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<P>
<CENTER>
<IMG SRC="../images/Sioux013.gif" WIDTH="50" HEIGHT="44"
ALIGN="MIDDLE" BORDER="0" NATURALSIZEFLAG="3"><IMG SRC="../images/TITEL002.gif"
BORDER="0" NATURALSIZEFLAG="0" HEIGHT="89" WIDTH="460" ALIGN="MIDDLE"><IMG
SRC="../images/Sioux013.gif" WIDTH="50" HEIGHT="44" ALIGN="MIDDLE"
BORDER="0" NATURALSIZEFLAG="3"></CENTER>
</P>
<P>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="anchor524077"></A><B><U><FONT SIZE="+2" FACE="Arial">The
Tenacity Wing</FONT></U></b></CENTER>
</P>
<P> </P>
<UL>
<LI><A HREF="#anchor524845"><B><FONT SIZE="+1">History of the
Wing</FONT></b></A>
<ul>
<li>Birth
<li>1950 - 1970
<li>1970 - 1980
<li>1980 - 1990
<li>1991 -
</ul>
<li><b><font size="+1">addresses + maps</font></b>
</UL>
<P>
<CENTER>
</CENTER>
</P>
<P>
<CENTER>
<B><FONT COLOR="#ff0000" SIZE="+3" FACE="Twang LET">
<HR>
</FONT></b></CENTER>
</P>
<P>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="anchor524845"></A><B><U><FONT SIZE="+1" FACE="Arial">HISTORY
OF THE 15° WING</FONT></U></b></CENTER>
</P>
<P><U><FONT FACE="Arial">a. Birth</FONT></U></P>
<P> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">The Belgian airtransport was created during
WWII. It's roots however aren't situated in German occupied Belgium,
but on the free Brittish island.<BR>
Some Belgian Bomber Command pilots , trained at Crosby and Welford,
were attached to the 187° and 525° RAF Squadron at Membury.<BR>
After the liberation in 1944 a "liaison-flight" was
installed. It was equipped with ANSON and DOMINIE aircraft. These
smaller airplanes were stationed at Hendon. They assured a regular
connection between London and Brussels.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">In august 1946 the Belgian airtransport
was stationed in Evere (Belgium) and became known as the 169°
Wing. In the wing there were two squadrons: the 366° Sqn,
equiped with DC-3 and the 367° Sqn, equiped with ANSONS, OXFORDS,
DOMINIES and PROCTOR aircraft. Once arrived in Belgium, the squadrons
<BR>
Immediately started regular flights with destinations like Wahn,
Hendon, Villacoublay and Preswick. <BR>
In 1947 The TCU (Transport Convertion Unit) was established. Until
today they take care of the conversion of mechanics and pilots
to maintain and fly our transport aircraft. <BR>
<BR>
That same year photographic missions for the Military Cartographical
Institute were started. A few crews left to the province of Katanga
(Congo) to make maps of the region by airphotography. That time
parachuting above Schaffen transformed the 169° Wing into
a tactical airtransport wIng .</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">February, 01 1948 the 169° Wing was
renamed to 15° Vervoers- en Verbindingswing (15 VVbW), wich
incorporated the 20° Sqn and 21° Sqn. The Chief of Command
of the Belgian Airforce, General Leboutte, assigned the legendary
Sioux chief as logo to the wing. The slogan that came with the
new logo was TENACITY (i.e. to persist). Tthe Sioux indian was
the logo of the 9° and 11° legendary observation squadron.
These air regiment squadrons succeeded during the turbulent days
of May '40 in many missions impossible.<BR>
The 20° squadron, equipped with DC 3 DAKOTAS, became specialized
in airtransport and started in April 1948 regular flights to the
colony, to supply the new base at Kamina. The 21° squadron,
equipped with ANSONS, PROCTORS, OXFORDS and DOMINIES became specialized
in liaison flights inside and outside Europe.</FONT></P>
<P> </P>
<P><U><FONT FACE="Arial">b. 1950-1970</FONT></U></P>
<P> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">1950 was a year of big changes in the life
of the young wing. First of all there was the move from Evere
to Melsbroek were we occupied the barracks of the airforce centre
for recrutment. The airstrip at Evere had become insufficient
for the ambigious plans of the Belgian Airforce. The wing needed
a runway in macadam and parking facilities for greater airplanes
had to be created.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">Due to the long travel time from Belgium
to Congo (4 to 5 days in a DC 3) and the limited loading capacity
of the aircraft, the Airforce decided to buy two DC 4 SKYMASTERS
in september 1950. From now on traveling to Congo via Tripoli,
Kano and Leopoldstad could be done in one and a half day.<BR>
On september, 24 1952 the first two "FAIRCHILDS PACKET C-119
" landed on Melsbroek Airport. They were followed by 44 more
of them. These aircraft should become the backbone of the new
tactical air transport flown by the 20° and the 40° squadron.
