8e Escadre de Chasse

The 8e Escadre de Chasse 8e EC or 8th Fighter Wing is a fighter formation of the Air Brigade of Fighter Aviation (Brigade Aérienne de l'Aviation de Chasse) (BAAC) of the French Air Force, which was reformed on August 25 2015 on the Aerial Base of Cazaux.

The unit has know previously various periods of activity:
 * On Aerial Base 108 Marignane, between January 1 1936 and May 1 1939;
 * In Indochina, between January 16 1951 and July 27 1954;
 * In Morocco, on Aerial Base 151 Rabat-Salé, between August 1 1955 and November 1960
 * In Alegeria on the base of Oran La Senia between November 1960 and July 1961
 * At Nancy Ochey between July 1961 and December 1 1961
 * At Cazaux, between February 1 1964 and July 1 1993.

Composition

 * Escadron de Transition Opérationnelle 1/8 Saintonge (Escadron de transition opérationnelle 1/8 Saintonge)
 * Escadron de Transition Opérationnelle 2/8 Nice (Escadron de transition opérationnelle 2/8 Nice)
 * Escadron d'Entraînement 3/8 Côte d'Or (Escadron d'entraînement 3/8 Côte d'Or)
 * Escadron de Soutien Technique Aéronautique 15.008 Pilat

Escadrons/Squadrons history
The 8e Escadre possesses two historical squadrons, the "Saintonge" and "Nice". The squadron "Languedoc" was attached to the Escadre during ten years.

Before WWII

 * Hunter Group - Groupe de Chasse I/8 : from January 1 1936 until May 1 1939
 * Groupe de Chasse II/8 : from January 1 1936 and May 1 1939

Escadron/Squadron "Saintonge"

 * Groupe Mixte I/8 Saintonge : from January 16 1951 until July 27 1954
 * Hunter Squadron Escadron de Chasse 1/8 Saintonge : from September 9 1960 until December 1 1961 and from February 1 1964 until July 31 1993

Escadron/Squadron "Languedoc"

 * Groupe de Chasse II/8 Languedoc : from August 1 1951 until July 27 1954
 * Escadron de chasse 2/8 Languedoc : from August 1 1955 until December 1 1961

Escadron/Squadron "Maghreb"

 * Escadron de Chasse 1/8 Maghreb : from August 1 1955 until September 1960

Escadron/Squadron "Nice"

 * Escadron de Chasse 2/8 Nice : from February 1 1964 until July 31 1993

Bases

 * Aerial Base 108 Marigane: from January 1 1936 until May 1 1939
 * Indochina : from January 16 1951 until July 27 1954
 * Aerial Base 151 Rabat-Salé: from August 1 1955 until the beginning of 1960
 * Aerial Base Nancy-Ochey : from the beginning of 1960 until December 1 1961
 * Aerial Base 120 Cazaux : from February 1 1964 until July 31 1993 and as of August 25 2015

Equipment

 * Morane-Saulnier MS.225 : from January 1 1936 until January 1 1939
 * Dewoitine D.500 : from January 1 1936 until January 1 1939
 * Dewoitine D.510 : from January 1 1939 until May 1 1939
 * Republic P-47D Thunderbolt : from January 16 1951 until July 27 1954
 * Grumman F8F-1B Bearcat : from January 16 1951 until July 27 1954
 * Mistral : from August 1 1955 until 1959
 * Dassault Mystère IVA : from June 1959 until December 1 1961 and from February 1 1964 until 1982
 * Alpha Jet: from October 1982 until July 31 1993 and as of August 25 2015