List of French Air Force aircraft squadrons
Encyclopedia
The French Air Force was organized into Escadres (Wings),but this level was disbanded in the 90's. It is now composed of Escadrons (Squadrons). In turn, each escadron is made up of several Escadrilles (Flights). The designations of many escadrilles can be traced back to their World War I
heritage. Escadrilles with the BR. designation flew Breguet aircraft
, C. flew Caudron
s, N. the Nieuport fighters
, SAL. Salmson
, and SPA. the SPAD fighters
.
This list is incomplete
Abbreviations
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
heritage. Escadrilles with the BR. designation flew Breguet aircraft
Société Anonyme des Ateliers d'Aviation Louis Breguet
The Société des Ateliers d'Aviation Louis Bréguet also known as Breguet Aviation was a former French aircraft manufacturer. The company was set up in 1911 by aviation pioneer Louis Charles Breguet....
, C. flew Caudron
Caudron
The Caudron Airplane Company was a French aircraft company founded in 1909 by brothers Gaston Caudron and René Caudron . It was one of the earliest aircraft manufacturers in France and produced planes for the military in both World War I and World War II...
s, N. the Nieuport fighters
Nieuport
Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars.-Beginnings:...
, SAL. Salmson
Salmson
Salmson was a French engineering company, initially in the automobile and aeroplane manufacturing area,turning to pump manufacturing in the 1960s.-History:...
, and SPA. the SPAD fighters
Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés
SPAD was a French aircraft manufacturer between 1911 and 1921. Its SPAD S.XIII biplane was the most popular French fighter airplane in World War I.-Deperdussin:...
.
This list is incomplete
Escadron | Escadrille | Aircraft | Callsign | Base |
---|---|---|---|---|
EC 01.002 Cigogne 1/2 fighter squadron Storks The 1/2 fighter squadron "Storks" is a French Air Force fighter squadron, currently stationed in 102 Dijon-Longvic Airbase... |
SPA.3 Cigogne de Georges Guynemer Georges Guynemer Georges Guynemer was a top fighter ace for France during World War I, and a French national hero at the time of his death.-Early life and military career:... SPA.103 Cigogne de René Fonck René Fonck René Paul Fonck was a French aviator who ended the First World War as the top Allied fighter ace, and when all succeeding aerial conflicts of the 20th and 21st centuries are also considered, Fonck still holds the title of "all-time Allied Ace of Aces". He received confirmation for 75 victories ... SPA.26 Cigogne dite "Saint Galmier" |
Mirage 2000-5F Dassault-Breguet Mirage 2000 The Dassault Mirage 2000 is a French multirole, single-engine fourth-generation jet fighter manufactured by Dassault Aviation. It was designed as a lightweight fighter based on the Mirage III in the late 1970s for the French Air Force . The Mirage 2000 evolved into a multirole aircraft with several... |
102-Ex | Dijon/Longvic |
EE 02.002 Côte d'Or | SPA.65 Chimère d'argent SPA.57 Mouette passant au naturel |
Alpha Jet E Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet The Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet is a light attack jet and advanced trainer aircraft co-manufactured by Dornier of Germany and Dassault-Breguet of France.- Origins :... |
102-Fx | Dijon/Longvic |
EC 01.003 Navarre | SPA.95 Oriflamme chargé d'un Martinet SPA.153 Gypaète SPA.62 Coq de Combat |
Mirage 2000D | 133-Ix | Nancy/Ochey |
EC 02.003 Champagne | SPA.67 Cigogne de Navarre SPA.75 Charognard SPA.102 Soleil de Rhodes |
Mirage 2000D | 133-Jx | Nancy/Ochey |
EC 03.003 Ardennes | 1° Esc GC III/3 Hure Barre bleue 2° Esc GC III/3 Hure Barre rouge BR.44 Sanglier assis ou Hure Barre verte |
Mirage 2000D | 133-Xx | Nancy/Ochey |
EC 02.004 Lafayette | N.124 Tete de Sioux SPA.167 Cigogne SPA.160 Diable rouge |
