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In September 1915, the ''escadrille'' re-equipped once again, with ''[[Nieuport 11]]s'', and it once again became ''Escadrille N12''. In subsequent months, it would also acquire ''[[Nieuport 12]]s'', ''[[Nieuport 16]]s'', and ''[[Nieuport 17]]s''.<ref name=front89/> |
In September 1915, the ''escadrille'' re-equipped once again, with ''[[Nieuport 11]]s'', and it once again became ''Escadrille N12''. In subsequent months, it would also acquire ''[[Nieuport 12]]s'', ''[[Nieuport 16]]s'', and ''[[Nieuport 17]]s''.<ref name=front89/> |
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| − | On 8 July 1916, it was cited in orders. It moved to a new assignment with II Armee on 5 October 1916. On 1 November 1916, it was one of four ''escadrilles'' consolidated into ''Groupe de Combat 11'', the other Nieuport ''escadrilles'' being ''[[Escadrille 31|Escadrilles N31]], [[Escadrille 48|''N48'']], and [[Escadrille 57|''N57'']].<ref name=front89/> |
+ | On 8 July 1916, it was cited in orders. It moved to a new assignment with II Armee on 5 October 1916. On 1 November 1916, it was one of four ''escadrilles'' consolidated into ''Groupe de Combat 11'', the other Nieuport ''escadrilles'' being ''[[Escadrille 31|Escadrilles N31]], [[Escadrille 48|''N48'']], and [[Escadrille 57|''N57'']].<ref name=front89/> |
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As a component of ''GC 11'', the ''escadrille'' was reassigned to V Armee in April 1917. In July, ''GC 11'' moved to 1er Armee in Flanders. On 16 September 1917, it was transferred to VI Armee. In December, it upgraded to ''[[Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés|SPAD]]s'' and thus became ''Escadrille Spa12''.<ref name=front89/> |
As a component of ''GC 11'', the ''escadrille'' was reassigned to V Armee in April 1917. In July, ''GC 11'' moved to 1er Armee in Flanders. On 16 September 1917, it was transferred to VI Armee. In December, it upgraded to ''[[Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés|SPAD]]s'' and thus became ''Escadrille Spa12''.<ref name=front89/> |
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[[File:Ec-1-2.jpg|thumb|150px|right|EC 1/2 squadron emblem; the central stork represents ''Escadrille 12''.]] |
[[File:Ec-1-2.jpg|thumb|150px|right|EC 1/2 squadron emblem; the central stork represents ''Escadrille 12''.]] |
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| − | ''Groupe de Combat 11'' joined ''Groupe de Combat 13'' and ''Groupe de Combat 17'' to form ''Escadre de Combat No. 2'' on 27 February 1918. In turn, ''Escadre de Combat No. 2'' was subsumed into the ''1er Division Aerienne'' on 14 May 1918. On 16 May 1918, ''Escadrille Spa12'' was cited by General [[Philippe Pétain]] for its prowess in destroying 34 enemy aircraft and two [[observation balloon]]s. On 28 May 1918, ''GC II'' was detached from ''Escadre de Combat No. 2'' and assigned to support VI Armee and V Armee. On 23 September 1918, ''GC 11'' was moved to IV Armee. They made their final move on 6 November, to VIII Armee. When the war ended five days later, ''Escadrille Spa12'' had been credited with victories over 43 enemy aircraft and seven observation balloons.<ref name=front89/> |
+ | ''Groupe de Combat 11'' joined ''Groupe de Combat 13'' and ''Groupe de Combat 17'' to form ''Escadre de Combat No. 2'' on 27 February 1918. In turn, ''Escadre de Combat No. 2'' was subsumed into the ''1er Division Aerienne'' on 14 May 1918. On 16 May 1918, ''Escadrille Spa12'' was cited by General [[Philippe Pétain]] for its prowess in destroying 34 enemy aircraft and two [[observation balloon]]s. On 28 May 1918, ''GC II'' was detached from ''Escadre de Combat No. 2'' and assigned to support VI Armee and V Armee. On 23 September 1918, ''GC 11'' was moved to IV Armee. They made their final move on 6 November, to VIII Armee. When the war ended five days later, ''Escadrille Spa12'' had been credited with victories over 43 enemy aircraft and seven observation balloons.<ref name=front89/> |
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The heritage of the ''escadrille'' continues in the present day French air force; it is represented by the middle stork on the EC 1/2 Squadron emblem. |
The heritage of the ''escadrille'' continues in the present day French air force; it is represented by the middle stork on the EC 1/2 Squadron emblem. |
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** [[Commandant]] Auguste le Reverend: 1 November 1916 - 24 January 1917 |
** [[Commandant]] Auguste le Reverend: 1 November 1916 - 24 January 1917 |
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** Capitaine Edouard Duseigneur: 25 January 1917 - 19 June 1918 |
** Capitaine Edouard Duseigneur: 25 January 1917 - 19 June 1918 |
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| − | ** Capitaine Marcel Bonnefay: 20 June 1918 - |
+ | ** Capitaine Marcel Bonnefay: 20 June 1918 - |
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* ''Escadre de Combat No. 2'' |
* ''Escadre de Combat No. 2'' |
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** ''[[Chef de Bataillon]]'' Philippe Fequant: 27 February 1918 |
** ''[[Chef de Bataillon]]'' Philippe Fequant: 27 February 1918 |
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Latest revision as of 23:12, 3 March 2019
The SPAD S.VII was the first of the fighters used by the escadrille.
