Escadrille Spa.154 Explained

Unit Name:Escadrille Spa.154
Dates:1917–1918
Country: France
Branch:  French Air Service
Type:Fighter Squadron
Garrison Label:Home station
Colors Label:Branch color
Battle Honours:Mentioned in dispatches

Escadrille Spa.154 (originally Escadrille N.154) was a French fighter squadron active from July 1917 through the 11 November 1918 Armistice. It spent most of 1918 as a constituent of larger offensive units. At war's end, it was credited with 63 aerial victories, including at least 19 observation balloons.

History

Founded as Escadrille N.154 on 11 July 1917 because it was originally equipped with Nieuport fighters at Matigny, France, the squadron originally served III Armee. It was temporarily subsumed into a makeshift Groupe de Combat. On 1 August, this ad hoc unit was dissolved, and the constituent squadrons moved into another Groupe supporting III Armee. In December, the squadron was refitted with SPADs and renamed Escadrille Spa.154.[1]

On 22 January 1918, the escadrille was shifted to V Armee; then it was merged into Groupe de Combat 11 as a replacement for Escadrille SPA.48. On 27 February, Groupe de Combat 11 was one of the units concentrated into Escadre de Combat No. 2.[1]

Escadrille Spa.154 would operate as part of a larger force for the remainder of the war. Groupe de Combat 11 would be shifted to support of several different French field armies during the fighting leading up to the Armistice. On 20 August 1918, Escadrille Spa.154 was Mentioned in dispatches for having downed 17 German airplanes and 19 observation balloons. By war's end on 11 November 1918, the squadron was credited with a score of 63 aerial victories.[1]

Commanding officers

Notable members

Aircraft

References

Notes and References

  1. Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918, p. 106
  2. Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918, p. 181
  3. Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918, p. 200
  4. The Aerodrome website page on Lahoulle http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/lahoulle.php Retrieved 22 August 2020
  5. The Aerodrome website page on Condemine http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/condemine.php Retrieved 22 August 2020
  6. The Aerodrome website page on Barbreau http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/barbreau.php Retrieved 22 August 2020
  7. The Aerodrome website page onCoiffard http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/coiffard.php Retrieved 22 August 2020
  8. The Aerodrome website page on Ehrlich http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/ehrlich.php Retrieved 22 August 2020
  9. The Aerodrome website page on Waddington http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/waddington2.php Retrieved 22 August 2020
  10. The Aerodrome website page on Petit http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/petit.php retrieved 22 August 2020
  11. The Aerodrome website page on Moissinac http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/moissinac.php Retrieved 22 August 2020