| Escadrille MS 26 - N 26 - SPA 26 | |
|---|---|
 Nieuport 11 | |
| Active | August 1914 |
| Country |  France |
| Branch |  French Air Service |
| Type | Pursuit Squadron |
| Engagements |  World War I |
Escadrille 26 is a squadron of the French Air Force founded in 1914 and still active today.
Escadrille 26 was founded on 26 August 1914, at Arras. It was originally equipped with Morane-Saulnier aircraft, leading to its designation as Escadrille MS26. It went into action attached to VI Armée of the French ground forces until 24 September 1914; it then switched bases to the Kingdom of Belgium. [1]
During 1915, it re-armed with Nieuport 11s , and became Escadrille N26. In June 1916, it moved to Cachy to join an improvised formation, Groupe de Combat de la Somme. This groupe initially consisted of three other units in addition to Escadrille N26— Escadrille N3 , Escadrille N103 , and Escadrille N73 and became the famous Fighter Squadron Storks (Escadrille des Cigognes) . Command of the groupe was granted to Capitaine Antonin Brocard. On 1 November 1916, the groupe was formalized as Groupe de Combat 12 , Brocard commanding. [1]
On 16 April 1917, GC 12 switched from VIII Armée's theater of operations to that of X Armée and VII Armée; they were then involved in the Second Battle of the Aisne. During July 1917, the escadrille moved to Flanders to aid 1er Armée. On 11 December 1917, it would return to VII Armée. As the year ended, the escadrille restocked with SPADs , becoming Escadrille SPA 26. [1]
In January 1918, SPA 26 was posted to IV Armée. It moved to VI Armée in March, and X Armée in June. It began July 1918 with V Armée, and moved to 1er Armée on the 29th. On 18 September 1918, the escadrille was posted back to IV Armée, and remained there until war's end. [1]
On 12 January 1919, Escadrille SPA 26 was cited by IV Armée for the destruction of 51 enemy aircraft and the disability of 70 more. [1]
Escadrille SPA 26 is still current in today's French Air Force.
Escadrille 3Les Cigognes was a famous French aviation unit during the World War I. It was often referred to as the 'Stork Escadrille N3' due to its insignia. Pilots from Groupe de Combat 12 adopted the name and placed images of storks in different phases of flying on their planes.
Escadrille 103 of the French Air Force was an elite aviation unit on the Western Front during World War I. One of its many aces, René Fonck was the highest scoring Allied fighter-pilot.
Escadrille 12 of the French Air Force was formed in 1912 and known for introducing Nieuport aircraft to the World War I air combat.
Escadrille 73 of the French Air Force originated at Corcieux on 23 May 1915 as Detachment N 49 during the World War I.
Escadrille 62 is a French Air Force squadron. It was founded on 11 August 1915 at Lyon–Bron Airport.
Escadrille 65 of the French Air Force was established during World War I. It was founded at Lyon-Bron Airport on 2 August 1915.
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Escadrille 23 of the French Air Force was formed at Brie on 4 August 1914.
Escadrille 31 of the French Air Force was founded at the beginning of the World War I, on 24 September 1914, at Dijon Air Base. Once equipped with Morane-Saulnier Ns, it was posted to I Armee of the French Army.
Escadrille 37 of the French Air Force was established at Chateauford, France in January 1915. Its original equipment of Morane-Saulniers led to its original designation of Escadrille MS 37.
Groupe de Combat 11 of the French Air Force was founded on 1 November 1916, being formed by consolidating Escadrilles 12, 31, 48, and 57.
Escadrille SPA.48 was a unit of the French Air Force during World War I.
Escadrille 57 of the French Air Force was founded during World War I, on 10 May 1915.
Escadrille 38, variously known as Escadrille MS38, Escadrille N38, or Escadrille SPA38, was a French fighter squadron founded on 8 January 1915. Fighting until the 11 November 1918 armistice, they were responsible for downing 98 German aircraft in aerial combat.
Escadrille Spa49 was a squadron of the French Air Services active during World War I, from 1915 - 1918. Credited with 37 aerial victories over German aircraft, it won a unit citation on 8 November 1918.
Escadrille Spa80 was a French fighter squadron active during World War I, from 13 December 1916 to 11 November 1918. It was credited with 23 aerial victories.
Escadrille Spa.112 was a French air force squadron active for the near-entirety of World War I. After serving until mid-1917 in various iterations of a bombing squadron, they were re-equipped with Nieuport fighters. With their Nieuports, and their subsequent SPADs, they destroyed 28 enemy airplanes by the ceasefire.
Escadrille Spa.68 was a French fighter squadron active from Autumn 1915 until the Armistice that ended World War I. It was equipped with a mixed lot of Nieuports until they were gradually replaced by SPADs in November 1917. The squadron was one of four bundled into Groupe de Combat 20 in February 1918. By war's end, Escadrille Spa.68 was credited with the destruction of 15 enemy aircraft.
Escadrille Spa.561 was a French First World War fighter squadron dedicated to defending Venice, Italy from aerial attack. Stemming from a six plane detachment assigned to Venice's defense on 15 August 1915, after its foundation in June 1916, Escadrille Spa. 561 would defend Venice until 1 January 1918. Detached then to support the French X Armee during its sojourn in Italy, the squadron remained on the peninsula after the X Armee had returned to France. By war's end, Escadrille Spa.561 was credited with destroying 12 enemy aircraft and four observation balloons.