8e Escadre de Chasse
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (January 2018) |
| 8e Escadre de Chasse 8th Fighter Wing | |
|---|---|
 Insignia of the Escadre | |
| Active | 25 August 2015 - present |
| Country |  France |
| Branch |  French Air and Space Force |
| Type | Fighter aircraft unit |
| Role | Aerial Instruction/Training/Aerial Drills |
| Part of | Fighter Brigade |
| Equipment | Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet |
The 8e Escadre de Chasse 8e EC or 8th Fighter Wing is a fighter formation of the Fighter Brigade of the French Air and Space Force, which was reformed on 25 August 2015 at Cazaux Air Base.[1]
The unit has known previously various periods of activity:
- On Aerial Base 108 Marignane, between 1 January 1936 and 1 May 1939;
- In Indochina, between 16 January 1951 and 27 July 1954;
- In Morocco, on Aerial Base 151 Rabat-Salé, between 1 August 1955 and November 1960
- In Algeria on the base of Oran La Senia between November 1960 and July 1961
- At Nancy Ochey between July 1961 and 1 December 1961
- At Cazaux, between 1 February 1964 and 1 July 1993.
Composition[edit]
- Escadron de Transition Opérationnelle 1/8 Saintonge[2]
- Escadron de Transition Opérationnelle 2/8 Nice[2]
- Escadron d'Entraînement 3/8 Côte d'Or[2]
- Escadron de Soutien Technique Aéronautique 15/8 Pilat[2]
Escadrons/Squadrons history[edit]
The 8e Escadre possesses two historical squadrons, the "Saintonge" and "Nice". The squadron "Languedoc" was attached to the Escadre during ten years.
Before WWII[edit]
- Hunter Group - Groupe de Chasse I/8 : from 1 January 1936 until 1 May 1939
- Groupe de Chasse II/8 : from 1 January 1936 and 1 May 1939
Escadron/Squadron "Saintonge"[edit]
- Groupe Mixte I/8 Saintonge : from 16 January 1951 until 27 July 1954
- Hunter Squadron Escadron de Chasse 1/8 Saintonge : from 9 September 1960 until 1 December 1961, and from 1 February 1964 until 31 July 1993
Escadron/Squadron "Languedoc"[edit]
- Groupe de Chasse II/8 Languedoc : from 1 August 1951 until 27 July 1954
- Escadron de chasse 2/8 Languedoc : from 1 August 1955 until 1 December 1961
Escadron/Squadron "Maghreb"[edit]
- Escadron de Chasse 1/8 Maghreb : from 1 August 1955 until September 1960
Escadron/Squadron "Nice"[edit]
- Escadron de Chasse 2/8 Nice : from 1 February 1964 until 31 July 1993
Bases[edit]
- Aerial Base 108 Marigane: from 1 January 1936 until 1 May 1939
- Indochina : from 16 January 1951 until 27 July 1954
- Aerial Base 151 Rabat-Salé: from 1 August 1955 until the beginning of 1960
- Aerial Base Nancy-Ochey : from the beginning of 1960 until 1 December 1961
- Aerial Base 120 Cazaux : from 1 February 1964 until 31 July 1993, and as of 25 August 2015
Equipment[edit]
- Morane-Saulnier MS.225 : from 1 January 1936 until 1 January 1939
- Dewoitine D.500 : from 1 January 1936 until 1 January 1939
- Dewoitine D.510 : from 1 January 1939 until 1 May 1939
- Republic P-47D Thunderbolt : from 16 January 1951 until 27 July 1954
- Grumman F8F-1B Bearcat : from 16 January 1951 until 27 July 1954
- Mistral : from 1 August 1955 until 1959
- Dassault Mystère IVA : from June 1959 until 1 December 1961, and from 1 February 1964 until 1982
- Alpha Jet: from October 1982 until 31 July 1993, and as of 25 August 2015
See also[edit]
- Major (France)
- Patrouille de France
- Chief of Staff of the French Air Force
- List of Escadres of the French Air Force
References[edit]
- ^ "Nouvelles escadres aériennes: une cohérence opérationnelle accrue, des valeurs renforcées". Armee de l'Air. 2015-08-24. Archived from the original on 2015-08-26.
- ^ a b c d AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. September 2016. p. 55.