Second World War
Forming the 10th Wing
Thunderjet period
Thunderstreak period
F-104G Starfighter period
F-16 Fighting Falcon period

Thunderstreak period

March, 1956:
Pilots of the 2nd Wing and USAF deliver the first F-84F Thunderstreaks to the 10th Wing.
August,1956:
The last F-84E Thunderjet leaves the Wing.
September, 1956:
The last F-84G Thunderjet leaves the Wing.
December 27, 1956:
The 27th Sqn is additionally tasked as ‘OTU F-84F’ (Operational Training Unit): it becomes responsible for training young pilots as fighter bomber pilots on F-84F.
Januari 14, 1957:
Lt. Col. Demey assumes command of the 10th JB Wing (JB stands for Fighter Bomber).
October 15, 1958:
Lt. Col. Peeters assumes command of the 10th JB Wing.
April 16, 1959:
His Majesty King Boudewijn pays a visit to the 10th JB Wing.
May, 1959:
Under supervision of American instructors, the special training for nuclear operations is started.
August, 1959:
The last flights of the Oxfords are conducted. One ends up in the War Museum, Brussels, the others are sold as scrap.
Januari 6, 1960:
The 31st Sqn is the last squadron to perform the yearly gunnery training at Sylt.
Juli 19, 1960:
At 3 o’clock in the early morning a C-119 ‘Flying Boxcar’ CP-36 of the 15th Transport Wing leaves the airfield of Bujumbura (Burundi) for Bunia (Congo). On board a crew of five and a 40 men strong platoon VVE (Airfield Defense Unit). This platoon is composed of active duty personnel and conscripts of the 10th Wing. Halfway in the flight, one of the engines fails and burns out. The remaining engine however does not provide sufficient power to pass over the mountains at Sake Massisi. The airplane crashes into the mountainside and catches fire. The entire crew and 36 passengers perish. Only four conscripts survive.
August 21, 1960:
Lt. Col. Mathijs assumes command of the 10th JB Wing.
October 13, 1960:
Drastic changes are carried out in the Wing. The 27th Sqn is dissolved as an operational squadron and is reorganized to be an operational training unit only. It is assigned fifteen aircraft only while the operational squadrons 23 and 31 have 20 jets each.
1961:
A “Quick Reaction Alert” (QRA) system is implemented to counter conventional attacks. The assigned aircraft are manned 24 hours a day, fully loaded and armed, ready to be scrambled on a moments notice.
Januari 9, 1961:
As first squadron of the Wing the 23rd Sqn deploys to Solenzara (Corsica) to practice its yearly gunnery training.
February 13, 1961:
The 31st Sqn completes its yearly gunnery training at Solenzara.
August, 1961:
A Stampe and Vertongen SV4b is assigned to the Wing.
June 4, 1962:
The 27th OTU is dissolved. During its lifetime it trained 133 pilots assigned to fighter squadrons of Florennes and Kleine-Brogel to operational status on F-84F.
As remembrance, the squadron colors blue/white are applied to the rudder of all F-84Fs together with those of the remaining squadrons: red/white of the 23rd and yellow/black of the 31st Sqn. The squadron codes on the forward fuselage are replaced by the registration number of the airplane and the squadron colors on nose and wingtips disappear.
June 18, 1962:
The dissolving of the Fighter School in the Training Command results in the creation of a Flight VZZ (Flying without visibility) at Kleine- Brogel equipped with T-33s coming from Brustem Airbase. This Flight takes over the responsibility for the training and standardizing of instrument flying.
June 29, 1962:
Two 31 Sqn pilots participate in the first NATO Tactical Weapons Meet (TWM) at Saint-Dizier, France.
This event will later evolve into the Tactical Air Meet (TAM).
August 22, 1962:
The 31st Sqn participates for the first time in the NATO Tiger Meet. It is the second edition of this meeting and is organized by the 79th TFS (Tactical Fighter Squadron) of the 81st Fighter Wing USAFE (United States Air Forces in Europe) at Woodbridge (GB).

1963:
The USAFE transfers the 0600 detachment to the 10th JB Wing. This detachment is part of the 306th Munitions Maintenance Squadron. Their mission is to manage and control special munitions until release orders are issued.
Januari 15, 1963:
Col. Desmet assumes command of the 10th JB Wing.
June 1, 1963:
A new NATO doctrine dictates the dispersal of resources to avoid total destruction in case of enemy attack. Command and all services not directly essential to flight operations are moved to Helchteren Barracks.
August 27, 1963:
The third edition of the NATO Tiger Meet is organized at Kleine-Brogel by the 31st Squadron.
November 14, 1963:
Airbase Chièvres takes over the task of the Flight VZZ. The T-33s move to Chièvres.
March 20, 1964:
The Maintenance Flight of the 31st Sqn is dissolved due to a centralization of aircraft maintenance within the Wing.
April 6, 1966:
The last F-84F Thunderstreak leaves the Wing and is flown to the Koksijde aircraft depot by Senior Captain Van De Velde.