| Escadrille N 65 - SPA 65 | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1915 |
| Country |  France |
| Branch |  French Air Service |
| Type | Fighter Squadron |
| Engagements |  World War I |
Escadrille 65 of the French Air Force was established during World War I. It was founded at Lyon-Bron Airport on 2 August 1915.
Though it was equipped with a mixed bag of aircraft, it was designated as Escadrille C 65 for its Caudron G.IVs. It was assigned to VII Armee of the French Army on 24 October 1915. It was re-equipped in its entirety with Nieuports, and was redesignated Escadrille N 65 on 21 February 1916. In June 1916, it was consolidated into an ad hoc Groupe de Combat that was based at Cachy. Other escadrilles within the Groupe were N3 , N37 , N62 , N73 , and N103 . In early November 1916, Escadrille N65 was reassigned into Groupe de Combat 13 . GC 13 also contained Escadrille N67 , Escadrille N112 , and Escadrille N.124 . [1]
On 5 December 1916, Escadrille N 65 received its first citation. As 1917 began, the escadrille was operating a mixture of Spad VIIs and Nieuport 17s . On 17 March 1917, the unit was detached from GC 13 to support VI Armee in the Second Battle of the Aisne. The escadrille rejoined GC 13 on 3 June 1917. In July, it moved to support the 1er Armee in Flanders. It was reassigned to II Armee on 11 August 1917. The following month, the escadrille moved once again, to support VI Armee. The flying unit's second citation came through on 16 November 1917, lauding them for downing 68 enemy aircraft and five observation balloons. This second citation entitled the unit's members to the fourragere of the Croix de Guerre . [1]
The Summer of 1918 saw Escadrille 65 subsumed into ever larger units. GC 13 was consolidated into Escadre de Combat No. 2; it in turn was assigned to 1er Division Aerienne. The escadrille continued its valorous service. It was cited twice in September 1918, on the 10th and 19th. The unit's personnel won the right to wear the fourragere of the Medaille Militare . Escadrille 65 ended the war credited with 108 enemy aircraft destroyed. [1]
Escadrille 65 continues its service in the current French Air Force.[ citation needed ]
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 26 is a squadron of the French Air Force founded in 1914 and still active today.
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 67 of the French Air Force was founded at Lyon-Bron Airport during the First World War, on 17 September 1915. On 24 September, they were assigned to the IV Armee of the French Army. By late October, the escadrille was assigned to the defense of Verdun.
Escadrille 15 is one of the oldest units of the French Air Force, which was founded on 22 August 1912 at Reims, France, and is still active.
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.
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 46 was a highly decorated French World War bombing squadron. Although serving ordinarily as a reconnaissance and bombardment role, they also flew as gunships to escort bombing missions. The squadron was credited with destroying 37 German aircraft.
Escadrille Spa.86 was a French Air Force fighter squadron active from 6 April 1917 through the end of World War I. They served as a component of Groupe de Combat 14, and were Cited in orders on 28 October 1918 for having downed 30 German aircraft.
Escadrille Spa.81 was a French fighter squadron active in World War warfare during 1917 and 1918. With nine flying aces in its ranks, it downed 88 German aircraft. It was twice Cited in orders and entitled to the Fourragere of the Croix de Guerre.
Escadrille Spa.97 was a French fighter squadron active during the World War I years of 1917 and 1918. It was credited with destroying 17 enemy airplanes and eight observation balloons.
Escadrille Spa.77 was a French fighter and photo reconnaissance squadron active from 1916 to 1918 during the First World War. They were credited with the destruction of 34 German airplanes and observation balloons, as well as extensive photo intelligence coverage of enemy positions.
Escadrille Spa.88 was a French fighter squadron active for the final 20 months of the First World War. It spent 1918 as part of Groupe de Combat 13, being Mentioned in dispatches three times, granted the Fourragere of the Croix de Guerre, and credited with 32 enemy airplanes and four observation balloons destroyed.
Escadrille Spa.76 was a French fighter and reconnaissance squadron active during the First World War years of 1916 to 1918. Cited for taking more than 3,000 aerial photographs for military intelligence purposes, the unit was also credited with destroying 26 German aircraft.
 | This article about a specific French military unit is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |