''Escadrille Spa.152'' (originally ''Escadrille N.152'') was a French fighter squadron active 1917 through 1918 during World War I. It was credited with destruction of 15 German airplanes, 27

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 ...

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Zeppelin A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship named after the German inventor Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin () who pioneered rigid airship development at the beginning of the 20th century. Zeppelin's notions were first formulated in 1874Eckener 1938, pp ...

History

''Escadrille Spa.152'' was formed under ''VII Armee'' auspices at Lyon-Bron, France on 9 July 1917. As a

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 ...

fighter squadron, it was designated ''Escadrille N.152''. In May 1918, the squadron refitted with SPAD fighters, and was renamed ''Escadrille Spa.152''. On 4 June 1918, it was incorporated into a makeshift unit that became '' Groupe de Combat 22'' on 1 July 1918. The ''Groupe'' was shifted about in its combat operations between three French field armies as the war ground down to its 11 November 1918 ceasefire. Final aerial victory credits for the squadron came to destruction of 15 enemy airplanes, 27

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.''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'', p. 105

Commanding officers

* Lieutenant Charles Lefevre: 9 July 1917 - 20 November 1917 * Lieutenant Louis Delrieu: 20 November 1917 - 19 August 1918 * ''Capitaine'' L. Bonne: 19 August 1918 - Armistice

Notable members

* Lieutenant

Léon Bourjade Léon Bourjade (25 May 1889 – 22 October 1924), born Jean-Pierre Léon Bourjade, was a leading French fighter pilot in World War I, notable for being his country's leading balloon-busting ace. He interrupted his theological studies to fight in ...

* ''

Sous lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until 19 ...

'' Ernest Maunoury

Aircraft

fighters: 9 July 1917 - May 1918 * SPAD fighters: May 1918 onwards

End notes

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. . Fighter squadrons of the French Air and Space Force Military units and formations established in 1917 Military units and formations disestablished in 1918 Military units and formations of France in World War I Military aviation units and formations in World War I {{France-mil-unit-stub