Photo taken before October 1939. At around 1.30pm on the 13th September 1939 a Fokker T VIII was mistaken for an RAF aircraft and attacked by an He115 of 1./106 off Ameland. Being badly damaged it capsided while attempting to land in heavy seas, the crew of 4 was picked up by their attacker, which after running repairs to a damaged float managed to take-off again at 5.00p.m. and return to Germany. The Dutch crew were repatriated 2 days later following diplomatic exchanges. It was this incident that prompted the Dutch to change the national markings on their aircraft from October 1, 1939 onwards to a distinctive orange triangle to avoid further cases of mistaken identity. 

Dutch Fokker T VIII 

   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.

Belgian Fairey Fox

Injured greeks taking a commemorative photo.The year is 1940-41.