Mirage 2000N | 116-Bx | Luxeuil/St. Sauveur |
EC 03.004 Limousin | 1° Esc GC I/9 Aigle 2° Esc GC I/9 Fennec SPA.96 Le Gaulois |
Mirage 2000N | 125-Cx | Istres/Le Tubé |
EC 02.005 Ile de France | 1° Esc Paris 2° Esc Versailles SPA.124 Jeanne d'Arc |
Mirage 2000B/C | 115-Ox | Orange/Caritat |
EC 01.007 Provence | SPA.15 Heaume d'argent SPA.77 Croix de Jérusalem SPA.91 Aigle empiétant une tête de mort |
Rafale B/C Dassault Rafale The Dassault Rafale is a French twin-engine delta-wing multi-role jet fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. Introduced in 2000, the Rafale is being produced both for land-based use with the French Air Force and for carrier-based operations with the French Navy... |
113-Hx | Saint Dizier-Robinson |
EC 01.091 Gascogne | SAL.28 Elephant SPA.79 Tete de Loup BR.66 Faucon Egyptien |
Rafale B/C Dassault Rafale The Dassault Rafale is a French twin-engine delta-wing multi-role jet fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. Introduced in 2000, the Rafale is being produced both for land-based use with the French Air Force and for carrier-based operations with the French Navy... |
113-Ix | Saint Dizier-Robinson |
ETO 01.008 Saintonge | 1° Esc 3C2 Trident Ailé 2° Esc 4C1 Lion bondissant |
Alpha Jet E Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet The Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet is a light attack jet and advanced trainer aircraft co-manufactured by Dornier of Germany and Dassault-Breguet of France.- Origins :... |
120-Mx | Cazaux |
ETO 02.008 Nice | SPA.73 Cigogne dite japonaise SPA.78 Panthére noire |
Alpha Jet E | 120-Nx | Cazaux |
EC 01.012 Cambrésis | SPA.162 Tête de tigre SPA.89 Guêpe SPA.166 Aigle de sable et d'argent |
Mirage 2000B/C | 103-Yx | Cambrai/Epinoy |
ER 02.033 Savoie | SAL.6 Mouette Rhénane C.53 BR.11 Cocotte de gueule |
Mirage F1B/CR/CT | 112-Nx | Reims/Champagne |
EC 03.030 Lorraine | SPA.38 Chardon de Lorraine SAL.56 Scarabée Egyptien |
Mirage 2000-5/Rafale | 104-xx | Al Dhafra, UAE |
EC 03.011 Corse | SPA.88 Serpent SPA.69 Chat |
Mirage 2000C/D | 188-Lx | Djibouti |
EDCA 01.036 | SAL.58 BR.43 |
E-3F Sentry E-3 Sentry The Boeing E-3 Sentry is an airborne warning and control system developed by Boeing as the prime contractor. Derived from the Boeing 707, it provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications, and is used by the United States Air Force , NATO, Royal Air Force , French Air Force... |
36-CA/CB | Avord |
EDCA 02.036 | SAL.253 Tete de dogue SAL.257 Masse d'armes |
E-3F Sentry | 36-CC/CD | Avord |
ETM 01.040 Moselle | Esc Valmy Esc Verdun |
AS.555N Eurocopter Ecureuil The Eurocopter AS350 Ecureuil is a single-engined light helicopter originally manufactured by Aérospatiale . The AS350 is marketed in North America as the AStar... , TBM.700 Socata TBM |-See also:-References:* Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0 7106 2537 5.... |
X | Metz/Frescaty |
ETE 02.040 Médoc | TBM.700, AS.355F1 Eurocopter AS355 The Eurocopter AS355 Ecureuil 2 is a twin-engine light helicopter originally manufactured by Aérospatiale... |
X, U | Bordeaux/Mérignac | |
ETE 03.062 Ventoux | CASA CN-235 CASA CN-235 The CASA/IPTN CN-235 is a medium-range twin-engined transport plane that was jointly developed by CASA of Spain and IPTN of Indonesia as a regional airliner and military transport. Its primary military roles include maritime patrol, surveillance, and air transport... , DHC-6-300 De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter The DHC-6 Twin Otter is a Canadian 19-passenger STOL utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada and currently produced by Viking Air. The aircraft's fixed tricycle undercarriage, STOL abilities and high rate of climb have made it a successful cargo, regional passenger airliner and MEDEVAC... |
C, 62-I | Mont-de-Marsan |
Abbreviations