30e Escadre de Chasse

Last updated
30e Escadre de Chasse
30th Hunter Escadre
30e EC.jpg
Insignia of the Escadre
Active3 September 2015 - present
CountryFlag of France.svg  France
Branch Roundel of France.svg French Air and Space Force
Type Fighter aircraft
Size4 Squadrons
1 Center
1 Inter-arm Team
Part of Fighter Brigade
Equipment Dassault Mirage 2000
Dassault Rafale

The 30e Escadre de Chasse or 30th Hunter Escadre (French : 30e Escadre de Chasse) is a wing of the Fighter Brigade of the French Air and Space Force. It consists of several flying squadrons and support units.

Contents

History

Vautour IIN of the 2/30. Vautour230normandieweb.jpg
Vautour IIN of the 2/30.
A Mirage F1 of the actual Escadron de Chasse 2/30 Normandie-Niemen (French: Escadron de Chasse 2/30 Normandie-Niemen ) and another Mirage of the actual Escadron de Chasse 3/30 Lorraine (French: Escadron de Chasse 3/30 Lorraine ) in 1986 armed with Matra R530. Both respective squadron insignias are visible on the aircraft. Two French air force Dassault Mirage F1C aircraft.jpg
A Mirage F1 of the actual Escadron de Chasse 2/30 Normandie-Niemen (French : Escadron de Chasse 2/30 Normandie-Niemen ) and another Mirage of the actual Escadron de Chasse 3/30 Lorraine (French : Escadron de Chasse 3/30 Lorraine ) in 1986 armed with Matra R530. Both respective squadron insignias are visible on the aircraft.
F1C of the 2/30 Normandie-Niemen at the Salon du Bourget in 1975. Dassault Mirage F1C 50 30-MB LEB 07.06.75 edited-2.jpg
F1C of the 2/30 Normandie-Niemen at the Salon du Bourget in 1975.
Mirage F1B of the 1/30 Alsace bearing a special decoration for the 65th Anniversary (1941-2006) of the Escadron (Squadron). AMD Mirage F.1B EC.01.030 ALSACE BA132 Colmar-Meyenheim 518 30-SR Special marks Colmar EC.01.030 (2999499300).jpg
Mirage F1B of the 1/30 Alsace bearing a special decoration for the 65th Anniversary (1941-2006) of the Escadron (Squadron).

Tours

Representing the traditions of the Night Hunter Fighter Group 1/31- Groupe de Chasse de Nuit 1/31 Lorraine, the 30th Mixed Instruction and Night Hunter Escadre - 30e Escadre Mixte d'Instruction et de Chasse de Nuit was created on 1 May 1953 on the base of Tours. Flying the Gloster Meteor NF.11, the latter comprised three night hunter fighter squadrons : Escadron de Chasse de Nuit (ECN) 1/30 Loire, Escadron de Chasse de Nuit 2/30 Camargue , Escadron de Chasse de Nuit 3/30 Lorraine. The "Camargue" possessed a couple of Meteor Mk.7 for the transformation of new pilots on the English jet. As of 1957, the Escadre passed to Vautour IIN and became an all-weather fighter wing - the 30e Escadre de Chasse Tout Temps on 1 May 1957. During the same time, the Camargue Squadron was dissolved.

At Reims on Vautour

With the return from Morocco of the Hunter Fighter Pilot School (French : l'Ecole de Chasse) which left Aerial Base 708 Meknes (French : Meknès ) and moved to Tours Air Base, the 30th Escadre moved to Reims, however the latter's squadrons were spread over three bases. Between October 1961 and July 1962, the "1/30 Loire" was attached to the 10e Escadre de Chasse (French : 10e Escadre de Chasse ) at Aerial Base 110 Creil (French : Creil ). The "3/30 Lorraine" garrisoned at Reims. The 2/6 Normandie-Niemen left the Aerial Base 141 Oran la Sénia (French : Oran la Sénia ) for Aerial Base 115 Orange-Caritat (French : Orange ), where the later became the 2/30 Normandie-Niemen.

In July 1965 the "1/30 Loire", which had garrisoned at Reims since August 1962, was dissolved.

One year later the "2/30" left Orange to move to Reims.

The two squadrons of the 30e Escadre flew on Vautour IIN until 1973.

On Mirage F1C

On 20 December 1973 the seven Mirage F1C arrived at Reims to equip the 2/30 Normandie-Niemen. The 30e ECTT became then the 30e Escadre de Chasse (30e EC).

Following the dissolution of the 10e Escadre de Chasse and the closure of the Aerial Base of Creil in June 1985, the Hunter Fighter Squadron - Escadron de Chasse 1/10 Valois recently transformed on Mirage F1C garrisoned at Reims and became the "1/30 Valois".

The 30e EC accordingly possessed three Hunter Fighter Squadrons, each equipped with 15 single-seat Mirage F1C.

On 1 July 1988 the "3/10 Vexin" on the Aerial Base of Djibouti, on Mirage F1C, was attached to the 30e Escadre while assuming the denomination of "4/30 Vexin".

In July 1988 the "3/30" inherited pilots on the Mirage F1 from the transformation mission (until then reserved for the Fighter Hunter Squadron -Escadron de chasse 3/5 Comtat Venaissin (French : Escadron de chasse 3/5 Comtat Venaissin ) on Aerial Base 115 Orange-Caritat). The squadron gained the enrichment of the third Escadrille (SPA 62) and Mirage F1B biplaces.

The end

The 30e Escadre de Chasse was dissolved on the Aerial Base of Reims on 27 June 1994. The "1/30 Valois" was dissolved the same day, while the other three squadrons kept for a couple more years their inherited enumeration of the "30".

The recreation

The 30e Escadre de Chasse was reformed on the Aerial Base 118 Mont-de-Marsan (French : base de Mont-de-Marsan ) on 3 September 2015. The Escadre is equipped with multi-role hunters (French : chasseurs) Dassault Rafale.

Composition

As of 9 September 2015 the 30e Escadre is composed of the following units: [1]

Historic Squadrons

Loire

Camargue

Lorraine

Normandie-Niémen

Valois

Vexin

Air Bases

Aircraft

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References

  1. ↑ "TRADITIONS 2016 - Page 3 - Delta Reflex".
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