V-8
Date In
1940
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-8, Wevelgem Flying School, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), to Weermacht/Force Publique (Bel. Congo).
C/N
2209
V-9
Date In
1940
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-9, Wevelgem Flying School, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), to Weermacht/Force Publique (Bel. Congo).
C/N
2210
V-10
Date In
1940
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-10, Wevelgem Flying School, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), to Weermacht/Force Publique (Bel. Congo).
C/N
2211
V-11
Date In
1940
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-11, Wevelgem Flying School, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), Jun 1943 to "Aviation Française d'Afrique" (Free French Forces) and used at the flying school at Marrakech (DZ),, fate unknown.
C/N
2212
V-12
Date In
1940
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-12, Wevelgem Flying School, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), to Weermacht/Force Publique (Bel. Congo).
C/N
2213
V-13
Date In
1940
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-13, Wevelgem Flying School, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), Jun 1943 to "Aviation Française d'Afrique" (Free French Forces) and used at the flying school at Marrakech (DZ), registered 113, 1013, 1613, F-BDKD, Wfu Jan 1962, registration cancelled Aug 1964.
C/N
2214
V-14
Date In
1940
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-14, Wevelgem Flying School, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), to Weermacht/Force Publique (Bel. Congo).
C/N
2215
V-15
Date In
1940
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-15, Wevelgem Flying School, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), Jun 1943 to "Aviation Française d'Afrique" (Free French Forces) and used at the flying school at Marrakech (DZ), registered 15, 115, 1015, 1615, F-BDKE at Casablanca (not taken up ?).
C/N
2216
V-16
Date In
1940
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-16, Wevelgem Flying School, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), to Weermacht/Force Publique (Bel. Congo).
C/N
2217
V-17
Date In
1940
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-17, Wevelgem Flying School, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), Jun 1943 to "Aviation Française d'Afrique" (Free French Forces) and used at the flying school at Marrakech (DZ),, fate unknown.
C/N
2218
V-18
Date In
1940
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-18, Wevelgem Flying School, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), Jun 1943 to "Aviation Française d'Afrique" (Free French Forces) and used at the flying school at Marrakech (DZ), registered 118, 1018, 1618, F-BDKF at Rabat (not taken up ?).
C/N
2219
V-19
Date In
1940
Date Out
May 1940
History
V-19, Wevelgem Flying School, 11 May 1940 damaged in ground collision with a landing Fairey Firefly. Abandoned.
C/N
2220
V-20
Date In
1940
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-20, Wevelgem Flying School, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), Jun 1943 to "Aviation Française d'Afrique" (Free French Forces) and used at the flying school at Marrakech (DZ), registered 20, 120, 1020, 1620, F-BDKI at Rabat (not taken up ?).
C/N
2221
V-21
Date In
1940
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-21, Etablissements Aé, to Zwevezele, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), Jun 1943 to "Aviation Française d'Afrique" (Free French Forces) and used at the flying school at Marrakech (DZ), fate unknown.
C/N
2222
V-22
Date In
1940
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-22, Wevelgem Flying School, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), Jun 1943 to "Aviation Française d'Afrique" (Free French Forces) and used at the flying school at Marrakech (DZ), fate unknown.
C/N
2223
V-23
Date In
1940
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-23, Wevelgem Flying School, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), Jun 1943 to "Aviation Française d'Afrique" (Free French Forces) and used at the flying school at Marrakech (DZ), fate unknown.
C/N
2224
V-24
Date In
1940
Date Out
Sep 1940
History
V-24, Wevelgem Flying School, Sep 1940 to French authorities at La Sénia (Oran, DZ), stored at Noisy-les-Bains (DZ), Jun 1943 to "Aviation Française d'Afrique" (Free French Forces) and used at the flying school at Marrakech (DZ), registered 124, 1024, fate unknown.
Stampe Vertongen SV-4B (Weermacht/Force Publique)
As mentioned higher, some 7 Stampes (ex AéM 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14 and 16) were sold to the Colony for 3.500.000 FRF. As the Stampes lacked propellers, new ones were made by Caudron at Blida. During August 1943 French personnel of the Armée de l'Air made the ferry flight to Casablanca (MA) where the aircraft were crated. The crates were shipped and left Casablanca (MA) on 5 October 1943, via Dakar (..), to Belgian Congo. Only by early 1945 the aircraft finally arrived at Congo and were assigned the serials V41 to V47 (or V40 to V46) by the Weermacht/Force Publique (Congo). Unfortunately up-to-now, no tie-ups with the former AéM serials are known.
Stampe Vertongen SV-4B N° 41 of the Weermacht/Force Publique warming up at Ndolo airport.
A Pilot is posing in Stampe Vertongen SV-4B V-42 of the Weermacht/Force Publique.
Stampe Vertongen SV-4B V-43 of the Weermacht/Force Publique receiving some engine maintenance at Ndolo airbase surrounded by De Havilland Doves, Airspeed Oxfords and De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth L-51.
Requisitioned Civilian Aircraft
Between August 1939 and March 1940 three civilian Stampe Vertongen SV-4's were requisitioned by the Belgian Government and used as liaison aircraft for the armed forces. The three aircraft were registered to the "Club d'aviation de Bruxelles" and were intensively flown by their owners during their brief "military" career. All three aircraft are presumed destroyed during the war and their registrations cancelled in June 1946.
Stampe Vertongen SV-4 OO-ACB was requisitioned in August 1939, making its first "Military" flight for the benefit of 3Aé on 28 August 1939 in the hands of its regular pilot Sdt. Maurice de Limelette. This aircraft had an accident in Portugal in which it was probably destroyed.
Stampe Vertongen SV-4B OO-AOU (with OO-APR next to it) at Evere airfield in 1939. The aircraft saw service with 1Aé at Goetsenhoven and was mostly flown by Sgt. Jules Hartog (also member of the "Club d'aviation de Bruxelles". The ultimate fate of this SV is unknown.
Stampe Vertongen SV-4 OO-APR, was the third civilian Stampe to be requisitioned. This machines started its military life on 11 September 1939 sporting a Belgian roundel on the fuselage but was already demobed in late November of that year. Its regular pilot was Sdt Roger Eggermont serving with the 1Aé. This Stampe is also presumed lost during the war.