Red Devils (Diables Rouges in French, Rode Duivels in Flemish) was a Belgian Air Force aerobatic display team which was disbanded in 1977. From the beginning in 1952 the team was named the Acrobobs but it changed to become the Red Devils in 1959. During its 25 years' existence as a jet display team they flew three different aircraft types, Gloster Meteor F Mk 8, Hawker Hunter F 6, and Fouga Magister. Due to the fuel crisis in the early 1970s the team's activities were so limited in scope and number that only two pilots flew in 1972 and three in 1973.
The team was reformed in 2011 as a prop display team flying the Siai-Marchetti SF.260 aircraft.
From a flight helmet view point it is interesting that four types of helmets have been identified as used by the Red Devils; P-3, P-4, HGU-2A/P single visor and HGU-2A/P with one-piece double visor. The P-3 helmet was used on Meteor and the initial years on the Hunter, P-4 was used in the late Hunter years and the P-3 was introduced again in 1965 when the team transferred to the French-built Fouga Magister. For the 1969 season the team received the single visor HGU-2A/P but already the following year they received the HGU-2A/P helmet with one-piece ramshorn dual visors.
All helmets over the years were marked at the back with the number of the pilot in the position, and the technicians' helmets were marked by a 'T'. In addition the double visor helmets usually had the pilot's first name or nickname painted on the visor cover in front.
The recent reforming of the team in 2011 is not interesting from a helmet view point as the pilots use headsets only.

P-3 and P-4 helmets (1952-1968)

Far left: The Acrobobs are inspected by the Belgian king Baudouin on 11 October 1956. The pilots are wearing
white flying suits donated by the Belgian aerospace company Avions Fairey. Their P-3 helmets have the standard
red-and-white checkerboard pattern and apparently red visor yokes (same grey shade as the checkerboard pattern).
Centre left: The Acrobob's leader, Robert 'Bobby' Bladt wearing a P-3 helmet. The picture is from an old 1950s
magazine and it looks as if it is a hand-coloured B/W picture or very crudely reproduced colour photo. The checker-
board pattern and the Meteor silhouettes are probably correctly reproduced as being red but the edgeroll may be
wrong. 
Centre: Ivan Deprins, leader of the Red Devils 1961-63 holding his P-3/P-4 helmet. The helmet has P-3
style communications with a French/British comms jack (not visible in this picture) but a P-4 style visor. Judging
from the various shades of grey, the checkerboard and visor yoke are red and the Hunter silhouettes black. Please
note that the Hunter silhouettes are pointed downwards (compare to René Girardin's helmet below).
Centre right: The 1959 Red Devils team. From left to right they are Thijs, Girardin, Jacobs, Debart, Deprins, Bladt, Tonet, Bodart, and Gaye.
Far right: René Girardin in the cockpit of a Red Devils Hunter in 1959. the helmet he is wearing is either a different one from the one shown below or the helmet has had a respray. The Hunter silhouettes are pointing downwards in this picture but upwards on the helmet below. Photo © via Vincent Pécriaux.

P-3 helmet from the Red Devils' Hunter era. This helmet was used by René Girardin so the number 3 at the back of
the helmet reveals that it was used in 1961-62. Note that the four Hunter silhouettes are pointed upwards (compare
to Ivan Deprins' helmet above). It is also noteworthy that the silhouettes are sprayed on rather crudely compared to
the meticulously hand-painted Fouga silhouettes on Capt. Verbrugghe's helmet below. Photos © Vincent Pécriaux


P-3 helmet from the Red Devils' Fouga era. This helmet belonged to one of the technicians, hence the letter 'T' in the
circle. The initials 'K.V.' on the neck strap (see the first picture) shows that the helmet belonged to Capt. K. Verbrugghe
(or Verbruggen), who was a technician with the team at least in the 1965-1968 period. The pilots' helmets would be
numbered according to their position in the formation. The aircraft silhouettes on the sides are Fouga Magister, the
French-built aircraft flown by the team. This also accounts for the French-standard communications plug on the pig-
tail comm cord. © Bluelight


Far left: The 1966 team with their P-3 helmets. By now the visor yokes are painted black. From left, standing:
J. Dewaelheyns, Roger Fagnoul, Paul Van Essche, Joseph Lelotte. From left, knealing: Xavier Delbecke, Wim Van
Meerten.
Centre left: No. 5 in the 1966 team, Xavier Delbecke, wearing a P-3 helmet.
Centre right: The 1967 team showing their helmets in a commendable way, at least from a research viewpoint. From
left, standing: A. Janssens, Roger Fagnoul. From left, knealing: R. Braken, Paul Van Essche, A. Malpas.
Far right: A close-up of the helmets.


Left: The 1968 team. From left to right: A. Janssens, M. Devos, Paul Van Essche, Joseph Lelotte, Roger Fagnoul.
Centre: Paul Van Essche, leader 1967-69, wearing a P-3 helmet.
Right: No helmets in this picture and no pilots either. The central person in the front row is Capt K. Verbrugghe,
the former owner of the P-3 helmet above.

