Other Forces

Belgian Fairey Fox

A Fairey Fox belonging to the Belgian Air Force. Although Belgium only entered the war on the 10th of May, 1940 the Belgian Air Force suffered her first losses in September 1939, ironically against her future allie, the RAF. On the 9th of that month a Fox belonging to the 5e Escadrille 'Aigle Bleu' intercepted a Whitley bomber of No. 102 Squadron that had strayed over Belgium during return from operations over Germany and attempted to force it to land. The Fox was hit by return fire and crashed over the estate of Count Gaston d'Oultrement at 6.00am. Adjt A. Genot baled out slightly wounded and Cpl. R. Alaffe baled out and broke his right shoulder on landing. On the same day, and around the same hour another Belgian aircraft, this time a Firefly, returned to base damaged by return fire from another No.2 Squadron Whitley. The Firefly pilot, Sgt. D.Leroy du Vivier was unhurt. Later he was one of over 70 Belgian airmen who escaped to England to join the RAF. He flew Hurricanes with No. 43 Squadron during the Battle of Britain, and in January 1943 became the first Belgian to command a RAF squadron when he was appointed No.43 Squadron leader.