Escadrille 12 of the French Air Force was formed in 1912 and equipped initially with Nieuport two-seater aircraft; hence its original designation as Escadrille N12. It took the Nieuports into World War I, but re-equipped with Morane-Saulnier L monoplanes on 28 February 1915. In accordance with French custom, it was renamed Escadrille MS12. By this time, the unit was assigned to V Armee of the French ground forces.[1]
In September 1915, the escadrille re-equipped once again, with Nieuport 11s, and it once again became Escadrille N12. In subsequent months, it would also acquire Nieuport 12s, Nieuport 16s, and Nieuport 17s.[1]
On 8 July 1916, it was cited in orders. It moved to a new assignment with II Armee on 5 October 1916. On 1 November 1916, it was one of four escadrilles consolidated into Groupe de Combat 11, the other Nieuport escadrilles being Escadrilles N31, N48, and N57.[1] As a component of GC 11, the escadrille was reassigned to V Armee in April 1917. In July, GC 11 moved to 1er Armee in Flanders. On 16 September 1917, it was transferred to VI Armee. In December, it upgraded to SPADs and thus became Escadrille Spa12.[1]
EC 1/2 squadron emblem; the central stork represents Escadrille 12.
Groupe de Combat 11 joined Groupe de Combat 13 and Groupe de Combat 17 to form Escadre de Combat No. 2 on 27 February 1918. In turn, Escadre de Combat No. 2 was subsumed into the 1er Division Aerienne on 14 May 1918. On 16 May 1918, Escadrille Spa12 was cited by General Philippe Pétain for its prowess in destroying 34 enemy aircraft and two observation balloons. On 28 May 1918, GC II was detached from Escadre de Combat No. 2 and assigned to support VI Armee and V Armee. On 23 September 1918, GC 11 was moved to IV Armee. They made their final move on 6 November, to VIII Armee. When the war ended five days later, Escadrille Spa12 had been credited with victories over 43 enemy aircraft and seven observation balloons.[1] The heritage of the escadrille continues in the present day French air force; it is represented by the middle stork on the EC 1/2 Squadron emblem.
Commanding officers
- Escadrille N12, MS12, N12:
- Capitaine Aubry
- Capitaine Raymond de Pierre de Bernis: 12 May 1915 - 11 January 1918
- Lieutenant Armand de Turenne: 12 January 1918 - end of war
- Groupe de Combat 11
- Commandant Auguste le Reverend: 1 November 1916 - 24 January 1917
- Capitaine Edouard Duseigneur: 25 January 1917 - 19 June 1918
- Capitaine Marcel Bonnefay: 20 June 1918 -
- Escadre de Combat No. 2
- Chef de Bataillon Philippe Fequant: 27 February 1918
- 1er Division Aerienne
- General Duval[1]
Notable personnel
Aircraft
- Nieuport two-seaters
- Morane-Saulnier L: 28 February 1915
- Nieuport 11: September 1915
- Nieuport 12
- Nieuport 16
- Nieuport 17
- SPAD: December 1917[1]
Endnotes
References
- Franks, Norman; Frank W. Bailey. Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918 Grub Street, 1992. ISBN 0-948817-54-2, ISBN 978-0-948817-54-0.
The original article can be found at Escadrille 12 and the edit history here.