The Swiss military first acquired aircraft in 1911, but it was not until 31 July 1914 that the Fliegertruppe was formed. The flying element initially was based at Bern-Beudenfeld, but later moved to Dubendorf. This force inherited several aircraft that had been purchased earlier by the military such as the French Dufaux biplanes.

During WW1 three types of aircraft were designed and built at the Eidg. Konstruktionswerkstätte Thun – the twin boom Häfeli DH-1, and the tractor biplanes Häfeli DH-2 and DH-3. These machines were designed by the Swiss born Ing. August Häfeli, who returned to his homeland in 1916 after having been chief engineer at Ago in Germany where he designed the Ago C.I pusher. Another factory, Wild Flugzeugbau, was set up at Dubendorf, where Ing. R Wild produced several series of trainers.

At the end of WW1 there were 68 aircraft serving – with a further 27 on order. In 1920, the first basic training course for airmen started. Within four years, the Swiss military aviation consisted of a total of 6 fighter companies and 12 observation companies – totalling 234 aircraft. The main task of this still young branch was the aerial combat and the reconnaissance. It was only in the mid thirties when the ground attack was also trained. This new mission lead to the procurement of the Fokker C V biplane and the Swiss developped C 35 and later C 36.

At the end of WW1 there were 68 aircraft serving – with a further 27 on order. In 1920, the first basic training course for airmen started. Within four years, the Swiss military aviation consisted of a total of 6 fighter companies and 12 observation companies – totalling 234 aircraft.

Swiss aircraft were initially unserialled in the earliest years of military aviation from 1910 to 1914. A system of serials was introduced in August of that year, consisting of two digits and commencing with 21, the numbers 1-20 being reserved for aircraft used prior to 1914. Serials were added to in order of aircraft acquisition, and were marked in large Black characters on the fuselage sides in most cases.

Switzerland adopted its national flag of a White cross on a Red square as the insignia for its military aircraft, and this was applied as large as possible on the wings and tail of all aircraft, with the exception of one or two of the earliest types. Additionally, some pusher types such as the Farman F.20 and the locally built Häfeli DH-1 wore the flag on their nacelle noses.

During 1917, three digit serials were introduced and began to be applied in blocks. For example, the home designed and built Wild series of trainers were allocated serials in the range 133 to 175. It is probable that earlier examples of the Wild trainers wore serials in the range 33 to 40, with the Häfeli DH-1 wearing 41 to 46 and the DH-2 with 48 to 53.

The system of three digits led to these becoming 133-140, 241-246 and 348-353, leaving several early acquisitions, such as No. 47 (a Farman F.20) curiously out of numerical sequence. The system was soon rationalised, with serials upwards of 401 and 501 ranges being reserved for locally built aircraft. Serials of 601 and 701 upwards were respectively allocated for fighters and army cooperation types. The system was again expanded in 1928, with aircraft built under French licence being allocated the now defunct 201 series, and again in 1931 with Dutch Fokker aircraft being allocated serials in the 301 series.

At the end of WW1 there were 68 aircraft serving – with a further 27 on order. In 1920, the first basic training course for airmen started. Within four years, the Swiss military aviation consisted of a total of 6 fighter companies and 12 observation companies – totalling 234 aircraft. The main task of this still young branch was the aerial combat and the reconnaissance. It was only in the mid thirties when the ground attack was also trained. This new mission lead to the procurement of the Fokker C V biplane and the Swiss developped C 35 and later C 36.

At the outbreak of WW2, the Fliegertruppe only had 96 fighters and 138 reconnaissance and ground attack aircraft. Of the 21 units, only 3 were equipped with up-to-date material and five did not even had a single aircraft on strenght. During the next six years, the Fliegertruppe flew a total of 237'393 hours and intercepted numerous foreign aircraft.

A short overview of the foreign aircraft to land or crash on Swiss ground is also available on this site.

After WW2, the Fliegertruppe continued to be modernised and subsequently became the first all-jet front-line airforce. Major procurements were the DH.100 Vampire, the DH.112 Venom followed by the Hawker Hunter and the Dassault Mirage III.