349 Fighter Squadron

December 5, 2011 - Pilots and support personnel of 349 (F) sqn are again fulfilling their durty at Kandahar airbase in Afghanistan. With 349 support personnel alreayd in theatre as from beginning of September, 349 pilots joined them in November. Redeployment of the whole detachment is foreseen by the end of January 2012. As part of OGF X (Operation Guardian Falcon - rotation 10) they are supporting the NATO ISAF mission with six F-16s. Each day they are flying missions in support of the NATO ground forces.

On December 3rd, Kandahar airbase organised a 5K 'Santa Run', identical to the race which was held at the same moment in Las Vegas. 349 (F) sqn pilots were present in suitable disguise and performed with excellent race results.

..... or how to keep the spirit alive.....

April 29, 2011 - In March of 2011, the uprising in Libya led to an armed intervention by the Nato-led coalition forces. Pilots from 349 squadron flew the very first Belgian sortie only hours after the approval of the higher chain of command on March 21st. Since the start of the conflict, they have attacked numerous targets in order to safeguard the Libyan population and enforced the no-fly zone.

What originally started as a squadron exchange with the Greek 335 squadron in Araxos soon changed into a full operational commitment in operation Freedom Falcon. The patch that was made on occasion of the squadron move suddenly became the patch for the new mission.

November 28, 2010 - Pilots and support personnel of 349 (F) sqn are currently deployed at Kandahar Airbase in the south-east of Afghanistan. In support of the NATO ISAF mission, six F-16s fly in support of the ground troops and provide valuable reconnaissance.

They are now half way in their 4-month deployment. To celebrate this event, a team of technicians surprised the whole detachment with a beautifully made wooden crest in classic 349 spirit.

Next up is the so-called T-wall. Every OGF (Operation Guardian Falcon) rotations goes a long way to leave a lasting impression in the Belgian compound. Over the next weeks, the gifted painters will put up their design (see below) on the large concrete walls in the rest & relieve area. To be continued!

November 18, 2010 - To mark the final flight of the Airbus A-310 for the Air Component, a 4-ship F-16 formation flown by 349 Sqn pilots escorted the 'CA-01' for a flypass overhead Melsbroek AB. The Airbus first participated in an air defense exercise where she played the role of 'High Value Airborne Asset' or HVAA. The F-16's where tasked to protect her high above the Ardennes. After succeeding in their mission, the captain for this final flight - who is himself an ex-349 pilot - , led the formation towards Brussels for a last fly-by.