''Escadrille Spa.94'' (originally ''Escadrille N.94'') was a French fighter squadron active from mid-1917 until World War I ended on 11 November 1918. While it spent 1918 merged into larger formations, the squadron destroyed 42 enemy aircraft.

History

French aviation Detachments N.512, N.513, and N.514 were merged at Melette, France on 14 May 1917 to found ''Escadrille N.94''. It used Nieuport 24 and

Nieuport 27 The Nieuport 27 (or Nieuport XXVII C.1 in contemporary sources) was a World War I French sesquiplane fighter aircraft designed by Gustave Delage. The 27 was the last of the line of Nieuport "V-strut" single seat fighters that began with the Ni ...

fighters to support ''IV Armee''. On 30 January 1918, the squadron was one of four merged at

Villeneuve Villeneuve, LaVilleneuve or deVilleneuve may refer to: People * Villeneuve (surname) Places Australia * Villeneuve, Queensland, a town in the Somerset Region Canada * Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, a Formula One racetrack in Montréal * Villeneuv ...

to form ''

Groupe de Combat 18 A group is a military unit or a military formation that is most often associated with military aviation. Air and aviation groups The terms group and wing differ significantly from one country to another, as well as between different branches ...

'', which in turn was one of three ''Groupe de Combats'' merged to become ''Escadre de Combat No. 1''.''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'', p. 101. In February 1918, the squadron refitted with SPAD fighters, becoming ''Escadrille Spa.94''. On 4 October 1918, the ''Escadre'' was

Mentioned in dispatches To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches, MiD) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face ...

; thus, ''Escadrille Spa.94'' won a citation. By war's end on 11 November 1918, the squadron was credited with 42 confirmed aerial victories.

Commanding officers

* ''Capitaine'' Edouard Pillet: 14 May 1917 – late April 1918 * Lieutenant de la Rochefordiere: Late April 1918 – killed in action 11 June 1918 * Lieutenant

Jean Bozon-Verduraz Lieutenant Jean Seraphin Benjamin Emmanuel Bozon-Verduraz was a French flying ace during World War I. A prewar soldier, he was recalled and switched from cavalry to aviation to achieve 11 confirmed aerial victories. Early life Jean Seraphin Benja ...

: 11 June 1918 until war's end

Notable members

* ''

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 ...

Pierre Marinovitch Pierre Marinovitch ( sr, Petar Marinović; 1 August 1898 – 2 October 1919) was a French World War I flying ace credited with 21 confirmed and 3 probable aerial victories. He was the youngest French flying ace of the war, scoring his 5th vi ...

* ''Sous lieutenant''

André-Henri Martenot de Cordou '' Sous lieutenant'' André-Henri Martenot de Cordou (born 14 March 1893, date of death unknown) was a French World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the Uni ...

Aircraft

* Nieuport 24 fighters: 14 May 1917 – February 1918 *

fighters: 14 May 1917 – February 1918 * SPAD fighters: February 1918 onwards

End notes

References