Escadron de Chasse 1/7 Provence

The Escadron de Chasse or Fighter Squadron 1/3 Navarre or EC 1/7 Provence (Escadron de Chasse 1/7 Provence) is a French Air Force fighter squadron currently stationed at Al Dhafra Air Base since June 24 2016.

In 2006 it was the first unit to fly the Dassault Rafale. The Squadron’s aircraft are marked 113-HA to 113-HZ.

Designations and different nominations

 * Groupe de Chasse I/7 : from 1932 until October 1942
 * Groupe de Chasse I/7 Provence : from November 1 1943 until July 1 1947
 * Groupe de Chasse I/1 Provence : from July 1 1947 until November 17 1951
 * Escadron de Chasse 1/7 Provence : as of March 1 1962

Origins until the Second World War
The EC 1/7 Provence originated as Groupe de Chasse 1/7 GC 1/7 (Hunter Group) Dijon in 1932 which itself traces its origin back to two World War I wings: SPA 15 (Casque de Bayard) and SPA 77 (Croix de Jérusalem). In January 1939 the fighter group 1/7 relocated to Tunisia, and subsequently moved to Egypt after the 1940 armistice. It was disbanded in October 1942.

Successive attachments

 * 1ere Escadre de Chasse (1ere Escadre de chasse) : du 1 au 17
 * 7e Escadre de Chasse (7e Escadre de chasse) : du 1 au 22
 * 4e Escadre de Chasse (4e Escadre de chasse) : du 26 au 24

Indochina and Algeria
GC 1/7 was recreated in September 1943 using Spitfire MK VB and participated in the North Africa campaign, the campaign to liberate Corsica and the Provence landings, thus giving it the name Provence. At the end of World War II, the unit was awarded the "Croix de guerre 1939–1945 (France)" and from December 1945 to January 1946, the fighter group received a consignment of captured Japanese Nakajima ki-43 "Hayabusa" fighter planes. Groupe de Chasse 1/7 received its first Mistral in April 1953, participated in the Algerian war and was reequipped with Mystère IV operating out of Dijon military base. It was disbanded in September 1961.

The Escadron de Chasse 1/7 Provence was recreated in March 1962 at Nancy – Ochey 133 Air Base, using Mystère IV. In 1973, the Squadron became the first Air force unit to be equipped with SEPECAT Jaguar and relocated to Saint-Dizier-Robinson 113 Air Base. 1/7 Provence Jaguars engaged in combat missions in Mauritania (1978), in Chad (1980’s), in the Gulf War (1990-1991) and in Bosnia. After the Escadron de Chasse 2/11 Vosges (Escadron de chasse 2/11 Vosges) was disbanded,  1/7 Provence  was expanded to 3 flights: la SPA 91 (Eagle on a skull) in December 1996.

The Jaguar (JAG) époque
In July 2001 the squadron received several two-seat Jaguars and the Alpha Jets previously used by Escadron de Chasse 2/7 Argonne.

The Rafale époque
The Jaguars were retired in July 2005 and replaced by Rafale one year later. In January 2007 1/7 Provence Squadron had twenty Rafale B and C. In March 2007 three Rafales were deployed to Dushanbe in Tajikistan, and carried out their first patrol over Afghanistan two days later.

In September 2007, 1/7 Provence Squadron’s Alpha Jets were transferred to the newly recreated EE 5/2 Côte d'Or (Escadron d'entraînement 3/8 Côte d'Or).

Constituent Escadrille

 * SPA 15 Casque de Bayard
 * GC III/7(6) Furie (since August 24 2016)

Bases

 * Saint-Dizier – Robinson Air Base
 * Haguenau Airport: From December 25 1944 until January 2 1945
 * Po Chen Tong Air Base : from November 17 1945 until July 1 1947
 * Aerial Base 141 Oran la Sénia (fr:Base aérienne 141 Oran la Sénia) : from April 1947 until end of 1950
 * Aerial Base 156 Bizerte Sidi Ahmed (fr:Base aérienne 156 Bizerte Sidi Ahmed) : end of 1950 until December 1961 de fin 1950 à décembre 1961
 * Nancy-Ochey Air Base (BA 133) : from December 1961 until May 1973
 * Saint-Dizier – Robinson Air Base : from May 1973 until June 24 2016
 * Al Dhafra Air Base (Base aérienne 104 Al Dhafra) : since June 24 2016

Aircraft

 * Nakajima Ki-43 II Hayabusa (from 1945 to 1946)
 * Supermarine Spitfire (from 1946 to 1953)
 * De Havilland Vampire (from 1953 to 1962)
 * Mystère IV (from 1962 to 1973)
 * SEPECAT Jaguar (from 1973 to 2005)
 * Alpha Jet (2001–2007, aircraft marked 7-PA to 7-PZ)
 * Dassault Rafale (since 2006)