First operational flight

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Whilst it could be possable to find out which aircraft of the German airforce flew the first combat operational flight, which would could lay claim to the first aircraft in action as they were very active over a wide area in obsevation and reconnisance, the first allied operational flight is known.
On the day that Great Britain declared war on Germany, 4th August 1914, corporal Jan Olieslagers of the 1ere Escadrille Belgian Army made the first operational flight over the advancing German Troops.

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Using his own Bleriot XI he flew repeated recon missions over the advancing german forces. he was born in 1883 in Antwerp and from very young showed a apptitude for all things mechanical, at 17 he took up motorbike racing, and won his first major contest in 1900, he went to live in Paris and raced all over Europe. In 1908 he turned his attention to flying and bought a Blerlot, and taught himself to fly. he became a world known pilot competing in almost every major air disply. On 1st of August he put himself, aircraft and his mechanics at the disposal of belgium, and was excepted into the Belguim army as corporal. he flew operational through out the war with No1 SQN where he often flew in his nieuport and later a Sopwith Camel on lone patrols. In march 1915 he was commisened as 2nd Lieutenant and about this time cliamed his first victory. Olieslagers was not a person to seek publicity and although credited with 6 victorys there was no secret with in the belguim army that he had in fact acheived many more over enemy territory.

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Olieslagers had remained right behind the frontlines, flying everyday for 4 years, holding an incredable record of flying from the 1st to the last days of the war.
lieutenant Jan Olieslagers left the army soon after the armistice and returned to Antwerp. He died ib 1942 honoured throughout belguim as a great man and superb pilot.

bet not many of you have heared of him!