Jan Olieslagers 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 . Pre - World War I activities . Lieutenant Jan Olieslagers turned in his bicycle to become an early motorcycle speed record holder ; he was the first to go 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 . World War I . 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 . Aerial activities . 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 . He returned to flight duty in January 1918 , but would not score again until 3 May . On that day , he had one of two claims confirmed . On the 19th , he would set an Albatros D . V aflame over Woumen for his last official victory , although he would have one more unverified win . Professional conduct . As if Olieslagers ' poor record of approvals was not sufficient to keep his score low , he also habitually took the fight to the Germans and was indifferent to the paperwork to staking claims . Although he submitted one combat report on 30 March 1916 for a witnessed triumph behind enemy lines , which went unverified for lack of an officer ' s confirmation , he usually did not bother with claims for wins behind the German lines . Jan Olieslagers seldom took leave , although he did go visit Colonel Isaac Newton Lewis , the machine gun inventor , in London on many occasions . He tended to busy himself around his home aerodrome and the airplanes assigned to him . He habitually broke in rookie pilots , cushioning their entry into the deadly art of aerial warfare . Aerial career summary . Olieslagers was an excellent pilot ; he had his brother Jules for a talented mechanic . The combination usually meant a reliable airplane under the ace , but on 9 November 1918 , engine problems brought Jan Olieslagers down in a field near Eeklo . It was his 518th and final combat sortie ; he had fought in 97 dogfights over a four - year stretch . Post World War I . Olieslagers was not demobilized until 23 September 1919 . He returned home , and opened a garage . On 1 April 1921 , he was pensioned off as a reserve Lieutenant . He had not ceased working for his nation ; in 1923 , he was largely responsible for the opening of the new Antwerp airport . Even today , his statue stands by the entrance . When Jan Olieslagers died of cancer on 23 March 1942 , Belgium was once again occupied by the Germans . Although the Nazis had banned both the playing of the Belgian national anthem and the display of the Belgian flag , as a mark of his nation ' s regard , Olieslagers ' casket was defiantly draped with the flag he had served so well , while the Belgian National Hymn was played in his honor .