The Aviation Magazine No 57 Special Edition 2018 Volume 9 Issue 4 | Page 14

A brief history of the Stingers started with when a Royal Decree was
issued on 16 April, 1913 for the Compagnie des Aviateurs (Flying Corps) the
forerunner of the Belgian Air Force. Thus the Escadrille 1 (Squadron 1) was
formed, initially with four units, they were based at Brasschaat, north of Ant-
werp.
However, the 1 Squadron, known as the 1ère Escadrille de Chasse (1st Fighter
Squadron) at the time, elected their starting date from August 1917 when they
were equipped with the Hanriot-Dupont HD.1, and with a number of Sopwith
Camels Fighters, as illustrated on the right page.