W.Pieters The Belgian Air Service in the First World War (Aeronaut)

It is obvious that meanwhile other Belgians were trying to create their own aircraft. Engineer Eugene Debongnie actually became one of the first Belgians to open a workshop for aircraft production at Nieuport in 1910, called Les etablissements Debongnie a Nieuport-Bains. His only aircraft, the Debongnie monoplane (the first such built in Belgium), was launched on the beach, only to fly some 50 meters. After each landing the aircraft was heavily damaged and rebuilt again. One of the most important financial supporters was Henri Crombez. Crombez later purchased an Anzani 18 h.p. to adapt to the Debongnie monoplane, again with minor success.