The Belgian Air Force began sending navigator trainees to the United States Air Force as part of its broader pilot and aircrew training collaboration, especially under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program (MDAP) starting in the early 1950s. While the exact start date for navigator-specific training isn’t clearly documented, navigators officially joined the Silver Wings Association—the group of Belgian aircrew trained by the USAF—in January 2010, marking their formal recognition within the community. Navigator training was provided in the T29A and later T43A (modified Boeing 737).
