''Escadrille Spa49'' (also known as ''Escadrille MS49'', ''Escadrille N49'') was a squadron of the French Air Services active during World War I, from 1915 - 1918. Credited with 37 aerial victories over German aircraft, it won a unit citation on 8 November 1918.

History

The unit began on 18 April 1915 as ''Escadrille MS49''. It was assigned to the ''VII Armee'' sector of the Western Front. Refitting 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 ...

fighters changed its unit designation; on 20 September 1915, it was dubbed ''Escadrille N49''. In December 1916, when the squadron re-equipped with SPADs, it was finally named ''Escadrille Spa49''.''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'', p. 93 ''Escadrille Spa49'' won a citation on 8 November 1918, for its victories over 32 German airplanes and two observation balloons. In the last three days of the war, it would score three additional victories. The squadron finished the war where it had begun it, with ''VII Armee''..

Commanding officers

* '' Capitaine'' Constantin Zarapoff: 18 April 1915 * Capitaine Jules de Boutiny: 22 May 1916 * Capitaine Charles Taver: 17 February 1918 * Lieutenant Roger Labauve: 8 November 1918.

Notable members

* Capitaine Paul Gastin * ''

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 ...

'' Jean G. Bouyer *

Adjutant 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 ...

Paul Hamot.

Aircraft

Morane-Saulnier Aéroplanes Morane-Saulnier was a French aircraft manufacturing company formed in October 1911 by Raymond Saulnier (1881–1964) and the Morane brothers, Léon (1885–1918) and Robert (1886–1968). The company was taken over and diversified ...

s: 18 April 1915 *

s: 20 September 1915 *

SPAD S.VII The SPAD S.VII was the first of a series of highly successful biplane fighter aircraft produced by ''Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés'' (SPAD) during the First World War. Like its successors, the S.VII was renowned as a sturdy and r ...

s: December 1916 *

SPAD S.XI The SPAD S.XI or SPAD 11 was a French two-seat biplane reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War. The SPAD 11 was the work of Louis Béchereau, chief designer of the Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés (SPAD), who also designed the hig ...

s *

SPAD S.XIII The SPAD S.XIII is a French biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War, developed by '' Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés'' (SPAD) from the earlier and highly successful SPAD S.VII. During early 1917, the French designer Louis Bé ...

End notes

Reference

* 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 1915 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