''Escadrille 46'' (variously known as ''Escadrille R46'' and ''Escadrille Let46'') was a highly decorated French World War bombing squadron. Although serving ordinarily as a reconnaissance and bombardment role, they also flew as gunships to escort bombing missions. The squadron was credited with destroying 37 German aircraft.

History

''Escadrille 46'' ("small squadron 46") was founded in March 1915 with twin-engine three-seated

Caudron The Société des Avions Caudron was a French aircraft company founded in 1909 as the Association Aéroplanes Caudron Frères by brothers Gaston and René Caudron. It was one of the earliest aircraft manufacturers in France and produced planes for ...

s, hence ''Escadrille C46''. Originally attached to ''VI Armee'', the squadron was posted to the ''II Armee'' in September 1915.''Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'', p. 92 The squadron flew their Caudron G.IV bombers during the Battle of Verdun, which kicked off on 21 February 1916. In June it refitted with Caudron R.IVs; their unit designation changed to ''Escadrille R.46''. Then, beginning 1 July, while attached to ''VI Armee'', it fought in the

Battle of the Somme The Battle of the Somme ( French: Bataille de la Somme), also known as the Somme offensive, was a battle of the First World War fought by the armies of the British Empire and French Third Republic against the German Empire. It took place bet ...

as it eventuated. On 15 January 1917, the unit won its first citation while still with ''VI Armee''. Despite flying bombers, they had shot down 15 German aircraft. Two months later, they would trade their Caudrons for Letord Let.1 Type 1s. Their unit designation was altered to ''Escadrille Let 46''. When the Battle of the Aisne began in April 1917, ''Escadrille Let 46'' was attached to Felix Brocard's

Groupe de Combat 12 Groupe de Combat 12 (GC 12) 'Les Cigognes' ('The Storks') was the most celebrated and successful French Air Service Groupe de Chasse during the World War I. Its roster included Georges Guynemer, René Dorme, Alfred Heurteaux, René Fonck, Raoul Ech ...

for the fight. When their commanding officer, Didier Lecour Grandmaison, his replacement, Marcel Bloch led it as it re-equipped again, this time with Caudron R.XI three seated bombers. The unit designation reverted to ''Escadrille C46'' on 17 February 1918. The squadron operated as part of ''Groupe de Combat 15'' in the Champagne region until 14 May 1918. Then, for the last months of the war, the squadron was bundled along with other squadrons into ever-larger makeshift aviation units. On 12 September 1918, while fighting in the ''1er Armee'' sector, it was awarded its second citation for valor, earning the ''escadrille'' the right to the '' Fourragere'' of 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 ...

''. Ten days later, it was posted to support of the American 1st Army at

Battle of Saint-Mihiel The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a major World War I battle fought from 12–15 September 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) and 110,000 French troops under the command of General John J. Pershing of the United States against ...

. On 23 September 1918, the ''escadrille'' was assigned to fly as gunships to protect bombing missions, as the Caudron R.XIs mounted five machine guns apiece.The Aerodrome websit

Retrieved 10 August 2020. On 28 September, it was granted a third citation. ''Escadrille 46'' ended World War I credited with 37 enemy aircraft destroyed. They would receive a fourth citation postwar, on 4 February 1919. This citation entitled the unit to display the ''Fourragere'' of the '' Médaille Militaire''.

Commanding officers

* '' Capitaine'' Legardeur: March 1915 * Lieutenant Didier Lecour Grandmaison: February 1916 - killed in action 10 May 1917 * ''Capitaine'' Marcel Bloch * Lieutenant Resel: October 1918

Notable members

* Lieutenant Didier Lecour Grandmaison * Lieutenant

Jean Loste Lieutenant Jean Augustin Paul Joseph Loste was a French World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.The Aerodrome websitRetrieved 19 August 2020. He remained in service after World War I ended, finally retiring in 1930 at the rank ...

Adjutant-chef Adjutant is a military appointment given to an officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of human resources in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed forces as a non-commission ...

Marie Vitalis

Aircraft

* Twin engine three place

s: March 1915 *

Caudron G.III The Caudron G.3 was a single-engined French sesquiplane built by Caudron, widely used in World War I as a reconnaissance aircraft and trainer. Development The Caudron G.3 was designed by René and Gaston Caudron as a development of their earlie ...

s * Caudron G.IVs * Caudron R.IVs: First flown in June 1916 * Letord Let.1: Supplied in March 1917 * Caudron R.XIs

End notes

Reference

* ''Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'' Norman L. R. Franks, Frank W. Bailey. Grub Street, 1992. , . {{wwi-air French Air and Space Force squadrons