The 8th Annual meeting of the Belgian Aviation History Association, which was organised in the BAHAAT's "Broken Wings" Museum attracted over 50 members who were privileged to listen to the sometimes very emotional stories of two Flight Appui Feu pilots Frank Swietek and Guy Depypere. Both pilots flew armed Harvards during the Congolese rebellion in 1960 following the independence from Belgium.

Whilst Frank Swietek informed us about the general actions of the Harvard-pilots during this conflict, it was very silent in the museum when Guy Depypere told us about his crash landing after being shot down, and his miraculous escape thanks to a fellow pilot (who was killed by rebels afterwards), who landed his kite alongside the wreckage of Guy's airplane, drew him out of the crashed Harvard into his plane and took off.

From left to right: pilots Guy Vanderlinden, Guy Depypere
and Frank Swietek.

In the afternoon Major "Patja" Stams (CO of the Operational Conversion Unit at Kleine Brogel) gave the audience a taste of his formidable air-to-air photography and included some professional tips and tricks as an F-16 pilot/instructor. Frans Van Humbeek concluded with a very interesting lecture on the endangered Haren airport building and airfield heritage in general.

Besides these lecturers, we also had the privileged precence of General Van Caelenberghe, who will be Chief of Staff of the Belgian Air Component (as the Belgian Air Force is called no) as well as other fellow pilots.

Plans are already made to organise a next BAHA Meeting in Broken Wings in May or September 2006.