HGU-2A/P single visor (1969)

Pictures of Red Devils 1969 team with single visor HGU-2A/P helmets. The helmets appear to have a glossy black
visor housing.
Left: The pilots seen from left to right are: Schmitz, Paul Van Essche, Bernier, M. Devos, Roger Fagnoul and
A. Janssens.
Centre: Seen from left to right: A. Janssens, Roger Fagnoul, Schmitz, Paul Van Essche, Bernier and M. Devos.
Right: A close-up of the helmets on the wing. Unfortunately they are not lined up in the correct order.

HGU-2A/P one-piece ramshorn dual visor (1970-1977)
HGU-2A/P helmets with one-piece ramshorn visors were used with two slightly different paint schemes. In one of them the round Red Devils patch on the side had one Magister silhouette and in the other there were four Magister silhouettes. Judging from available pictures the single Magister silhoette was used 1970-72 and the four silhouettes 1973-1977.

HGU-2A/P helmets with one-piece ramshorn visors and the colour scheme with only one Magister silhouette. Used in
the 1970-72 timeframe.
Left: The 1970 team with their newly acquired HGU-2A/P dual visor helmets. From left to right, standing: Henri
Dewasme (?), Paul 'Chris' Christiaens, Joseph Lelotte, Jan Fransen, Jean Ligot. From left to right, knealing: Danny Van
Belle, J.L. Herygers (?)
Centre: Joseph Lelotte, leader of the 1970 team.
Right: Jean-Pierre 'Bill' Scruel seen in the cockpit 1971.


Far left: No. 1 identifies this helmet as belonging to one of the team leaders, most likely Joseph Lelotte.
Centre left: The Red Devils VW microbus with helmets thrown in the back.
Centre, Centre right and Far right: Three pictures of Freddy 'Fred' Burniat, reserve pilot in 1971 and one of two
pilots flying in 1972.


HGU-2A/P helmets with one-piece ramshorn visors and the colour scheme with four Magister silhouettes. Used in the
1973-1977 timeframe.
Far left, centre left and centre: This helmet was apparently used by 'Paul'. At least three pilots named Paul flew
with the team, Paul Weymans (1961-1963), Paul Van Essche (1965-1969 and 1973) and Paul 'Chris' Christaens (1970-
1971). This helmet must have been used by Paul Van Essche in the limited 1973 appearance.
Centre right: The 1974 team. From left to right, standing: Luc Cravillon, Gérald Dessart, André 'Dede' Muller, Lucien
'Lulu' Servais. From left to right, knealing: Martial 'Stony' Vansteenkiste, Leo Lambermont, Guy Lambermont.
Far right: An unidentified Red Devil pilot in 1977.


Far left: The 1975 team lined up in front of one of the Fougas. On the plane from left to right: Lt André 'Dede'
Muller - Lt Charly Hubert. In the front left to right: Lt Gérald Dessart - Lt Martial 'Stony' Vansteenkiste - Cdt Leo
Lambermont (Ldr) - Lt Guy Lambermont - Lt Lucien 'Lulu' Servais.
Centre left: The 1976 team. From left to right, standing: Jean-Luc Storder, Martial 'Stony' Vansteenkiste, Charly
Hubert, Guy Lambermont. From left to right, knealing: Gérald Dessart, Leo Lambermont, Phil Demoulin.
Centre right: The 25 anniversary team in 1977. From left to right at the rear: Capt Jean Pierre 'Bill' Scruel - Capt
Charly Hubert - Lt Jean Breuls de Tiecken - Capt Guy Lambermont. From left to right at the front: Lt 'King' Lempereur
- Cdt Leo Lambermont - Lt Phil Demoulin.
Far right: Another view of the 1977 team. From left to right: Capt Jean Pierre 'Bill' Scruel - Lt 'King' Lempereur -
Capt Charly Hubert - Cdt Leo Lambermont - Lt Jean Breuls de Tiecken - Lt Phil Demoulin - Capt Guy Lambermont.

Red Devils pilots over the years
To assist in the identification of a helmet a list is provided below of all the team members over the years. In order not to be confused between different naming conventions family names are written in capital letters and nicknames in inverted commas. The pilots are listed in the order Lead, Right Wing, Left Wing, Slot and onwards. All photo evidence available suggests that this is also the order in which their helmets are numbered, i.e. right wing is apparently always No. 2.

On METEOR F Mk 8
1952 : 1) Robert 'Bobby' BLADT - 2) 'Bill' ONGENA - 3) 'Pol' DEWULF - 4) Ivan DEPRINS - HANSON (reserve)
1953 : 1) Robert 'Bobby' BLADT - 2) 'Bill' ONGENA - 3) 'Pol' DEWULF - 4) Ivan DEPRINS - Pierre TONET (reserve)
1954-1956 : 1) Robert 'Bobby' BLADT - 2) 'Bill' ONGENA - 3) Pierre TONET - 4) Ivan DEPRINS

