Escadrille Spa.163 Explained

Unit Name:	Escadrille Spa.163
Dates:	1918
Country:	France
Branch:	French Air Service
Type:	Fighter Squadron
Garrison Label:	Home station
Colors Label:	Branch color

Escadrille Spa.163 was a French fighter squadron founded on 11 April 1918 as a replacement squadron for the American 103rd Aero Squadron. By 11 November 1918, the escadrille had been credited with 25 aerial victories.

History

Escadrille Spa.163 was formed on 11 April 1918, equipped with SPAD fighters. Although it was a French squadron, it had some American pilots who remained in French service instead of being repatriated to American squadrons. The escadrille was formed as a replacement for the American 103rd Aero Squadron, which was being withdrawn from Groupe de Combat 21. Escadrille Spa.163 took the 103rd Aero's place in the Groupe, and consequently moved and fought as part of it. At various dates, the Groupe supported either IV Armee or VI Armee. By the 11 November 1918 Armistice, Escadrille Spa.163 was credited with shooting down 25 German aircraft.^[1]

Commanding officers

• Capitaine Henri Nompere de Champagny: 11 April 1918 - unknown^[1]
• Lieutenant Louis Verdier-Fauvety: Unknown - killed in bombing 21 August 1918^[2]
• Unknown: 21 August 1918 - 11 November 1918^[1]

Notable members

• Captain Thomas Cassady
• Adjutant James Connelly^[1]

Aircraft

• 15 SPAD fighters: 11 April 1918^[1]

References

• Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank (1993). Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918. London, UK: Grub Street Publishing. .
• Gutmann, Jon (2002). SPAD XII/XIII Aces of World War I. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing.

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. 107
2. SPAD XII/XIII Aces of World War I, p. 91