Explanatory zone of the period 1917 with the museum.
Diaporama model of 1917.
BR.20 of the CAI, Italian bombers having taken share with the battle of England.
Messerschmit Me-262, first apparation has reaction present in Belgium and operational.
Hunter of the 7th wing with Chièvres.
American presence: F-16 of the 10th US Air Force in 1988.
History of the base
Period 1st war:
It is in October 1918, that settle, on a meadow not far from the current base, four JASTA of the German military aviation; Jasta 28,33,56 and 57.
Jasta is an acronym formed by the abbreviation of the German word Jagdstaffel (fighter squadron).
These four squadrons, equipped with planes Fokker VII and albatross D.II and D.III, remains only 2 months on the grounds of Chievres and on November 4, 1918, make movement towards Waterloo.
A few kilometres from Chièvres is based Flugpark 17 of Stambruges-Grandglise. Imposing aerodrome for the time, built in 1917, where the planes arrived by train directly of the factory and were assembled on the spot in the large hangars built by Deutsche Luftsreikräfte (air Service of the imperial German army).
Period between two wars:
Between 1918 and 1939, the fields and grazing grounds become again peaceful and only the farmers and cattle will occupy the places during 21 years.
In 1939, the Belgian government, decides to create on the site of Chievres, a ground of diversion for Military Aeronautics. The war being close, it is desirable to be able to prepare there, but they is too late, work are in hand when declaration of war on May 10, 1940 occurs
Period of the second war:
9 days later, on May 19, 1940, the German army occupies the ground, and begins at once work of installation of an air base for Luftwaffe (Base 404) on the outlines of what the Belgians had begun.
In June 1940, work of the buildings is in hand, as well as the technical infrastructures.
On September 27, 1940, arrival of the CAI (Corpo Aéro Italiano) with its FIAT BR20 and Cant Z 1007bis. At the end of September 1940,80 BR.20 M of the 13° and 43° stormi left Italy to go to Belgium with the whole of Corpo Aereo Italiano (CAI) to take share, like wanted it Mussolini, with the battle of England. As of the flight of transit, 5 apparatuses were destroyed because of the bad climatic conditions. The squadrons were established, for the 43° stormo on Chievres and the 13° on the track of Melsbroeck.
After November 11 or 7 apparatuses were not lost, the BR.20 M did not carry out any more but night bombardments. Between October 1940 and January 1941,12 BR.20 M were lost.
They will remain on the aerodrome only until April 15, 1941, moment or they will return to Italy or will leave towards other fronts.
From this date, the base accomodates then various escadrilles bombardment and is used as aerodrome of diversion for the German and various hunters other apparatuses.
From August at September 1944, the III/JG26 occupies the base as well as the KG6.
At the end of August, the base of Chievres is the first base in Belgium to accomodate jets, in particular two Arado 234 and one flotilla of Messerchmitt 262..
On September 1, 1944, the Germans leave the places after having dynamited the installations and having burned all the files on the town square of Chievres.
On September 3, the Americans of the first division of infantry occupy the ruins of the base. At once, the genius begins the start-up of the installations.
The base becomes A-84.
The first planes are P47 Thunderbolt of the 361th and 365th Fighter Groups
In December 1944, the 123e Wing of the RAF arrives at Chievres to counter the offensive of the Ardennes, this Wing is composed of 3 will squadrons of which the 609e made up of a majority of Belgian pilots.
After May 8, 1945, the base is used as transit for the American soldiers who return on their premises. One installs also a German prison camp.
In December 1945, American returns the aerodrome to the Belgian authorities.
Period after war:
From 1946 to 1949, the base is used as deposit to the OMA (Mutual Office of Assistance) which dreams with the civilians, the military material given up by the allies.
Then the beginning of the Belgian occupation arrived...
It is on March 8, 1947, which the very young Belgian Air force, takes again officially the base, and, on December 1, 1950, was created 7th Wing of hunting of day, composed of three squadrons, 7th, 8th and 9th with like badge "la cocotte" (red for the 7th esc., blue for 8th and green one for 9th.).
In May 1951, the base receives its first Meteors F8 and T7, which will leave the base on June 12, 1956 for Koksijde and will be replaced by Hunters F4.
On March 15, 1957, dissolution of the 9th squadron, "les cocottes vertes".
As of January 1958, Hunters F4 will be replaced by Hunters F6.
The year 1963 will see many upheaval within the life of the base, thus, on July 31, 1963, the 8th squadron is dissolved, and the 7th squadron will follow on October 23. The suspension of the activities of 7th Wing de Chievres will cease on October 28, 1963 completely and will be officially dissolved on November 4 of the same year.
However, the life on the basis will continue between 1964 and 1967, with in particular the presence of "les cadets de l'air" the weekend, presence of Flight VSV with its T33 as well as CFI (Ci Air force).