On HUNTER F Mk 6
1957 : 1) Robert 'Bobby' BLADT' - 2) Pierre TONET - 3) BODART - 4) DOUMONT
1958 : 1) Robert 'Bobby' BLADT' - 2) BODART - 3) Ivan DEPRINS - 4) DOUMONT - 5) Pierre TONET (additionally from October Hadelin d'HOOP, GOOSSENS, François 'Susse' JACOBS and LESOIL)
1959 : 1) Robert 'Bobby' BLADT - 2) BODART - 3) Ivan DEPRINS - 4) M. THYS - 5) Michel DEBART - 6) René GIRARDIN - 7) GAYE - 8) Pierre TONET - 9) François 'Susse' JACOBS
1960(1) : 1) Robert 'Bobby' BLADT - 2) BODART - 3) Ivan DEPRINS - 4) M. THYS
1960(2) : 1) Robert 'Bobby' BLADT - 2) Michel DEBART - 3) Ivan DEPRINS - 4) BODART - René GIRARDIN (reserve)
1961-1962 : 1) Ivan DEPRINS- 2) Michel DEBART - 3) René GIRARDIN - 4) Hadelin D'HOOP - François J'Susse' JACOBS (Solo) - Paul WEYMANS (Reserve)
1963 : 1) Ivan DEPRINS- 2) Hadelin D'HOOP - 3) Pierre TONET - 4) Rene GIRARDIN - 5) Michel DEBART (?)

On FOUGA MAGISTER
1965(1) : 1) Jacques DEWAELHENS - 2) Paul VAN ESSCHE- 3) Joseph LELOTTE - 4) VAN D'HELSEN - 5) Roger FAGNOUL - Wim VAN MEERTEN (reserve)
1965(2) : 1) Jacques DEWAELHENS - 2) Paul VAN ESSCHE- 3) Joseph LELOTTE - 4) Wim VAN MEERTEN - 5) Roger FAGNOUL
1966 : 1) Jacques DEWAELHENS - 2) Paul VAN ESSCHE - 3) Joseph LELOTTE - 4) Roger FAGNOUL - 5) Xavier DELBECKE - Wim VAN MEERTEN (reserve)
1967(1) : 1) Paul VAN ESSCHE - 2) A. MALPAS - 3) R. BRAKEN - 4) Roger FAGNOUL - 5) A. JANSSENS- 6) Joseph LELOTTE
1967(2) : 1) Paul VAN ESSCHE - 2) A. MALPAS - 3) Joseph LELOTTE - 4) Roger FAGNOUL - 5) A. JANSSENS
1968(1) : 1) Paul VAN ESSCHE - 2) M. DEVOS - 3) Roger FAGNOUL - 4) A. JANSSENS - 5) A. MALPAS - 6) Joseph LELOTTE
1968(2) : 1) Paul VAN ESSCHE - 2) M. DEVOS - 3) Roger FAGNOUL - 4) A. JANSSENS - 5) Joseph LELOTTE
1969 : 1) Paul VAN ESSCHE - 2) M. DEVOS - 3) Roger FAGNOUL - 4) A. JANSSENS - 5) BERNIER - 6) SCHMITZ
1970 : 1) Joseph LELOTTE - 2) J.L. HERYGERS - 3) Jean LIGOT - 4) Paul 'Chris' CHRISTIAENS - 5) Jan FRANSEN - 6) Danny VAN BELLE- Henri DEWASME (reserve)
1971 : 1) Paul 'Chris' CHRISTIAENS - 2) Jean Pierre 'Bill' SCRUEL - 3) Jean-Paul BUYSE - 4) Danny VAN BELLE - 5) Jan FRANSEN - 6) Jean LIGOT - Freddy 'Fred' BURNIAT (reserve) - DELACUVELLERIE (reserve)
1972 : 1) Freddy 'Fred' BURNIAT - 2) Jean-Paul BUYSE.
1973 : 1) Paul VAN ESSCHE - 2) Andre 'Dede' MULLER - 3) Lucien 'Lulu' SERVAIS
1974 : 1) Leo 'Leo' LAMBERMONT - 2) Guy 'Guy' LAMBERMONT - 3) Lucien 'Lulu' SERVAIS - 4) Andre 'Dede' MULLER - 5) Martial 'Stony' VANSTEENKISTE - 6) Gerald 'Gerald' DESSART - Luc CRAVILLON (res)
1975 : 1) Leo 'Leo' LAMBERMONT - 2) Guy 'Guy' LAMBERMONT - 3) Lucien 'Lulu' SERVAIS - 4) Martial 'Stony' VANSTEENKISTE - 5) Gerald 'Gerald' DESSART - 6) Andre 'Dede' MULLER - Charly HUBERT (res)
1976 : 1) Leo 'Leo' LAMBERMONT - 2) Martial 'Stony' VANSTEENKISTE - 3) 'Phil' DEMOLIN - 4) Charly HUBERT - 5) Gerald DESSART - 6) Guy LAMBERMONT - Jean-Luc STORDER (reserve)
1977 : 1) Leo LAMBERMONT - 2) 'King' LEMPEREUR- 3) 'Phil' DEMOLIN- 4) Charly HUBERT - 5) Jean Pierre 'Bill' SCRUEL - 6) Guy LAMBERMONT - Jean BREULS DE TICKEN (reserve)