Although Belgium was neutral as the initial attacks of World War I were launched, it was soon invaded by Germany and partially overrun. The
Belgian Air Force had been founded in 1909, and now found itself struggling to survive and expand under these severe conditions. Nevertheless, the tiny Belgian Air Force produced five
flying aces
A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...
, and a sixth one flew for the French
''Aéronautique Militaire''. The leading Belgian ace was also the premier
balloon buster of the war.
*
Willy Coppens
Willy Omer François Jean baron Coppens de Houthulst (6 July 1892 – 21 December 1986) was Belgium's leading fighter ace and the champion "balloon buster" of World War I. He was credited with 37 confirmed victories and six probables.
Early ...
– 37 confirmed aerial victories.
*
Andre de Meulemeester – 11 confirmed aerial victories.
*
Edmond Thieffry – 10 confirmed aerial victories.
*
Fernand Jacquet
Captain-Commandant Fernand Maximillian Leon Jacquet was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories. He was the first Belgian pilot to score an aerial victory, on 17 April 1915, and became the first Belgian ace on 1 February 1917 ...
– 7 confirmed aerial victories.
*
Adolphe DuBois d'Aische – 6 confirmed aerial victories.
*
Jan Olieslagers – 6 confirmed aerial victories.
See also
*
Aerial victory standards of World War I
Aerial may refer to:
Music
* ''Aerial'' (album), by Kate Bush
* ''Aerials'' (song), from the album ''Toxicity'' by System of a Down
Bands
* Aerial (Canadian band)
* Aerial (Scottish band)
*Aerial (Swedish band)
Performance art
*Aerial silk ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:World War I Aces From Belgium, List Of
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
Lists of Belgian military personnel