''Escadrille 62'' is a

French Air Force The French Air and Space Force (AAE) (french: Armée de l'air et de l'espace, ) is the air and space force of the French Armed Forces. It was the first military aviation force in history, formed in 1909 as the , a service arm of the French Army; ...

squadron. It was founded on 11 August 1915 at

Lyon–Bron Airport Lyon–Bron Airport (french: Aéroport de Lyon-Bron) is an airport located in Bron, east of Lyon, both Communes of the Rhône department, communes of the Rhône (department), Rhône Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes R ...

History

''Escadrille 62'' was originally equipped with

Farman Farman Aviation Works (french: Avions Farman) was a French aircraft company founded and run by the brothers Richard, Henri, and Maurice Farman. They designed and constructed aircraft and engines from 1908 until 1936; during the French national ...

two-seater

reconnaissance In military operations, reconnaissance or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, terrain, and other activities. Examples of reconnaissance include patrolling by troops (skirmisher ...

aircraft; thus, its first designation was ''Escadrille MF62''. Its first assignment was to ''VI Armee'' of the

French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed For ...

. On 5 May 1916, it was incorporated into a larger ad hoc unit, ''Groupe de Combat de la Somme''—the other units included in the group were '' Escadrille N3'', '' Escadrille N26'', ''

Escadrille N73 ''Escadrille 73'' of the French Air Force originated at Corcieux on 23 May 1915 as Detachment N 49 during the World War I. History It was initially assigned to the ''VII Armee'' front. On 1 April 1916, it was renamed Detachment Nieuport de Corc ...

'', and '' Escadrille N103''. On 25 May 1916, it rearmed with

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. History Beginnings Originally formed as Nieuport-Duplex in ...

s, becoming ''Escadrille N62''. Because the ''escadrille'' was a temporary augmentation to the ''groupe'', it was detached and reassigned to the ''VI Armee'' as that unit's ''Escadrille d' Armee'' for the remainder of the war. ''Escadrille 62'' won five citations during its short participation in the First World War. The first, in January 1917, was for the destruction of 15 enemy aircraft and six

observation balloon An observation balloon is a type of balloon that is employed as an aerial platform for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Use of observation balloons began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War ...

s. On 16 November 1917, its second citation was for destroying 15 more aircraft; the ''escadrille'' was then entitled to wear a

fourragère The ''fourragère'' () is a military award, distinguishing military units as a whole, in the form of a braided cord. The award was first adopted by France, followed by other nations such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, and Luxembourg. Fou ...

signifying its right to the ''

Croix de Guerre The ''Croix de Guerre'' (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awa ...

''. At about the same time, it also re-equipped with SPADs to become ''Escadrille Spa62''. They used their new aircraft for deep photographic reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines. On 25 January 1918, they took 180 photos; on 2 February they took 130 more. They were cited for this on 7 February 1918. On 18 July 1918, they were again cited for destruction of enemy aircraft—20 airplanes and an observation balloon. Their final citation came after war's end, on 18 December 1918, crediting them with 19 more victories; it entitled the ''escadrille's'' members to wear the fourragere of the '' Medaille Militare''. ''Escadrille 62'' was credited with a wartime record of 68 destroyed enemy airplanes and seven downed observation balloons. ''Escadrille SPA.62'' continues to serve in the current French Air Force.

Commanding officers

* Lieutenant Horment * Capitaine

François Coli François Coli (5 June 1881 – presumably on or after 8 May 1927) was a French pilot and navigator best known as the flying partner of Charles Nungesser in their fatal attempt to achieve the first transatlantic flight. Early life and World ...

* Capitaine Blaumautier

Notable personnel

* Marcel Bloch *

Charles Borzecki Lieutenant Charles Alexandre Bronislas Borzecki (1880-1959) was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.The Aerodrome website http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/borzecki.php Retrieved 31 July 2020. Military service Havin ...

André Louis Bosson Sergente André Louis Bosson (1894–1918) was a French World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories, including one shared with Jean-Paul Favre de Thierrens.The Aerodrome website http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/bosson.php Ret ...

Jean-Paul Favre de Thierrens Jean-Paul Jacques Favre de Thierrens (18 February 189517 October 1973) was a World War I flying ace credited with five confirmed aerial victories and one unconfirmed one. His courageous service would earn him the ''Légion d'honneur'' and the ''Cr ...

Charles Quette ''Sous lieutenant'' Charles Alfred Quette (19 May 1895 – 5 June 1918) was a French World War I flying ace credited with ten confirmed and five unconfirmed aerial victories. Early life Charles Alfred Quette was born in Paris on 19 May 1895. Wo ...

Paul Tarascon Colonel Paul Albert Pierre Tarascon (8 December 1882 – 11 June 1977) was a World War I flying ace. Despite the handicap of an amputated foot, he was credited with twelve confirmed and ten probable victories in aerial combat. He also served in Wo ...

Aircraft

Maurice Farman Maurice Alain Farman (21 March 1877 – 25 February 1964) was a British-French Grand Prix motor racing champion, an aviator, and an aircraft manufacturer and designer. Biography Born in Paris to English parents, he and his brothers Richard and ...

* SPAD

References

External links