Jan Olieslagers
| Jan Olieslagers | |
|---|---|
Jan Olieslagers 1909
|
|
| Nickname(s) | The Antwerp Devil |
| Born |
4 May 1883 Antwerp, Belgium |
| Died | 23 March 1942 (aged 58) Antwerp, Belgium |
| Allegiance |
 Belgium
|
| Service/branch |
 Belgian Air Component
|
| Years of service | 1914 - 1919 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | 2me Escadrille de Chasse, 5me Escadrille de Chasse, 1ère Escadrille de Chasse, 9ème Escadrille de Chasse |
| Awards | Order of Leopold II, Croix de Guerre, French Legion d'Honneur and Croix de Guerre, Russian Order of Saint Stanilas |
| Other work | Developed Antwerp airport |
Lieutenant Jan Olieslagers was a Belgian motorcycle and aviation pioneer who set world records with both types of machinery. He became a flying ace during World War I despite his indifference in claiming victories; he was credited with six confirmed victories, seventeen unconfirmed, and an unknown number unclaimed. He later was instrumental in developing Antwerp's airport.
Lieutenant Jan Olieslagers turned in his bicycle to become an early motorcycle speed record holder; he was the first to go 100 kilometers (62 mi) per hour, and was 1902 World Champion. In 1909, he purchased a Blériot monoplane, receiving Pilot's Brevet No. 5 in October. In 1910, he won the Meeting d'Aviation de Rheims. By 1913, he had set seven world aviation records. In June 1914, he proved himself as good an aerobaticist as Roland Garros.
At the beginning of World War I, when the Germans invaded his native Belgium, the German government tried to enlist Olieslagers in aerial observation duties. He volunteered himself and his Blériot XI airplane to his nation's military, as did his two brothers, Jules and Max. Jan Olieslagers was promoted to Sergeant, then commissioned before the end of 1914.
On 5 January 1915, he crashlanded, injuring his left arm and leg, as well as his chest. On 12 September, he became the first Belgian pilot, as well as one of the first pilots overall, to claim an aerial victory, when he forced down an Aviatik C.I. At the time, he was flying a Nieuport 10 dubbed le Demon, which was the only craft in the Belgian air force painted with camouflage markings and the outside circle of the roundels inscribed in black.
He then had a string of four unconfirmed claims before he traded his Nieuport 10 for a Nieuport 11. He scored his second confirmed victory on 17 June 1916, destroying a Fokker D.II over Pijpegale, Belgium. Seven more unconfirmed claims for aerial victories while flying the Nieuport 11 closed out 1917.
Olieslagers seems to have begun 1917 with a newer Nieuport, but with two more unconfirmed victories in his newly acquired Hanriot HD.1. Then, on 14 June, he destroyed a German reconnaissance plane over Schore. The following day, he scored for the fourth time, setting a Fokker D. II afire over Keiem. Two more unconfirmed wins followed. Then, on 4 November 1917, he fainted while flying and crashed onto Les Moeres aerodrome. He was taken to hospital in a coma, but aroused a few days later.
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