And it was the end of the Belgian occupation...
Since December 31, 1967, the base is rented with the SHAPE and it is always occupied by the American forces.
It is in October 1918, that settle, on a meadow not far from the current base, four JASTA of the German military aviation; Jasta 28,33,56 and 57.
Jasta is an acronym formed by the abbreviation of the German word Jagdstaffel (fighter squadron).
These four squadrons, equipped with planes Fokker VII and albatross D.II and D.III, remains only 2 months on the grounds of Chievres and on November 4, 1918, make movement towards Waterloo.
A few kilometres from Chièvres is based Flugpark 17 of Stambruges-Grandglise. Imposing aerodrome for the time, built in 1917, where the planes arrived by train directly of the factory and were assembled on the spot in the large hangars built by Deutsche Luftsreikräfte (air Service of the imperial German army).
Period between two wars:
Between 1918 and 1939, the fields and grazing grounds become again peaceful and only the farmers and cattle will occupy the places during 21 years.
In 1939, the Belgian government, decides to create on the site of Chievres, a ground of diversion for Military Aeronautics. The war being close, it is desirable to be able to prepare there, but they is too late, work are in hand when declaration of war on May 10, 1940 occurs
Period of the second war:
9 days later, on May 19, 1940, the German army occupies the ground, and begins at once work of installation of an air base for Luftwaffe (Base 404) on the outlines of what the Belgians had begun.
In June 1940, work of the buildings is in hand, as well as the technical infrastructures.
On September 27, 1940, arrival of the CAI (Corpo Aéro Italiano) with its FIAT BR20 and Cant Z 1007bis. At the end of September 1940,80 BR.20 M of the 13° and 43° stormi left Italy to go to Belgium with the whole of Corpo Aereo Italiano (CAI) to take share, like wanted it Mussolini, with the battle of England. As of the flight of transit, 5 apparatuses were destroyed because of the bad climatic conditions. The squadrons were established, for the 43° stormo on Chievres and the 13° on the track of Melsbroeck.
After November 11 or 7 apparatuses were not lost, the BR.20 M did not carry out any more but night bombardments. Between October 1940 and January 1941,12 BR.20 M were lost.
They will remain on the aerodrome only until April 15, 1941, moment or they will return to Italy or will leave towards other fronts.
From this date, the base accomodates then various escadrilles bombardment and is used as aerodrome of diversion for the German and various hunters other apparatuses.
From August at September 1944, the III/JG26 occupies the base as well as the KG6.
At the end of August, the base of Chievres is the first base in Belgium to accomodate jets, in particular two Arado 234 and one flotilla of Messerchmitt 262..
On September 1, 1944, the Germans leave the places after having dynamited the installations and having burned all the files on the town square of Chievres.
On September 3, the Americans of the first division of infantry occupy the ruins of the base. At once, the genius begins the start-up of the installations.
The base becomes A-84.
The first planes are P47 Thunderbolt of the 361th and 365th Fighter Groups
In December 1944, the 123e Wing of the RAF arrives at Chievres to counter the offensive of the Ardennes, this Wing is composed of 3 will squadrons of which the 609e made up of a majority of Belgian pilots.
After May 8, 1945, the base is used as transit for the American soldiers who return on their premises. One installs also a German prison camp.
In December 1945, American returns the aerodrome to the Belgian authorities.
Period after war:
From 1946 to 1949, the base is used as deposit to the OMA (Mutual Office of Assistance) which dreams with the civilians, the military material given up by the allies.
Then the beginning of the Belgian occupation arrived...
It is on March 8, 1947, which the very young Belgian Air force, takes again officially the base, and, on December 1, 1950, was created 7th Wing of hunting of day, composed of three squadrons, 7th, 8th and 9th with like badge "la cocotte" (red for the 7th esc., blue for 8th and green one for 9th.).
In May 1951, the base receives its first Meteors F8 and T7, which will leave the base on June 12, 1956 for Koksijde and will be replaced by Hunters F4.
On March 15, 1957, dissolution of the 9th squadron, "les cocottes vertes".
As of January 1958, Hunters F4 will be replaced by Hunters F6.
The year 1963 will see many upheaval within the life of the base, thus, on July 31, 1963, the 8th squadron is dissolved, and the 7th squadron will follow on October 23. The suspension of the activities of 7th Wing de Chievres will cease on October 28, 1963 completely and will be officially dissolved on November 4 of the same year.
However, the life on the basis will continue between 1964 and 1967, with in particular the presence of "les cadets de l'air" the weekend, presence of Flight VSV with its T33 as well as CFI (Ci Air force).
And it was the end of the Belgian occupation...
Since December 31, 1967, the base is rented with the SHAPE and it is always occupied by the American forces.