Roll out today at Florennes airbase from the 1st Squadron new commemorative F-16AM (serial FA-57) - Scottish Thistle 105 years.
Established in 1913 at Braschaat near Antwerp, the unit was officially designated 1st Fighter Squadron on February 22nd, 1916. In late Summer of 1917 - so 105 years ago - following a proposal from the Belgian WWI ace André de Meulemeester (aka "The Eagle of Flanders") the Scottish Thistle became the emblem from the unit with the appropriate latin motto: "Nemo me impune lacessit" which usually translates into "No one provokes me with impunity". Based at that time in France at Les Moëres airfield, the squadron had as neighbours Battalions from a Scots Guards Regiment of the British Army with which brotherhood links had been established. This explains that.
V.P.