The C 119's loading capacity of 30.027 Lbs was quite an improvment
of the modest 7.496 Lbs DC 3 payload.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">1953 OXFORD and ANSON planes had to be replaced.
The 21°Sqn recieved 12 PEMBROKES. Those light liaison aircraft
had a capacity of 6 to 8 passengers. Besides the transport of
paps they also flew cargo-, calibration-, photographic- and conversion-
missions.<BR>
In 1958 the Airforce bought two DC 6 airplanes from the USAF,
followed by two more DC 6 in 1960, bought from SABENA.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">This period was marked by some significant
events: the fight for independance of our colony in 1960, the
opening of our base at Solenzara in 1962, the first transatlantic
flight towards the USA in 1962, the support to the young congolesian
FATAC in 1964 and the beginning of the humanitarian missions all
over the world.<BR>
The independance of Congo on july,30 1960 made the 15 Wing operate
at maximum capacity. During the month of July 860 missions were
flown in most dramatic circumstances.<BR>
1964 the young Congolesian republic was about to colaps due to
a total disorganisation. Belgium (the 15° Wing) was asked
for help to establish the FATAC (Force Aérienne Tactique
Congolaise). Communications between Brussels and Kamina were re-estabished
and the 15* Vervoers- en Verbindingswing came with the necessary
technical personnel and knowhow to keep the DC 3s and DC 4s of
the FATAC in the air. Day after day the support personnel had
to fight a struggle for life: landing on unreliable airstrips
caused accidents and damage, hostility of the native population,…
Once again the 15° Wing managed to succeed in this delicate
operation!</FONT></P>
<P> </P>
<P><U><FONT FACE="Arial">c. 1970-1980</FONT></U></P>
<P> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">1972 was the best year for the 20° Sqn
till then: finally the squadron recieved the first six of twelve
LOCKHEED HERCULES C 130s. At the same moment 15 C 119 aircraft
were parked on non active in Koksijde. In 1973 all twelve C 130
had been delivered to the 15° Wing. In 1996 we lost one aircraft
in a crash in Eindhoven (Netherlands). This brings the actual
number of operational aircraft to eleven.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">While the 20°Sqn was recieving its brandnew
Herks, the 21° Sqn also became two new Dassaults Breguet "FALCON
20E" aircraft. Their entrance placed five PEMBROKES on non
active. <BR>
Besides quick (V)VIP transport, it was and is also used for transportation
of wounded and for fast organ transportation troughout Europe.
<BR>
Untill 1976 the number of aircraft in the 21° sqn diminishes
by pensioning the DC 3s.<BR>
On March,29 1976 the first SWEARINGEN MERLIN lands at Melsbroek.
It's number one in a row of six.<BR>
With two BOEINGS 727 (bought from SABENA in March and April '76)
that replace the old DC 6 and 3 HAWKER SIDDELEY 748 (First arrived
on June,28) the 21° sqn can rely on a fleet of modern, multi
functional aircraft. Untill 1995 the fleet will hardly change.<BR>
Due to the fact that several aircraft are of a quick change type,
the 21° sqn isn't held to passenger transport only. From now
on they can participate in cargo transport.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">Still the 21° Sqn keeps its old tasks:
two MERLINS are equipped for air photography and one of them can
be used for test- and calibration-flights.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">The last of twelve C 130 was hardly stationed
on Melsbroek when the European Union started a large aid programm
for the people of the Sahel region. In that time the region suffered
from starvation. The 20° Sqn participated with 1230 flight
hours in an immense region, covering Niger, Tsjaad, Upper-Volta
(now Burkina Faso) en Mali. <BR>
At the same time we stayed active in other parts of the world:
Jordan, India, Egypte, Bangladesh, Honduras, Angola, Guatemala,
Iran, Cambodja, Mexico, Spain, Columbia,…</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">The seventies was a decade of modernising
the fleet, combined with interventions in all corners of the earth.
At home the 15° Wing did not forget its neighbours. In 1970
the 15° Wing accepted the parenthood of the Multiple Sclurose
clinic at Melsbroek. From then on we regurlarly organise happenings
and reunions to try to get the patients out of their isolation
and to help them buy new aquipment. The last five years we organise
our anual Indian Day, a day where motorcyclers drive for charity
and where the MS patients get the opportunity to visit "their
Wing".</FONT></P>
<P> </P>
<P><U><FONT FACE="Arial">d. 1980 - 1990.</FONT></U></P>
<P> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">This decade can best be described as a consolidation
period. After the loss of a MERLIN in 1980 the total number of
aircraft stays at 24 units. Melsbroek becomes the number two airfield
in cargo and passengers movements (Zaventem stays numero uno).<BR>
The density of the flight programm rises constantly and reaches
a saturation point for crews and technicians. Typical for this
period is a growing number of missions "off flightplan Airforce"
(i.e. missions for non military organisations). These missions,
however not payed by the Belgian Airforce, demand a great effort
of the crew and the technicians.<BR>
A tipical flightplan of those days:<BR>
May,12 1980 a C 130 flew during six weeks for the International
Red Cross. From Bangkok as homebase they had to assure the support
of Cambodian refugies. They took of in Belgium with 15430 Lbs
medical material on board. During this operation the C 130 flew
31 rotations between the Thai capital and Combodja. They transported
860.000 Lbs of goods. June,18 the C 130 headed for home, mission.accomplished.<BR>
From December 1984 the 15° Wing is very occupied in Africa.
