Field of Dreams - 2011 League of WWI Aviation Historians Conference - Post 3

The Belgian Air Service in the First World War - Presentation by Walter Pieters

Winning the award this year for the presenter who traveled the farthest, up next was Walter Pieters, who was in from Belgium. His presentation, "The Belgian Air Service in the First World War" goes along with his recent book by the same name. His book was part of the conversation Thursday night. For those who have seen it, read it and own it, it is said to be the first and last book on every detail pertaining to the Belgian air service during the war.

In his presentation, Walter worked through the history of the war, year by year, cited statistics, and used impressive photos and aircraft profiles. Along the way, Pieters was able to cite some of the humorous animosity between the Belgians and the French during the war which still exist today.

Since the Belgian air force was rather small, Pieters was able, in a short, time to provide a wide spectrum of war-time operations - including European and African theatres of conflict.