Besides the permanent cooperation with Zaire (1 C 130 is permanently
stationed in Zaire), there a great efforts to support the Sahel
countries. That region suffers at that moment from starvation.
Between december 1984 and November 1986 the 20° Sqn performs
80 humanitarian missions for several international aid organisations.
Most missions were flown in Ethiopia, others targeted Tsjaad,
Mali, Soedan, Kenya en South-Yemen.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">September,01 1987 the 15 Wing changes names
again: the former 15 Vervoer en Verbindings Wing becomes 15 Wing
Lucht Transport (15 W Lu Tpt).<BR>
The HS 748 trades its camouflage paint for a more decent white
and blue, the official colours of the 21° Sqn. The two BOEINGS
recieve a new white and blue paint.<BR>
From 1990 on the C 130s become gradually modernised; one by one
they recieve new outer wings and the old camouflage colours are
replaced by a light grey paint. This project ends at May,18 1993.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">In April 1989 the 20° Sqn is asked to
participate in operation LIFE LINE, against starvation in Sudan
and on August,07 1990 the 15° Wing supports operation SWEET
HOME (the evacuation of the Belgian Military Technicians out of
Zaire). While participating in FLYING CARPET (August, 23 - October,04
1990) and GREEN BEAN (October,04 - November,27 1990) the normal
missions still go on.<BR>
The eighties mean a higher participation in humanitarian operations,
while going on with the missions "in flightplan Airforce".</FONT></P>
<P> </P>
<P><U><FONT FACE="Arial">e. 1991untill now.</FONT></U></P>
<P> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">October 1991 operation BLUE BEAM occupies
the whole wing. In no time we have to install paratroopers in
Zaire. To fly troops and material to Africa and return with refugies
everybody has to give the best of itself. Working days are long
at that time. <BR>
During the Gulf War the 15° Wing realises a deployment of
Belgian troops in the east of Turky. They also assure support
for the troops on the ground and on sea, while flying voluntarly
a lot of missions for our allies.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">1991 the FALCON aircraft are updated: they
recieve a new paint and a complete internal refreshment. Simultaniously
the update of the MERLINS starts. These are still in progress.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">The C 130 going strong from the first day
without any major update (except for the outer wings) recieves
a brandnew navigation system and a "glass cockpit" (i.e.
digital instrument in the cockpit). The new avionix is needed
in a modern airtraffic pattern. First aircraft was updated in
1992 at SABENA TECHNICS, the last one was ready in 1995. With
this update the C 130 should stay operationel untill 2010.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">Meanwhile the number of humanitarian missions
is growing to huge proportions: Ex-Yougoslavia, Somalia and certainly
in April '94 Rwanda, where the 15° Wing was present with almost
all its aircraft.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">In 1996 the 21° Sqn recieves one FALCON
900, an aircraft that can be situated in the higher modern bussines
class. Equiped with three turbofan engines of each 4750 Lbs thrust,
it can easily cruise at 956 km/Hr at 47.000 Ft. 12 Passengers
and full load gives a range of 6.300 km. The aircraft was bought
for travel of the Royal Family only.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">In 1997 the situation in Zaire becomes very
explosif again. Kabila takes over power and once again the circumstances
become so tense that the 15° Wing has to send his aircraft
towards Africa. During operation GREEN STREAM our C 130, B 727
and FALCON 900 fly nonstop between Melsbroek, Brazzavile and Point
Noire.This makes the tarmac in Melsbroek look empty.<BR>
Fortunately a C 5 fills up the empty space, it lands at Melsbroek
to transport the material too big for a C 130</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">.<BR>
September,24 1997 is another great day for the 15° Wing. The
first of two longbodies arrives. An AIRBUS A 310, bought from
Singapore Airlines, fills our tarmac with the white and blue colours
of the 21° sqn. The second AIRBUS arrives May 1998.</FONT></P>
<P> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">To be continued</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">From "Historiek van de 15 Wing Luchttransport"
Documentatiecentrum DAKOTA<BR>
Translation Kris Smets<BR>
</FONT></P>
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